Capped Metro fares approved but some prices to rise

MAJOR changes that will cut the cost of longer journeys on the Tyne and Wear Metro have been approved - but many tickets will become more expensive.

- DANIEL HOLLAND

A new Tyne and Wear Metro train stopped at Pelaw station

Council leaders have signed off a new package of Metro fares, which will include a £2.50 cap on the cost of a single journey and of £5 for a day's travel for passengers using a Pop pay as you go smartcard to travel.

The new prices will come into force on Wednesday, April 1 and will last for 12 months, after being agreed by the North East Combined Authority’s (NECA) cabinet in Blyth on Tuesday afternoon.

Metro operator Nexus described the introduction of the cap as “the biggest savings we've been able to deliver for our customers in a very long time”.

But while the measure will significantly reduce fares for some passengers, those making shorter trips will not benefit - and will, in fact, see the cost of using the Metro rise.

The big winners from the policy will be those travelling across three separate Metro zones or using the Northumberland Line, for whom the cost of a single trip will fall by up to 34%.

But there will be a 10% increase in the Pop card cost of a single one-zone Metro journey, up from £2 to £2.20, and hikes of up to 7.1% in the daily travel cap for one and two-zone travellers - which rises to £3.30 and £4.50 respectively.