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Season ticket loans

Season ticket loans

General information

The University can provide eligible employees with an interest free Season Ticket Loan to enable the purchase of public transport annual season tickets. The limit for this scheme is £3,500 or 5% of gross salary (whatever is greatest) subject to affordability.

Since the introduction of hybrid ways of working, a number of travel providers have introduced more flexible ticketing options. These may be more affordable for staff only on campus for a few days a week. Visit providers' websites below for more information to find out the best options for you. The University is currently working with a number of travel providers to increase the range of corporate season tickets that you can access. 

How to apply

If you need any help in completing the season ticket loan application form, please reach out to People.Directoratesupport@manchester.ac.uk

Free bus

You can access free travel on the 147 bus between north and south campus.

 

Discounted bus travel with Stagecoach

You can apply for a discounted Stagecoach bus ticket using your university email address. Please note that this ticket can only be paid for directly to Stagecoach: University of Manchester | Stagecoach

 

Latest news

Bee Network - Message from Stagecoach - 17th January 2024

From the 24th of March, the Stagecoach megarider will not be accepted on Bee Network services but can still be used on Stagecoach services in and around Manchester. North Manchester will be under Bee Network from that date; any customers travelling from the Middleton, Moston or Harpurhey areas for example, will not be able to use their Megarider. 

If employees do find that the services they use are no longer accepting the tickets they will of course be entitled to a refund of the remaining value of the ticket. 

From the 5th of January 2025, Stagecoach will transition in the Bee Network as a whole and the annual Megarider will no longer be available. Any new sales and renewals will be pro rata'd to reflect the expiry date of January 4th 2025.

Any refund requests should be directed to: manchester.sales@stagecoachbus.com

Check if your bus has moved to the Bee Network: Bee Network bus services | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM

For further information on the Bee Network.

The scheme and repayments

The scheme enables you to apply for a bus, tram, train annual season ticket, and the University will purchase it on your behalf. You then repay the cost of the ticket by monthly instalments directly from your salary. Repayments for trains are made over 12 months.

Bus season ticket repayments are usually over 10 months. However, due to the planned switchover of buses to full council control in January 2025, bus season tickets are currently being taken over a 7 month period, until we have more details.

How to qualify for a season ticket loan

You must be a salaried member of the University and be regularly paid on a monthly basis through the payroll system.  Season tickets under this scheme must be for one year.  The maximum value of the loan available is £3,500 or 5% of gross salary (whatever is greatest) subject to affordability checks. 

How to apply for a season ticket for buses

Am I applicable?

  • To be applicable you must be employed by the UoM as a permanent or fixed term member of staff with at least 10 months left on their contract.
  • You must not have an existing season ticket loan with the UoM.

The application process:

Please fill in the Season ticket loan application form and email it to people-od.operations@manchester.ac.uk

The important details:

Changes from Stagecoach to the Bee Network

Please be aware that the Stagecoach annual season ticket will not be valid on any buses changing to the Bee Network from January 2025. Please speak to your bus driver or contact Stagecoach customer service to find out if your route is changing.

My bus is changing, what can I do?

  • We are currently offering staff the opportunity to apply for a season ticket that will last until January 2025.
  • You will pay back the loan over a shorter time frame, a minimum of six months.
  • This will only be available until 8th July 2024. Any applications received after this date will not be considered.

If you are interested, please email people-od.operations@manchester.ac.uk

Update from Stagecoach regarding refunds

From the 24th of March, the Stagecoach megarider will not be accepted on Bee Network services but can still be used on Stagecoach services in and around Manchester. North Manchester will be under Bee Network from that date; any customers travelling from the Middleton, Moston or Harpurhey areas for example, will not be able to use their Megarider. 

If employees do find that the services they use are no longer accepting the tickets they will of course be entitled to a refund of the remaining value of the ticket. 

From the 5th of January 2025, Stagecoach will transition in the Bee Network as a whole and the annual Megarider will no longer be available. Any new sales and renewals will be pro rata'd to reflect the expiry date of January 4th 2025.

Any refund requests should be directed to: manchester.sales@stagecoachbus.com

How to apply (Rail)

You will need to apply for your Northern Rail ticket and complete the application for the University's season ticket loan scheme.

  1. Please read the Terms and Conditions of the University's Season Ticket Loans Scheme
  2. Complete the Northern Rail season ticket online application
  3. Repayments for season tickets for trains are taken over 12 months.

Other train providers

If you need a season ticket for other rail services in our region, please contact people.reward@manchester.ac.uk and we will try to help. 

Tram travel with Metrolink

Summary of scheme

Please read this online guide for general information on the scheme and prices.

Detailed guide for employees who wish to apply

  1. The employee will need to follow the step-by-step guide and set up their own account here.
  2. The employee will then receive an email and must follow the instructions to validate their account; 
  3. The corporate application form will need to be filled out along with the Season Ticket Loan Application. The declaration section will then be signed by P&OD and scanned to your email.
  4. The relevant paperwork will then be sent to the employee in regards to monthly deductions; this will need to be signed and dated.
  5. The employee uploads the completed corporate application form and their photo to the website which orders the corporate Bee Card.
  6. The Bee Card will be posted to the individual's home address. Once the employee receives their corporate Bee Card in the post, the smart ticket can be collected from the smart readers situated at a Metrolink stop.
  7. The smart card must be presented to the smart reader to ‘touch in’ and ‘touch out’ for each journey made.

Further information

Please contact people.directoratesupport@manchester.ac.uk or call 0161 275 4499.