The multi-million pound modernisation of the Tyne and Wear Metro system has arrived at Newcastle International, with the airport’s Metro terminus kitted out with new ticket machines and automatic gates.
The arrival of the new technology at the airport, a vital gateway into the region, is a major milestone in the £25m project to transform the ticketing system on Metro.
Nexus, which owns, manages and is modernising Metro, is installing electronic ticket gates at 13 key stations. A total of 225 ticket machines are being fitted at all 60 Metro stations on the system.
Nexus aims to have the ticket gates ready for passenger use in 2013.
Nexus has already upgraded 48 Metro stations with smart ticket machines which are capable of accepting credit and debit cards and banks notes, as well as coins.
The new automatic ticket gates, similar to the London Underground, are being installed as part of the roll out of a new smartcard ticketing system on Metro – the Pop card.
The work is part of the Metro £385m Metro: all change modernisation programme, which will see the system transformed over the next 11 years, with new-look stations, trains and infrastructure.
Director General of Nexus, Bernard Garner, said: “The airport Metro station has its new ticket machines up and running and its automatic gates are in place ahead of the big switch on next year.
“Our ticketing and gating project is transforming the way passengers access the Metro system. The gates will make it harder to avoid paying a fare. The new ticket machines give passengers the choice of paying with bank notes and cards, as well as coins.
“Newcastle Airport is a very important gateway into the region. The Metro link, which opened in 1991, boasts the shortest journey time between an airport and a city centre in Britain.
“Many of the thousands of passengers from around the world who arrive at the airport every day transfer on to Metro. They will use the new ticket machines and gates as they pass through.
“More than two thirds of our Metro stations have new ticket machines. Work is well underway on fitting the ticket gates. Airport is one of 13 stations that will be gated. The aim is to have the gates in use during 2013.”
Dave Laws, Chief Executive of Newcastle International Airport, said: “The Metro service to and from the airport is a vital link for our passengers, many of whom use public transport regularly when they fly.
“We’re pleased the new ticket machines and gates will offer the public an even faster connection to the airport.”
The smart ticket machines are enabled to handle smartcard transactions for the new Pop cards. Passengers will be able to use the new ticket machines to top up their Pop cards.
Pop is the name of the new travel smartcard which is being rolled out across Tyne and Wear.
The smart ticket machines are set up to accept credit and debit card payments via payWave, the contactless method of card payment that involves simply touching the credit/debit card against a sensor. This is an added feature passengers can look forward to in the future.
The Metro line to Newcastle International Aiport opened on 22 November 1991. The £12.2m extension was funded jointly by Nexus, with a £2.4m grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and a £2.3m contribution from the Airport Company.