Children who live in Tyne and Wear and are aged 5 to 15 on 31 August before the start of the current academic year are entitled to an Under 16 Card. This lets them travel in Tyne and Wear at concessionary child fares.
The fares are -
Single - 50p
CAT (Child All-day Ticket) - £1
With an Under 16 Card, you can travel at these concessionary child fares all day, every day.
What do I need to send you to get an Under 16 Card?
You will need to send us the following
- A completed application form, which you can download at the bottom of this page, signed by the child’s parent or guardian
- A colour passport photo attached to the application form in the box provided.
- Proof of the child’s age - for example their passport or birth certificate
- Proof that the child’s permanent address is in Tyne and Wear - for example their parent or guardian's council tax, gas, electricity or phone bill
- A stamped self-addressed envelope
Please send photocopies of the proof of child's age and address if you are applying by post.
Please note that an up to date Medical card can be used as proof of both age and address
Where do I send my application?
Either hand it in at any Nexus TravelShop or post it to us at -
Concessionary Travel Bureau, Nexus, Grainger Chambers, 3-5 Hood Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6JQ
Special envelopes addressed to Nexus are available in Nexus TravelShops for you to use to send your application to us.
However, if you choose to drop your application into a TravelShop, you can take originals of your proof of address. The TravelShop staff will check it and hand it straight back to you. They will then send your application to our Concessionary Travel Bureau for your pass to be issued. Most TravelShops also take passport photos for £3.00.
Your Under 16 Card will be posted out to you within five working days of us receiving your application (however delays may occur in September, so parents are urged to apply as soon as possible).
I’ve lost my pass – what do I do?
If you think you lost your pass while using public transport, please contact the appropriate operator. Call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 if you are unsure which operator’s service you were on.
If the operator has not found your pass, you will need to complete a new application form. A replacement Under 16 Card costs £5.
You will need to send us the following:
- Completed application form, signed by the child’s parent or guardian
- A colour passport photo attached to the application form in the box provided.
- A stamped self-addressed envelope
- £5 (cheque or postal order made payable to Nexus if posting, cash can be paid at any travelshop)
How to use your Under 16 Card
On buses – show the driver your pass when you buy your ticket
On Metro – press the appropriate child button on the ticket machine before paying
On train – you can buy your single ticket from the conductor or a ticket machine. Transfare tickets must be bought from a ticket machine
On ferry – show the ferry operator your pass when you pay for the ticket
Under five's go FREE
Accompanied children under the age of 5 can travel free in Tyne and Wear.
School Pass
School Passes allow you to pay for school journeys in advance so there is no need to find change for fares every day. See the School Pass section for full details.