North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has announced a major milestone for public transport in the North East, with 100 million cheaper journeys now made using The Mayor's Fares across bus, Metro, rail and the Shields Ferry.
These fares are capped at £1 for young people and £2.50 for adults until March 2027, saving local people money every single day delivering on her pledge to make travel more affordable.
Reflecting on the milestone Mayor Kim said: “This just goes to show, when public transport is affordable, people choose to use it and that’s what The Mayor’s Fares are all about. Rising bills are hitting people hard, and this is one of the ways in which we’re putting money back into people’s pockets and easing the financial pressure too many are facing.
“Local people in the North East deserve nothing less than an affordable world-class integrated public transport network - one that gives access to real opportunity. This is just another step in the right direction, but we want to go further.
“I’ve always been clear I want to see our buses under public control and I’ll be asking for your views on how our bus network should be run this summer.”
Thanks to The Mayor’s Fares cap, adults in the North East pay 50p less than the Government’s national cap of £3, as well as benefitting from a £7.50 regionwide day ticket covering buses, Metro and the Shields Ferry, plus £6 Day Rover tickets giving unlimited bus travel in County Durham or Northumberland.
Young people save up to £2 through the 21 and under £1 fare, as well as having access to a £3 regionwide day ticket offering unlimited travel across Northumberland, Tyne & Wear and County Durham.
More affordable travel is a key part of the Mayor’s plans for the ‘Angel Network’, a better, cheaper, and more reliable transport network, one that works for everyone and helps to connect local people to real opportunities.
People can sign up to be part of the journey to the Angel Network here.