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Tyne and Wear Metro passenger figures hit five year high

Posted: 22 October 2015 | Katie Sadler, Digital Content Producer, Intelligent Transport

Over 39 million journeys have been recorded on the Tyne and Wear Metro, its highest passenger figures for five years. The Tyne and Wear Metro has achieved its highest passenger figures since June 2010 with more than a million more journeys on the system compared to the same period last year. Nexus, which owns and […]

Nexus Tyne and Wear Metro

Over 39 million journeys have been recorded on the Tyne and Wear Metro, its highest passenger figures for five years.

Tyne and Wear Metro

The Tyne and Wear Metro has achieved its highest passenger figures since June 2010 with more than a million more journeys on the system compared to the same period last year. Nexus, which owns and manages Metro, puts the growth down to keeping ticket prices low and the introduction of smart ticketing, which offers passengers more flexible ways to pay for their travel.

According to figures released by the Department for Transport (DfT) in June 2015, Tyne and Wear Metro has the fastest growing passenger numbers in the country outside of London. As a consequence, Metro ticket sales increased by 4.4 percent in 2014/15 with ticket revenue totalling £47.9 million.

39 million journeys recorded on Tyne and Wear Metro

Councillor Nick Forbes, regional transport lead for the North East Combined Authority, said: “The Metro is a great example of what can be achieved when local areas take responsibility for transport infrastructure. It is a success story invented and delivered in the north east and it is set to go from strength to strength.

“We are now looking ahead to see how we can build on its popularity by investing in the Metro so that it can continue to serve the travelling public long into the future. That’s why our devolution proposals to government include significant investment in the Metro to make it even better and allow more passengers to use it in future.”

Tyne and Wear Metro passenger figures hit five year high

Director of Rail and Infrastructure for Nexus, Raymond Johnstone, said: “Metro passenger numbers are at their highest level for more than five years at 39 million journeys, so Metro clearly remains a very popular mode of travel.

“We have seen a continuing trend of passenger growth this year because we’ve been able to keep ticket prices low while offering more flexible ways to pay.

“Metro remains the most affordable light rail network in the UK.

“The growth in passenger journeys is a result of keeping fares low and providing flexible ways to pay and then travel on the system with a Pop card.”

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