Metro fares set to rise after pandemic leaves system facing its 'biggest financial crisis in 40 years'

Transport chiefs have revealed details of proposed fare increases on the struggling rail network, which has been badly hit by the Covid pandemic.

However, operator Nexus says that the price hikes have been limited to an overall 1.6% rise in line with inflation – rather than being dramatically upped to help cover massive losses caused by heavily reduced Metro passenger numbers.

The cost of every single or all-day ticket, except for children’s tickets, will increase by 10p under the plans, if approved by councillors on Thursday afternoon.

Weekly passes will increase by a maximum of 20p, four-week tickets by up to 80p, and annual passes by no more than £7 from April 1.

Prices will be frozen for older and disabled people with a £12-a-year Gold Card, Pop Blue Pay As You Go fares for under-18s, and child fares for those aged 16 and under.

A family offer allowing up to three children aged 11 and under to travel for free at weekends if accompanied by a fare paying adult will also be extended to all day, every day.

Nexus says it also wants to “explore new ticket options” – such as offering cheaper, more flexible tickets for part-time workers.

Cashless ticket payments are also set to be introduced at Nexus’ six pay and display Metro car parks, where daily fees will increase from £1 to £1.20 – this would apply at Bank Foot, Callerton Parkway, Four Lane Ends, Northumberland Park, Regent Centre, and Stadium of Light.

The changes are due to be signed off by the North East Joint Transport Committee’s Tyne and Wear Sub-Committee on Thursday afternoon.

Metro fare rises are usually introduced in January but were delayed this year as bosses came up with plans to combat a cash crisis that has been severely worsened by Covid-19.

The Metro has needed almost £40million worth of Government grants to keep trains running since the pandemic hit.

That funding is due to run out in April and no further money has been confirmed yet.

The Government was last week urged to commit to long-term funding for the Metro, after it emerged that Nexus was told to base its recovery plans on the unlikely prospect that social distancing would come to an end in April.

However, it is understood that Nexus currently has no plans to impose even further ticket price increases this year, regardless of its financial situation beyond April.

Chief Operating Officer at Nexus, Martin Kearney, said: “We propose to keep the excellent discounts that we offer through Pop Pay As You Go, despite facing the biggest financial crisis in 40 years of Metro operations due to Covid-19 hitting our passenger numbers hard.

“Other fares are recommended to go up in order to help us meet our running costs at a time when we have seen passenger numbers fall. We have kept these proposed fare increases as low as we possibly can and in line with the cost of living.

“The Metro is a public service that doesn’t make a profit, so we require Government support to keep it running.

“Despite this, we are putting forward a balanced package of fares, one that will ensure that the Tyne and Wear Metro continue to offer the most affordable fares in the country.”

RELATED: Metro boss who moved from Australia to take top job just before pandemic reflects on the system's 40th anniversary year which turned out to be its bleakest

If approved on Thursday, the Metro and Shields Ferry fares from April 1 2021 will be:

:: A one zone single will go up from £2.00 to £2.10; two zone single from £2.90 to 3.00; all zone single from £3.60 to £3.70. Pop Pay As You Go prices will rise by 10p, but retaining a 45p discount compared to a standard single ticket.

:: A one zone adult day ticket will go up from £3.20 to £3.30; a two zone day ticket from £4.30 to £4.40; an all zone Day Ticket from £5.30 to £5.40. Pop Pay As You Go prices will rise by 10p, retaining a 55p discount compared to a standard day ticket.

:: A total freeze on all tickets for those aged 18 and under, including Pop Blue, season tickets and class passes for schools.

:: A minimum of a 30% discount versus the equivalent adult fares will continue to be offered to students via the Student Metro Season Ticket.

:: The 18 and Under Metro Season Ticket, which offers a 60% discount on the cost of travel, remains available to all young people aged 16 to 18.

:: The one zone weekly Metro Season Ticket will rise from £11.40 to £11.50; a two zone weekly from £17.00 to £17.20; an all zone weekly goes from £23.10 to £23.30.

:: The one zone four-week Metro Season Ticket would rise from £40.30 to £40.70; the two zone four weekly goes from to £59.20 to £59.80; an all zone four weekly is up from £78.30 to £79.10.

:: The price of the one zone annual Metro Season Ticket is up from £445.50 to £450; the two-zone annual is up from £622.10 to £628.50; the all zone annual is up from £688 to £695.

:: The Metro Gold Card, which gives pensioners and people with disabilities unlimited off-peak Metro travel, will remain frozen in price at £12, or £24 for those not resident in Tyne and Wear.

:: A single ticket on the Shields Ferry would go up from £1.80 to £1.90; a Ferry day ticket goes from £3.00 to £3.10; a child ferry single is frozen at 70p; Pop Pay As You go customers see a 45p saving on the cost of a single Shields Ferry trip, and a saving of 55p on the cost of a Ferry day ticket in comparison to the standard ticket price; Pop blue is frozen in price for journeys on the Shields Ferry.

:: A one-week ticket for the Shields Ferry will go up from £10.60 to £10.70; a four-week ferry ticket is up from £37.20 to £37.60.