Metro Gold Card holders will get the added benefit of all day travel in July and August.
Nexus, which owns and manages Metro, is repeating last year’s special offer by lifting the restriction which prevents holders using the Gold Card before 9.30am on weekdays for two months from Tuesday 1 July.
The Gold Card is now being sold as a smartcard product which can be uploaded directly on to a concessionary travel scheme card for older and disabled people (free bus pass) from Metro ticket machines at all 60 stations, as well as at Nexus Travel Shops and via Payzone points.
People with most English National Concessionary Travel Scheme cards (bus passes) simply need to touch their card against the Metro ticket machine’s orange reader then press ‘Metro Tickets’ to be offered a year’s travel with Gold Card.
Deputy Director General of Nexus, Tobyn Hughes, said: “The Gold Card rules are being relaxed for July and August to give pass holders the benefit of all day travel Metro travel.
“This is always a popular offer as more people use Metro often for days out in the summer. I’m pleased that we have been able to run the offer once again this year.”
Gold Cards, which costs £12 a year for Tyne and Wear residents and £25 a year for people from other areas, give unlimited off-peak travel on Metro for pensioners and eligible disabled people. They also provide free travel on the cross-Tyne Shields Ferry service.
Gold Cards were introduced in 2006 to offer concessionary travel pass holders discounted off-peak travel on the Tyne and Wear Metro for a one off yearly payment.