MORE than 170,00 journeys have been made using Metrolink’s new contactless payment system in the four weeks since it launched.

The upgrade came into force on July 15 as part of Transport for Greater Manchester’s push to improve the public transport system.

And the new payment system is proving particularly popular on event days, with 9,931 contactless journeys made last Friday ­— when Lancashire’s 20/20 cricket match with Yorkshire was rained off ­— while a further 8,009 journeys were made on Sunday when Manchester United played their opening Premier League fixture at home to Chelsea.

However, Metrolink said some customers are not ‘touching-out’, resulting in them being charged an incomplete journey fare of £4.60 ­— the maximum for a single journey.

TfGM is working with those customers who have not ‘touched-out’ and is providing refunds where appropriate. Other travel payment options remain open to customers.

TfGM’s customer director, Stephen Rhodes, said: “Contactless is a really simple and convenient way for people to pay for journeys on Metrolink and it’s great to see so many people have already taken to it.”