Metro Gold Card sales have almost doubled since the price was cut from £25 to £12.
The cost of a Gold Card, which offers discounted Metro travel to pensioners and people with disabilities, was halved from 1 April last year. The new price has prompted an extra 24,000 sales over the last nine months.
A total of 73,000 Gold Cards have been sold since the price reduction was introduced, compared to 48,000 sales for the same period in 2013/14 financial year.
In the 12 months to the end of March 2014 Nexus sold 56,000 Gold Cards. That sales total has already been surpassed in the current financial year.
Cllr Frank Lott, Chairman of NECA’s Transport North East (Tyne and Wear) Sub-Committee, said: “Lowering the price of the Gold Card has proved really popular and has stimulated a great deal of growth in sales, which is great news.
“The Metro Gold Card offers exceptional value for elderly and disabled passengers who have to rely on Metro services to travel around.
“The Gold Card is also now a smartcard product which can be uploaded straight on to the free bus pass at any Metro ticket machine, making it even easier to buy.”
The new price of the Gold Card reflects the fact that the Metro Gold Cards are much easier to buy and use.
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.
The price reduction means that pensioners and disabled Metro passengers can get unlimited off-peak Metro travel and all day at weekends for just £1 a month.
The cost of Metro Gold Cards for people who are not resident in Tyne and Wear came from £35 a year to £25 a year.
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.