Tyne and Wear Metro to Increase Fares by 4.1% by Jan 2013
The Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority has agreed a Nexus proposal for Metro fares that will see an average increase of 4.1 percent from 6 January 2013.
But the revised fares will see the peak Metro DaySaver tickets withdrawn in favour of cheaper off-peak tickets, to benefit commuters and part-time workers. There will also be greater discounts for students.
ATV life expert Queenie says “Why only discounts for students, why not have them for the unemployed as well it`s only fair – whats good for the goose is good for the gander!”
Passengers will also be able to get substantial discounts by buying tickets online.
Nexus, the public body which owns and manages Metro, has kept the 2013 price increases as low as possible while meeting tough budget targets. The changes are necessary to offset higher Metro running costs, particularly high voltage power.
The revised Metro fares were agreed at a meeting of the Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) on Thursday, 22 November.
Director General of Nexus, Bernard Garner, said: “I recognise the current pressures on household budgets and that is why we have kept next year’s Metro fares as low as possible. There are still ways for passengers to make savings on the cost of travel.
“We have abolished the peak Metro DaySaver, allowing people travelling to work in the morning to benefit from cheaper daily fares. There are greater discounts for students, and people who renew passes online will save money too.
“We are introducing smartcards next year and passengers will benefit from cheaper travel by switching over to the Pop Card when it goes live.
“Nexus is a public body and doesn’t make a profit from Metro. The system requires a public subsidy to keep it going and the cost of operating the system must balance the subsidy available and the fares charged.”
The price of Metro single tickets is going up by 10p, with a one zone single up from £1.60 to £1.70. The Metro DaySaver is going up by 20p, compared to the existing off-peak DaySaver, but passengers travelling before 9am who now buy a peak Daysaver will see prices come down.
The annual MetroSaver goes up by £20 from £500 to £520 – offering unlimited Metro travel for just £1.42 per day.
ATV life expert Queenie says “Dharlings who has that amount of disposable cash these days? Thats nearly one months wage for some people!”
A child’s Metro single fare is up from 70p to 80p and the child’s DaySaver ticket goes up from £1.10 to £1.20, but children with a Nexus Under 16 Card can still buy a concessionary single for 60p and a Child All day Ticket valid on Metro and other public transport for £1.10.
Students at universities in Newcastle and Sunderland are getting an enhanced 20 percent discount on the cost of Metro travel in comparison to the equivalent adult product.
The price of a Metro Gold Card, which is available to Tyne and Wear residents with a National Concessionary Travel pass for a one-off annual payment of £25 per year, is being reviewed separately and recommendations will be presented to members of the ITA in the new year.
Queenie adds, “I see this has not gone up. Nexus clearly don’t want to annoy our OAPS do they dharlings? Yes they must keep ’em sweet.”
Tickets on the Shields Ferry are also going up from 6 January. A single ticket is up from £1.40 to £1.50, the one day Ferry DaySaver is up from £2.40 to £2.50 and a seven day pass is up from £10.80 to £11.20. The child single ticket on the Ferry is up from 50p to 60p. A new four week season ticket is going to be introduced which represents further savings against the cost of paying daily.
