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Annual MetroSaver holders and passengers making short journeys will see the price of tickets frozen in a review of Metro fares. The annual fare review, to go before politicians on the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority, proposes increases to a number of fares from January 7, 2007, to keep up with rising costs. But commuters holding an annual MetroSaver pass can still travel anywhere on Metro for just £399 – or less than £8 a week. Tickets frozen in price include: 1) The single one zone ticket is frozen at £1.30 for the second year in a row. 2) The MetroSaver all zone annual pass is frozen at £399 – a year after it was cut in price from £550, a 27% reduction. 3) The Evening DaySaver is frozen at £2 – allowing unlimited travel on Metro after 6.00pm. 4) The Child DaySaver is frozen at £1 – allowing unlimited travel anywhere on Metro. 5) The child concessionary fare for holders of Tyne and Wear Under 16 Cards remains at 40p, and 50p Transfare. Nexus Director General Bernard Garner said: “We are acting to encourage the recent growth in season ticket sales. “The fare review aims to raise additional revenue while minimising the impact on passengers. In order to keep subsidy levels from the taxpayer acceptable annual fare rises are inevitable, but Metro remains good value for money with annual MetroSaver holders able to travel anywhere for the equivalent of less than £8 a week. “Pressures including increased utilities costs and general inflation will result in an increased expenditure of £2.5m. The Government will fund some of the increases in cost through the Metro Rail Grant and the fares increase will contribute £1m.” The fare increases would see an average rise of 3% across the full range of tickets, if approved by the PTA. The commercial child single ticket will rise from 50p to 60p and Transfare from 60p to 70p after being frozen for several years – but around 58,000 holders of a Tyne and Wear Under 16 Card (available free from Nexus) will continue to pay the lower concessionary rate during qualifying periods. The full Metro fare review proposed is as follows: Single fares: 1 zone, £1.30 no increase; 2 zones up 10p to £2; 3 zones up 10p to £2.70. Peak day return: 1 zone unlimited Hopper up 10p to £2.10; 2 zones up 10p to £3.10; 3 zones up 20p to £4.20. Off-peak day return: 1 zone unlimited Hopper up 10p to £1.70; 2 zones up 10p to £2.60; 3 zones up 10p to £3.30. Child non-CT fare: up 10p to 60p Child non-CT Transfare: up 10p to 70p Child CT fare: No increase Child DaySaver: £1 no increase DaySaver tickets: Peak DaySaver up 10p to £4.30; Off-Peak DaySaver up 10p to £3.50; Evening DaySaver £2 no increase; WednesDaySaver up 10p to £2.50. Transfares: 1 zone up 10p to £1.50; 2 zones up 10p to £2.10; 3 zones up 10p to £2.10; 4 zones up 10p to £2.80; 5 zones up 10p to £2.80. MetroSaver tickets: Weekly 1 zone up 30p to £7; weekly 2 zones up 50p to £10.50; weekly all zones up 70p to £14.20. 4 week 1 zone up £1 to £25; 4 week 2 zones up £2 to £38; 4 week all zones up £2.50 to £50.50. Annual all zones MetroSaver: £399, no increase.
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