Pensioners can use bus pass without restrictions from Monday of this week in Manchester

A month-long trial lifting the weekday 9.30am travel restriction for older and disabled bus pass holders has officially begun across Greater Manchester.

The scheme, running from November 1 to 30, 2025, allows anyone with a TfGM-issued older person’s or disabled person’s concessionary pass to travel for free on Bee Network buses before 9.30am on weekdays.

The change will come into effect for weekday travel from Monday, November 3, as pass holders can already travel at any time on weekends and public holidays.

The move follows the success of a similar pilot in August, when more than 100,000 early morning journeys were made by pass holders, with nearly 6,000 people using the scheme each day.

Around 44 per cent of those journeys took place between 9 and 9.30am.

The trial applies to bus travel only and does not include trams or trains.

Passes will also be accepted before 9.30am on non-Bee Network buses operating within the Greater Manchester boundary, as well as on Bee Network night buses, offering passengers round-the-clock free travel for the month.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said the scheme aims to make travel more flexible and affordable, supporting access to work, healthcare, shopping and social activities.

Feedback from passengers will be gathered throughout November, with an online survey launching on November 7.

The results, along with data on bus and pass use, will be used to decide whether the early morning restriction can be permanently removed.

At the end of the trial, from December 1, concessionary pass holders will return to standard travel rules - free bus travel from 9.30am to midnight on weekdays, and unrestricted travel at weekends and on Bank Holidays.