Information for people new to Manchester
Transport

Getting around locally

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The main forms of public transport in Manchester are buses, the Metrolink tram and the train network. Taxis or minicabs, cycling and driving your own car are other possibilities, and coaches are useful for longer journeys. You can also walk!

Buses

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A number of different bus companies operate in Manchester, often on the same route, which can be quite confusing as different companies will charge different prices for the same journey. Some of the companies are Stagecoach, First Manchester, Fingland, Magic bus, Mayne, Arriva and UK North.

Buying a bus ticket

There are a number of different tickets you can buy when travelling by bus:

l        One way (single) ticket: this covers a single journey in one direction only, and is not economical if you will come back on the same day using the same bus company.

l        Return ticket: covers a single journey in both directions, and is more economical than a one-way ticket if you are returning on the same day using the same bus company.

l        Day Saver ticket (also called a Day Rider ticket on Stagecoach and Magic Bus buses): this ticket allows you any number of journeys using the same bus company to any destinations on the same day.

l        One-Day ticket: slightly more expensive than a Day Saver ticket but you can use this to travel all day using different bus companies.

l        One-Week ticket (also called a Megarider on Stagecoach & Magic Bus buses): this is usually very economical but you can only use it for the bus company on which you buy it.

You can also buy season tickets for one month  or one year ask at ticket and day, week , month and year tickets which cover both bus and tram rides. Ask at a Greater Manchester Public Transport Executive (GMPTE) office for more details about these tickets.

You can buy a one-way (single), return, daily and weekly tickets on the bus, (it helps if you have coins rather than banknotes to pay with). To buy the monthly and yearly tickets you need to take a passport-sized photograph of yourself and some form of ID to a GMPTE office or one of the larger post offices.

Using the Bus

Many bus stops have maps of where the buses go to, but you can also get free copies of maps showing all the bus routes from the main GMPTE office (Travelshop) in Piccadilly Gardens and form some libraries and community centres. You can also get free timetables from the same places.

If you are waiting at a bus stop and you want to get on a bus which is driving towards the stop, you need to put your arm out to let the bus driver know. To get off a bus, press one of the STOP buttons before you get to the bus stop. If you are not sure when you need to get off, ask the bus driver to tell you when he gets to the stop.

Trams

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The tram network is operated by the company Metrolink. Trams travel between Bury, Altrincham, Eccles and Piccadilly, and they run every 6 - 12 minutes You can find the times of the tram services by calling the GMPTE information line. Trams are a bit more expensive than buses but are usually faster.

Daily tickets can be bought from ticket machines at the tram stops: you need to have small coins as the machines don't always give you change. It is cheaper to buy tram tickets after 9.30 a.m. Although you don't have to show your ticket when you get on the tram, there are plenty of ticket inspectors who regularly get onto the tram to check that everyone has bought a ticket, and you will have to pay a fine of £20.00 if you can't show them a valid ticket.

To buy a weekly, monthly or 3-monthly ticket you will need to take a passport-sized photograph to the GMPTE Travelshop, a central Manchester post-office or some newsagents.

Taxis and minicabs

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Black taxis are much more expensive than public transport, with a minimum charge of £3, after which the price goes up depending on how far you are travelling. The cost of the fare is shown on a meter in the front of the car, but the driver might add more if you have got suitcases. If you are travelling very late at night or early in the morning, the meter will be switched on to the night rate (more expensive): at all other times the meter should show the day rate. You can get a taxi from the taxi ranks in Albert Square or outside one of the train stations, or you can just stop one which is driving along the road if the "For Hire" light on the roof  is switched on.

Minicabs (also called private hire cars) are like taxis but you have to book them by telephoning or visiting the office. They are cheaper than taxis and usually have a fixed price for taking you from one part of the town to another, but they are still more expensive to use than a bus, unless 3 or 4 people are sharing a minicab. It is illegal for minicabs to pick up customers from the street; you must book the car in advance. You need to ask the office or telephone operator how much the journey will cost and tell them when and where to collect you.

Cycling

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Cycling is a good way of getting around locally in Manchester, and there are many bicycle shops in Manchester which may sell second-hand bicycles. There are specially marked cycle lanes on some roads and through many parks, and you are advised to use these. Cycling on the pavement is illegal, though many local people do it because they think it is safer than on the roads.

It is worth buying a cycling helmet if you can because the traffic can be quite dangerous, especially on the bigger roads. Wearing a reflective jacket is also a good idea, especially if you are going to be cycling a lot at night. Bike shops include Moston Cycles, Pedal Power, A6 Bicycle Warehouse and Bicycle Doctor: contact details are below.

It is also possible to buy a map which shows all the cycle lanes in Manchester and also suggests a number of quieter roads to cycle on: this is called the "Manchester and District Cycling Map" and you can buy it from most bike shops or large bookshops.

Long-distance transport

Coaches

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If you want to travel outside the Greater Manchester area, the cheapest way to travel is to buy a coach (long-distance bus) ticket. National Express is the largest national coach company, and you can buy National Express tickets to take you all over the UK. Many smaller companies go to cities across the north of England and sometimes further. To find out which companies go to which cities and to buy tickets, go to Chorlton Street coach station.

Trains

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The train network in the UK is fast but can be quite expensive. Several companies operate on the same journeys and ticket prices vary a lot: you can ask at the station for the cheapest deals going to your destination. It is always cheaper to buy your train ticket in advance, so if you know when you want to travel and you don't think you will change your mind, go and buy your ticket as soon as possible. However, if you do change your mind and you need to travel on a different day, you may have to buy a new ticket. It is also cheaper to travel in the middle of the day and at weekends. The most expensive fares are the ones to travel before 9.30 am in the morning, so try not to travel by train at this time.

You can buy train tickets at any railway station in Manchester. Some travel agents also sell train tickets. You can also buy train tickets by telephone on the National Rail Enquiries number, and they will be sent to your house, but to do this you will need to have a credit or debit card, and you will need to buy your ticket a few days in advance to be sure that the ticket arrives by post before your journey.

Cars

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  Getting a driving licence

If you have a foreign driving licence, you can use this to drive a car in the UK for up to 12 months, during which time you must apply for a provisional UK licence and then take a theory test and a practical test, regardless of how many years of driving experience you have. You will have to pay for both the theory and the practical tests, and if you fail either, you will have to pay again to retake the test(s). You must pass the theory test before you can take the practical test. The theory test can be taken in over 20 languages, and you will need to request your preferred language at the time of booking. Make sure that the language you have requested is recorded on the confirmation letter which will be sent to you once you have booked your test(s).

Forms to apply for your provisional licence can be picked up at the post office. You will need to send off several forms of identity to get your provisional licence, which may be difficult, but keep trying. Further information on driving in the UK can be found on the internet at www.dvla.gov.uk.

Buying a car

It is possible to buy cars quite cheaply in Manchester, however petrol is expensive and so are the other costs. It is illegal to drive a car in the UK unless you have paid Road Tax (around £110.00 per year, depending on the car engine size) and car insurance (the price of insurance varies, but can be from £200.00 to £600.00 per year, depending on the age of the driver, the address your car is registered at, your occupation and the level of insurance cover you want). Many of the larger insurance companies will not issue insurance to asylum seekers.

The police have regular campaigns to reduce the number of people driving without insurance: if you are caught, you will have to pay a large fine and risk imprisonment.

Contact details

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