Every minute of the day a family is now taking advantage of the Take The Kids for Free price promise on Metro and the Shields Ferry.
Since being launched in summer 2021 almost a million journeys have been made by parents, grandparents and children under the age of 12, up to three of whom can travel with a fare-paying adult.
We released the statistic to encourage more families to discover the value of Metro travel as half term approaches.
It enables up to three children aged 11 and under to travel for free on Metro when accompanied by a fare paying adult.
We launched Take the Kids For Free in 2020 to grow weekend travel on Metro, and then made it permanent all day and every day in 2021.
Cllr Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, said: “In order to reduce carbon emissions and congestion on our region’s roads, it is essential to make public transport as convenient and affordable as possible.
“It’s absolutely brilliant to see that we are close to the one million milestone of free Metro journeys for kids. This offer has undoubtedly helped local families who are facing the harsh reality of the cost-of-living crisis. Public transport is an excellent way for families who live in Tyne and Wear to explore, and all the better that it provides a fun adventure for kids who we know love getting on the Metro.”
Huw Lewis, Customer Services Director at Nexus, said: “Take the kids for free is a real success story, and is close to generating a million Metro journeys as families make the most of a great value price promise, all day and every day.
“Metro was the first operator in the region to bring in a kids go free promise and it has set a benchmark for other public transport operators to follow, both here in our region, and hopefully in other parts of the country too.
“It helps more people enjoy the convenience, great value and sustainability of public transport, as well as having great days out for families.”
The Take the Kids For Free offer must have the fare-paying adult aged 18 or over and in possession of a valid ticket or validated smartcard. The accompanying children don't need to have a ticket, making travel simple as well as great value.
For more details on the Take the Kids for Free, and which adult tickets are valid, see: Take the kids for free | nexus.org.uk
Nexus first introduced the offer for weekends days out in January 2020, as part of celebrations to mark Metro’s 40th anniversary, and it was then made permanent in July 2021.