Transportation
Transportation within Manchester
With a distance that is not too far from one place to another, Manchester is a friendly city for pedestrians and cyclists. Apart from walking, alternative modes of transportation in this city are Tram, Bus, Train, and Uber/Taxi.
Coaches
If you live far from the University or use the bus a lot, consider buying a Bus Pass Card. There are few buses provider in Manchester, with Stagecoach being the most commonly used one, as it covers many locations in southern and central Manchester, including university corridors. You will need an ID Card (student card/BRP/Passport) with a photo to buy a Stagecoach student pass. The pass can be bought online or directly in the TfGM (Transport for Greater Manchester) Travel Shops.
More information about stagecoach and student passes can be found here https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/manchester/unirider
Trams
Metrolink trams run through central Manchester via St Peters Square, Deansgate / Castlefield and Cornbrook. Trams normally run every 5-12 min between 6 AM and midnight. Tickets must be purchased in advance from the automated vending machines available at each station, or you can buy travel cards from the Get Me There smartphone app. Choose the required destination followed by the required ticket type on the touchpad, and then insert your money or debit card. Visa, Mastercard & Maestro contactless debit, credit cards & mobile payment can be used (one card or device per passenger).
You must “touch in” and “touch out” on the yellow smart readers on each platform at the start and end of your journey. If your card reports transactions to your phone instantly, you’ll notice that 10p is debited when you first “touch in” in a day; the rest of your charge will be debited in the next few days once it’s known how much you’ve travelled in the day; daily fare caps apply.
More information about trams can be found here https://tfgm.com/public-transport/tram.
Taxis
Taxis are considerably cheaper than in London. As a general rule, you should be able to get anywhere you need to go within the city's core for £5-10. As a general rule, taxis must put the meter on for journeys within the M60 ring road (sometimes a little farther). If you are to travel farther, it is best to agree to a price in advance. The online taxi App Uber and Bolt is now becoming more predominant in the city, and you should be able to request them within 10 minutes from anywhere in the city.
Transportation within UK
If you are planning to travel intercity in the UK during your study, there are mainly two public transportations to get around, either by intercity coaches or train.
Intercity trains
Trains are one of the fastest, most comfortable, most convenient and most enjoyable ways to explore Britain and by far the best way to travel inter-city. You buy tickets from a ticket office or automated ticket machine at a station or the train company's website. Several mobile phone applications, such as Traveline, provide an online platform for purchasing train tickets. We recommend purchasing a Railcard if you're travelling by train to save up to 1/3 of the price of your train tickets. A ticket does not guarantee a seat unless you also have a reservation. Seat reservations are free. Local and commuter services do not have reserved seats. If you have no seat reservation, you may have to stand if the train is busy.
For more information regarding railcards can be found here https://www.thetrainline.com/trains/great-britain/railcards.
Intercity coaches
Long-distance coach travel tends to be slower than train travel, as well as less frequent, although it is comfortable and often much cheaper. Several largest and most commonly used intercity coach companies are National Express, Megabus, and CityLink (in Scotland). Tickets and schedules can be found online on respective websites.
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