Tyne and Wear Metro fare increases for 2012 have been capped at a lower level following lobbying by the Integrated Transport Authority to win one-off additional support from the Government.
This means that all Metro single tickets will rise by just 10p, instead of 20p, from January 1. The annual MetroSaver will now be frozen in price for a fourth year, if renewed online.
The price of Corporate MetroSavers will also now be frozen, while season tickets and student passes will go up in price by less than was first planned. The price of a child DaySaver is also frozen at £1.10.
Full details of new fares, which come into place from 1 January 2012, can be found here.
The Tyne and Wear ITA was successful in securing extra financial help from the Government, on top of its normal subsidy, so that the Metro fares from January 1 will rise by an overall level of 5.8 percent, instead of 7.2 percent as had been planned.
Chairman of the Tyne and Wear ITA, Cllr David Wood, said: “As a result of discussions we have won an improved settlement from the Government in 2012 that will reduce the impact of fare rises at a time when families are struggling with the cost of living.”
“I am pleased the Government has listened to the concerns of elected members on the Authority and seen the need to assist with funds to alleviate the fares increases.”
Bernard Garner, Director General of Nexus, which owns and manages Metro, said: “The cost of single tickets, student passes and weekly and monthly MetroSavers will all go up by less than previously planned. Annual Metrosaver customers who renew online will be paying the same price as in January 2009, which provides terrific value.
“When we recommended new Metro fares to the ITA last month we kept them as low as we could, but we now have extra funds in 2012 to reduce the increase or freeze the price of some key fares.
“Despite this an increase in overall Metro fares are still needed to balance the contribution passengers make with the subsidy the system receives from local and national Government.
“This is one-off support from the Government which will not be available next year, but it will help hard-pressed families and the economy now, when it is needed.”
The revised Metro fare increases will come into effect from Sunday 1 January.