Smart ticketing initiative officially launched for the North East

The Pop Pay As You Go smart travel card was officially launched on 02 November 2015 as part of a smart ticketing initiative for travel on Nexus Tyne and Wear Metro and local bus services.

The North East smart ticketing scheme was launched at Haymarket Metro station in Newcastle by Transport Minister Andrew Jones and Cllr Nick Forbes, lead member for transport on the North East Combined Authority. Investment by local councils, Government and bus operators has aided the development of a single multi-operator smart card.

The Pop Pay As You Go card is the first of its kind outside London offering a daily price cap. The card provides discounted travel compared to normal fares on the Metro and allows passengers to benefit from a ‘last journey’ guarantee – allowing them to travel even if the journey takes them into a negative balance, provided that they later top up the card.

Pay As You Go customers can also use their cards to travel on a growing number of bus routes across the North East on which the smart technology is now being tested with passenger groups.

“We’ve invested £2.2 million in smart ticketing technology in the north east”

Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: “The Pop Pay as you go card is a great initiative that will ensure passengers across the north east can enjoy seamless journeys and save money on their local bus and Metro services.

“The government is fully committed to improving the ticketing experience for all passengers. That is why we’ve invested £2.2 million in smart ticketing technology in the north east and are providing continued support through the £12 million Smart Cities Partnership scheme.

“Congratulations to the Nexus team for launching the first capped pay as you go ticketing outside London.”

Cllr Nick Forbes, lead member for transport on the North East Combined Authority, added:  “The north east is at the forefront of smart travel and I am delighted that the new Pay As You Go Pop card is going to make life much simpler for travellers across the region’s Metro and bus networks.

“The Pay as You Go System makes paying for journeys easier and cheaper. I have already signed up for mine and I am sure this is going to be just as popular as London’s Oyster Card.

“Nowhere other than London and the North East currently have this system and many are watching with interest. I hope that before too long we can create a wider network of joined up journeys and ticketing as part of our Transport for the North plans.”

The card can already be used in this way on Arriva services in Northumberland and those services operating ‘North of the Tyne’, with some Go North East and Stanley Travel services accepting the card in County Durham and some Stagecoach services in the Tees Valley. The number of routes will continue to grow as bus companies introduce Pop Pay As You Go alongside their own smart products.