If you’re planning on exploring Manchester for the first time, learn how you can save money and enjoy the city with the Metrolink!
One thing to know before visiting Manchester is that taxis are expensive. That includes Ubers as well.
Renting a car is always an option, but it can be a hassle adjusting to foreign traffic laws. However, there is one option that saves people lots of money, and that is the Metrolink.
Manchester’s Metrolink is convenient and simple to use. It is a network of trams that operate every day of the year and all day. The best part is it can take people anywhere in the city for as little as £1.40.
Here is a simple guide on how to use the Metrolink:
Purchasing Tickets
Tickets for the Metrolink are easy to purchase. There are ticket machines available at every Metrolink station. Prices for tickets vary, depending on the type of ticket purchased.
A single ticket for an adult can range anywhere from £1.40-£4.60. The Metrolink is categorized into four zones: 1, 2, 3, and 4. The more zones someone has to cross to reach their destination, the more money the ticket costs.
Tickets are also sold by days, ranging from single day to 7-day options. The one-day travel ticket is £4.90, so it may be the best option available for most people.
In addition, tickets can be purchased via cash, card, or contactless at the machine. Before paying, figuring out the zones of travel is important if purchasing single tickets.
Selecting Single Tickets (by Zones)
There is a map at every Metrolink station. Using the map on the ticket machine is the best option.
First, locate the Metrolink station where you’ll be departing from. Next, locate the destination on the map. Once the locations are identified, count how many zones are crossed to arrive to the destination.
For example, if the Metrolink is being boarded in Zone 1 and getting off at Zone 3, the ticket needed should cover Zones 1, 2, and 3.
An important thing to note is that if the stop that you’ll be getting off at is in between two zones, the ticket must cover both of those zones. Once the zone situation is figured out, the correct single ticket can be purchased.
The next thing to know is what Metrolink line should be boarded.
Boarding the Metrolink
The map needs to be referenced once more in order to board the correct tram. Once you know what station to get off at, the next step is to locate what color lines take you from your stop to the destination.
After identifying that, the final stop for that color line(s) should be known to watch out for the Metrolink trams with signs for that final destination.
For example, if one of the lines that takes you to your destination is the light blue one heading towards Media City, then the tram you need to take will say Media City. The Metrolink platforms have signs to guide people towards the right side of the platform to wait for the tram.
The Metrolink tram can now be boarded!
Riding the Metrolink
Once you are in the Metrolink tram, you can relax and enjoy the views of Manchester. There are screens across the tram that announce the next stop and a voice that will also say it.
To exit the tram, there is a button that needs to be pushed on the door to open and exit. The Metrolink trams make stops at every station, but it is recommended to push the button on the door to announce a stop request.
That is the final bit of knowledge needed to ride the Metrolink tram.
Contactless Payment Option
The contactless payment option requires no ticket needed to be purchased. A card is simply tapped at a card reader (different from ticket machines) on the Metrolink platform on two occasions.
The first is at the platform in which the person will be boarding. Once the person arrives to their stop, they tap their card again at that station’s card reader. The card will be automatically charged based on the zones that were traveled.
However, this option only works if someone is okay with being charged for single tickets or a one-day type of ticket. In other words, the most someone will be charged is £4.90 for the day (one-day ticket price) if taking multiple journeys in one day. If the 7-day ticket or family ticket works best, don’t use this method.
Finally, it is important to purchase the correct ticket. There are officers that will check passengers randomly to make sure they have a valid ticket. Arrests will be made for people who don’t have a ticket (not like the US).
Above all, enjoy the experience and views of the city. Take advantage of the cheap deals, you’ll be saving a lot of money compared to taxis in Manchester. Hopefully this was helpful!
