More than two million extra Metro journeys have been generated through Pop Pay As You Go (PAYG), which is available on smartcards and on Google Pay.
The discounted single and day Metro fares offered through Pay As You Go is increasing in popularity – with over 100,000 customers signed up, generating 2.2 million Metro trips this year.
The convenience of Pop Pay As You Go, alongside Metro’s Take The Kids For Free price promise and £1 flat fare for everyone up to the age of 22 has helped Metro recover from the pandemic faster than almost every other urban rail network.
And a new online and on-system marketing campaign has been launched to encourage even more Metro customers to make the switch to PAYG.
It aims to raise awareness of the range of smartcard tickets, and the savings people could be making by switching, prompting people to find the right ticket for them at www.nexus.org.uk/pop.
Pop PAYG prices have been frozen since 2021, between £1.65 and £4.85, so customers can still save more than £1 a day compared to buying a ticket from a machine.
Nexus Customer Services Director, Huw Lewis, said: “Pop Pay As You Go continues to go from strength to strength, with over 100,000 customers generating an extra two million Metro journeys this year.
“We have seen just over 14,000 new customers switch to Pop since March, all recognising how much easier and cheaper it makes travelling on Metro.
“Moving to Pop Pay As You Go in Google Pay, or getting a free Pop card from nexus.org.uk, which now has a minimum top of just £5, means you can save a pound per day, compared to paying for travel from a Metro ticket machine.
“We recommend that customers make the switch even if you travel only once a week or less - either by applying for Pop card by applying for one online from the Nexus website or through Google Pay if you have an Android smartphone. We hope to bring PAYG to other smartphone operating systems in the future.”
Anyone aged 22 and over saves money on every Metro trip with a Pop PAYG card, compared to adult paper day and single tickets.
Using a Pop PAYG card is easy, and it’s simple to check and top up the balance at any Metro ticket machine, and to tap the card or Android smartphone on the gates and validators at the start and end of a journey.
Pop cards can also be used to make payments on bus routes in North East England as well as on the Shields Ferry.
Metro became the first rail system outside London to offer the convenience of pay as you go smart travel on the iconic Pop card in November 2015.
Switching to Pop Pay As You go is free and can be done really easily online: www.nexus.org.uk/pop