No, Blackpool trams are not cash-only. Passengers can pay using contactless card/device (Tap&Go), cash, or via the Blackpool Transport mobile app. Conductors on board accept both cash and contactless payments.
You can pay for Blackpool trams using contactless (card, Apple/Google Pay) by tapping on board, buying tickets on the Blackpool Transport mobile app for mobile tickets, paying cash to the conductor, or buying tickets at PayPoint outlets for longer passes. The Tap&Go system offers simple single journeys with contactless, while the app provides best value with mobile tickets for various durations.
All tram services are conductor operated and fares can be paid by contactless card. Consider downloading the Blackpool Transport Services Ltd smartphone app, which offers journey planning, real time information by stop, access to discounted day pass/season ticket product payment, timetables and service information.
Yes, you can tap your credit card (or debit/smart device) on most buses for quick, cashless payments, looking for the contactless symbol, but you must tap on and sometimes tap off, using the same card for fare capping, though some tickets (like child/family) might need a different method or driver purchase.
If your credit or debit card is 'contactless-enabled', you will see this logo on the front of your card. This means your credit or debit card is enabled for fare payment on transit. Just tap your contactless credit or debit card at the MRT fare gate or card reader on buses.
Tramtown Blackpool TOUR - I Visit The Old Trams of Blackpool
Can you pay contactless on Blackpool trams?
Single Fares -
Journeys on the tram will cost £3.20, no matter how far you travel. Not only that, with contactless payments now available, you can simply Tap&Go on your journey. You can also pay in cash if you need to.
To pay the right fare, always touch in on a yellow card reader at the start of your journey and touch out at the end. On a bus or tram you only need to touch in. Because where you touch in and out tells us where you've travelled from and to, so we can charge you the right fare for your journey.
Blackpool residents can also benefit from free travel on the full route of the Blackpool Tramway. Passes issued by other local authorities are not valid on the Blackpool Tramway. You qualify for a NoWcard if you: Are an older person.
Enjoy Blackpool's Illuminations aboard a vintage tram
You can choose to disembark at North Pier and Tower or return to Pleasure Beach. Book your Illuminations Tram Tour today and enjoy a nostalgic ride through Blackpool's sparkling seaside spectacle! Tickets delivered instantly via email & SMS.
A Blackpool Tram day ticket (Saver Ticket) costs £6.60 for unlimited travel on trams and buses, available when bought online/app or onboard, offering better value than single fares, with savings possible on multi-day passes or app-exclusive group tickets.
Yes, pensioners in Greater Manchester get free off-peak travel on Metrolink (after 9:30 AM weekdays & all day weekends) with their National Concessionary Pass, but need to pay a £10 annual fee to add Metrolink/train travel to their pass, otherwise they pay full fare during peak times.
What's the difference between a tram and a streetcar?
Briefly, but to be distinct here, a streetcar runs on "steel rails" and uses an onboard electric motor powered by a trolley pole connected to an overhead wire. One should be aware that the "Tram" which uses multiple units for capacity - not in single units/pieces as the streetcar.
You can buy almost all ticket types on our mobile app. If you're planning to buy a single ticket for your journey, you can do so onboard with contactless payment or cash - check out our single fares information.
Woofing good value! Guide dogs or recognised assistance dogs travel free on both buses and trams. Please note there is no eating or drinking allowed on any vehicles. We do not want to inconvenience other customers with the possibility of creating soiled seating and other Health and Safety Hazards.
The UK's £2 bus fare cap, originally ending in 2023, was extended multiple times and eventually transitioned to a £3 cap in England (outside London) from January 2025 to December 2025, funded by the government to help with living costs. However, some regions, like Liverpool City Region and Telford, have stepped in with local funding to keep their specific £2 caps running longer, with Liverpool aiming for 2026, while the national scheme shifted focus to the £3 cap to support bus services long-term.
No problem. Secure contactless payments are now available on all of our buses. Paying with contactless is a simple and secure way to pay for tickets without cash. One tap of your contactless card, Apple Pay or Google Pay and you're aboard and ready to go, no need to worry about having the right change.
What happens if you accidentally tap out with a different card?
What happens if I touch in with one contactless card, and touch out with another on the same journey? It's important that you try to avoid doing this, as you'll be charged a maximum fare on both of your cards. The two separate journeys won't be linked and each one will be recognised as incomplete.
You can now tap on and off with your credit or debit card on a PRESTO device, including those cards on your phone or watch to pay for your GO adult fare discount!
