The number of tram fines in Manchester in 2023 was thousands more than the previous year

There were more than 80,000 tram fines in Greater Manchester last year – a 60% increase on the previous 12 months – official figures show.

A total of 82,304 tram fines in the city region were issued between 8 January 2023 and 6 January 2024 – a 43% increase on the previous year – according to a Freedom of Information response by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

Between January 8, 2022 and January 7, 2023, 50,180 fines were issued.

TfGM issues its penalty figures on a 28-day basis.

Jamie, who moved to the area in January, said: “I’ve seen a lot more officers recently and I got stung by £60 when I wasn’t expecting it when they went to Cornbrook.”

Tram officers issued more than 30,000 additional fines in the past year compared to the previous annual review.

The highest number of tram fines issued in one month was 8,815, issued in two consecutive periods: 17 September – 14 October and 15 October – 11 November 2023.

This figure is more than double the amount issued between 28 May and 24 June 2023, when only 3,801 fines were issued.

The most tram fines issued in 2022 were between 18 September and 15 October, when 6,024 fines were given.

Tram user Jo Hornby said: “I only see tram officers on the route to Trafford Centre, going round the Village and there were more than half a dozen when I went recently.”

Trams in Manchester are run by the Bee Network. You can pay for the service by tapping in and out using contactless, through the Bee Network app, where you can purchase a ticket for selected areas for a specific duration, or with tickets or passes.

The process is to tap the platform you are leaving from and only tap once you have reached your destination, not tap if you are changing lines.

Weekly tram user Izzy Bushell said: “It’s not very clear. There was a time when I just moved here and used the changing stop. I was fined £40.

“When these ticket people came and scanned my phone on the machine, it said I didn’t intercept, but I did, I just hung up too soon. It’s not very clear.”

Another regular tram user, Chris Macell, said: “I use the app to buy my ticket and find it a very efficient way to pay and get around traveling from the quays to the city centre.”

Chris added: “Although there is an officer presence, I’ve never seen anyone fined.”

Olivia Stephens said: “I usually travel into St Peter’s Square and although I haven’t been fined there is an increase in officers on the trams and platforms.

“The officers are now plainclothes and as I was walking towards Piccadilly station I saw them arresting a boy who had obviously not paid.

“Because it’s all contactless, the older generation may not see the ticket machines – but some of my colleagues have been fined before and some students are trying their luck too.”

The price of a tram varies, depending on the areas you select and pass through.

There are no student discounts in Manchester, which is hotly contested among riders – but although younger people have to pay, there is a pensioner’s pass for over 66s, according to Manchester City Council.

Pensioner Paul Frimston said: “I pay £10 a year for a pensioner pass which gives us access to the whole of Greater Manchester’s tram and local train system.

“Bee Network being an integrated system is to be expected for a city like Manchester.”

The city of Manchester is not the only place to use trams, with Sheffield, Tyne and Wear, Nottingham and Blackpool all operating the service.

It is difficult to compare fines in Manchester with other cities as the dates come in different time frames.

However, Manchester’s 82,304 fines in 2023 were significantly higher than the 23,792 fines in Tyne and Wear between 26 March 2022 and 31 March 2023. This is even higher compared to Edinburgh’s 2022 fines, when only 8,323 fines were applied.

But it’s a different story in other towns in England, such as Blackpool.

Eric and June Jenkinson from Blackpool said: “The conductors are always on the tram and they go around the town including the promenade which is a good service that you get on and off.”

Due to the number of officers, there were no fines issued by Blackpool Transport on any of the lines throughout 2023, according to Blackpool Council.

Featured Image: Ollie Dennett