Labour mayoral hopeful Ivan Lewis is to promise a fare freeze until at laest 2020 on all modes of public transport.
Mr Lewis will on Tuesday use a parliamentary debate on new bus legislation - designed to give Greater Manchester and other areas far more say over services - to lay out an array of pledges, including a London-style pot of cash to ensure lesser-used routes do not get axed.
Young people should have concessionary fares akin to those available to the elderly, he will argue, particularly for travel to college or apprenticeships.
He also plans a publicly-controlled Greater Manchester Bus Company, which would be able to bid for franchises alongside the private sector.
However that move is not allowed under the legislation currently going through parliament, so he is urging his frontbench colleagues to push for the law to be amended.
In his speech he is expected to give credit to the region’s council leaders for their part in prompting the new Bus bill - which will provide the area with a more London-style arrangement where it can control franchising arrangements, line up timetables and make all buses across the region uniform in appearance.
He is set to say: “For decades the people of Greater Manchester have been denied the right to have a fully integrated public transport system because of free market ideology and vested interests. Of course, we are very proud of our Metrolink light rail system in Greater Manchester, which was developed as a result of the vision of local council leaders, often in the face of opposition from the Department of Transport.
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“But the financial arrangements which have made this possible are also flawed with the result being excessive fares.
“The people of Greater Manchester want and deserve a world class public transport system which is accessible, reliable and affordable.”
As part of his promise - which he is making as part of a bid to become Labour’s mayoral candidate later this summer - he will pledge to freeze fares on buses and trams for at least three years after taking office.
He also wants a Greater Manchester ‘connect card’, along the lines of an Oyster Card, to be used on all modes of public transport including trains - a plan already in the pipeline within the region but currently running behind due to the sacking of contractors Atos last summer.
And he argues that although the Bus bill is good news, more is needed to create a system equal to that in the capital.
“While new powers are welcome we also need a new Transport fund on a par with London so we too can offer subsidised services to communities which do not have adequate connectivity, develop orbital schemes around Greater Manchester and enhance access to local hospitals.” he will add.
