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Bee Card (Manchester)

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Bee Card
A Bee Card
LocationGreater Manchester
Technology
ManagerTransport for Greater Manchester
Websitetfgm.com/tickets-and-passes/ways-to-pay/smart-card Edit this at Wikidata

Bee Card is an electronic ticketing scheme under development by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) for use on public transport services in Greater Manchester, England.[1] It was first announced and confirmed in June 2012 as get me there as an integrated travel card, comparable to London's Oyster card, for Greater Manchester.[2] following a bid from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.[3]

History

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In February 2008, the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive announced plans to trial the use of Bolton Council leisure Smart Cards for journeys on some Arriva Manchester bus services.[4] In 2012, TfGM announced that a broader integrated smartcard system would be developed across trains, trams and buses.[5]

Use

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A Bee Card validator at a Metrolink tram stop

People in Greater Manchester with existing concessionary travel passes were invited to test the scheme. Now, all concessionary pass holders are asked to use their Bee Cards when traveling using Metrolink. Season ticket holders were the first to be offered their own 'My Get Me There' card, and now others can sign up for a card.[6] Customers can still use contactless credit or debit cards for simple journeys on Get Me There. However, they will not be able to store season tickets or take advantage of the automatic cheapest fare functionality that is available to smart card users.[7]

The name get me there was revealed on 17 June 2013, with the scheme's dedicated travel card named "my get me there".[1]

Timescale

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GMT was planned to be introduced on Metrolink services in 2014, Greater Manchester bus services in 2015, and was hoped to be introduced on National Rail services across Greater Manchester in 2017, when the new Northern rail franchise was confirmed.[8] However, the scheme's introduction on Metrolink stalled after the first stage, as it became clear that Atos, who were contracted to deliver and operate the scheme, would not be able to manage the rollout on to trams. The contract was cancelled in August 2015, with significant contractual payments made to TfGM.[9][10] Plans for introducing mobile phone-based ticketing on trams before the end of the year were announced in September 2015 along with continuing rollout of the GMT card on buses via System One, the Northern and TransPennine Express rail franchises remain contractually obliged to roll out smart card use on trains as part of their franchise requirements and the northern PTEs as Rail North are doing preparatory work on a region wide smartcard.[11] In 2023, get me there officially rebranded to "Bee Card" after the rollout of Bee Network, offering the same services under a new name with a new website interface. [12]

Reception

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The GMT system was criticised in the press as confusing and less flexible than London's Oyster card.[13] Particular points of criticism include the requirement to buy Metrolink tickets for specific times, a long delay between purchasing a ticket online and the ticket becoming usable, and a lack of clarity regarding the distinction between the smartcard and the accompanying app, which are two independent systems.

References

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  1. 1 2 "Pages - News". Tfgm.com. 17 June 2013. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Oyster cards on the way at last for Greater Manchester trains, trams and buses - Manchester Evening News". Menmedia.co.uk. 2 July 2012. Archived from the original on 5 July 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Oyster swipe cards could be used on Greater Manchester buses, trams and trains - Manchester Evening News". Menmedia.co.uk. 24 May 2011. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Smart Card plan for bus travel". The Bolton News. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  5. ↑ "Greater Manchester to develop Oyster-style travel card after £32m boost". BBC News. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  6. ↑ "get me there : About get me there". getmethere.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "get me there : Show me how". getmethere.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "get me there : When it's arriving". getmethere.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  9. ↑ "Smart ticketing update". Transport for Greater Manchester. 5 August 2015. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  10. ↑ "Metrolink: Travel card firm loses contract after delays". BBC News. 5 August 2015.
  11. ↑ "Smart ticketing powers on in Greater Manchester". Transport for Greater Manchester. 4 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  12. ↑ "The Bee Network". tfgm.com. TFGM. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  13. ↑ "A Beginner's Guide To Using My Get Me There: Manchester's Hilarious Attempt At Reinventing London's Oyster Card". HuffPost. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
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