Passengers will be delighted to learn that, from Sunday 7 December 2025, rail fares across Greater Manchester are being simplified. The changes will make prices and conditions of travel clearer, helping many to save money.
From 7 December, passengers buying tickets on the day for travel between any two of the 96 stations in Greater Manchester will only have to choose from two options. These options will be Anytime (single or return) and Off-Peak (single or return).
The price of a single fare will be half that of a return, and these fares will be available online, at booking offices and at ticket machines.
Advanced tickets and Season tickets will still available, as will Railcard discounts and Duo, Ranger and Rover products.
It’s predicted that these changes will make over half of all journeys cheaper, with savings of up to £1.50. Around 4,000 passengers will save money by using off-peak tickets correctly and the average fare across Greater Manchester will fall by 5.6%.
This is part of National Rail’s longer terms plans to modernise the railway infrastructure, paving the way for contactless payments from December 2026.
Read more details, view a map of included stations and access FAQs on this National Rail webpage.