From 7th December, transport across Greater Manchester will become simpler.

Fare ranges will be replaced with just two options: Anytime and Off-peak.

There are numerous fares currently, which are available on particular routes, which means passengers are restricted to certain operating companies or services.

The tickets can be bought online and from 96 stations, with other ticket types still available when booking in advance.

The new fare options will be available for use on services by any operator, with single tickets priced at half of a return.

The average fare in Manchester will also decrease by 5.6%.

The aim is to make prices more transparent and ensure that passengers are getting the best price possible.

However, this does mean that some journeys could see a slight fare increase.

“Customers tell us that buying railway tickets has become too complicated and the fare system needs to change.

“That’s why we’re looking forward to introducing these new fares in Greater Manchester, which will make train travel much simpler, provide customers with more choice about which services they travel on and stop thousands from overpaying for their journeys.

“Of course, we will have our colleagues on hand to help customers get to grips with the new tickets and we will be welcoming and listening to all feedback to ensure they work for everyone.”

Alex Hornby, Northern’s commercial and customer director