Digital Pop card upgrade delayed until next year

PROMISED upgrades to integrated ticketing across the North East's Metro, train and bus networks have been delayed and a seamless, London-style contactless system covering the entire region is likely to still be years away from reality.

- DANIEL HOLLAND

People travelling on the London Underground have been able to tap in and out using contactless credit or debit cards since 2014, and passengers can now also do so on Greater Manchester's buses and trams.

But there has been continuing frustration in the North East at a lack of an equivalent option for our region's public transport.

It had been hoped that an upgraded version of the Tyne and Wear Metro's Pop card would launch this autumn, allowing people to use their pass across the Metro, bus services, the Shields Ferry and Northumberland Line trains - with fares automatically calculated up to a daily cap of £7.50.

But councillors were told on Tuesday that the improved "Pop 2.0" will now launch in 2026. Tobyn Hughes, the North East Combined Authority's (NECA) director of transport, said the rollout will arrive "in the coming months" and that talks were ongoing with Northern about adding it to more regional rail routes.