Nexus has today altered the validity of some Metro Gold Cards to ensure that customers buying a £25 pass will receive 12 months of travel.
This means Gold Cards bought since 1 April 2011 will be valid until the end of April 2012.
Anyone who has purchased a Gold Card since 1 April with a ‘March 2012’ expiry date is advised to return to the Travelshop where they bought it to be issued with a replacement pass, bringing with them the Gold Card, and their concessionary travel pass.
A Nexus spokesman said: “Gold Card has been promoted as an annual pass, and some customers had pointed out that the expiry date on their new pass meant they were getting less than 12 months travel. We are happy to correct this and apologise for the inconvenience caused.”
Gold Card provides unlimited travel on Metro after 9.30am weekdays and all day at weekends and bank holidays. It can be bought by anyone who holds an English National Concessionary Travel Pass (bus pass).
Nexus had introduced an end date for cards in March 2012 as it planned for the introduction of ticket barriers at key stations, and the need to move Gold Card validity onto customers’ smart cards. There will be a transitional period next year as this change is made.
Alongside the £25 Gold Card for Tyne and Wear residents customers can instead choose to buy Gold Cards for shorter periods if they want to split the cost of payment or only use Metro at some times of year.
Gold Card is also available to concessionary pass holders not resident in Tyne and Wear, at a higher price.