North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has reached a major milestone in her mission to make public transport more accessible and affordable - 50 million ‘mayors fares’ have now been sold across the region, making it easier, cheaper, and more convenient for people to travel.
The Mayor’s fares – including the £1 youth fares, £2.50 single ticket cap and multi-modal day tickets are helping to reduce the cost of travel by bus in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and County Durham. So far, the tickets have saved passengers an estimated £38.5 million, putting money back into the pockets of families, commuters, and young people.
North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, said:
"This milestone proves that when public transport is affordable, people will use it. Fifty million tickets sold isn’t just a number - its more families being able to get out and about, workers commuting at a fair price, and young people travelling without the worry of sky-high transport costs.
"This is just the start of my plans to transform transport in the region. I will keep pushing for a better, cheaper, and more reliable transport network - one that works for everyone and helps to boost opportunities for local people."
Mayor McGuinness recently announced an extension of the popular region-wide Kids Go Free campaign which will now run on bus services during all school holidays in the North East until at least September 2026.
The Mayor is also pressing ahead with her plans to bring buses back under public control, ensuring services are reliable, accessible, and designed around the needs of local people.
For more information on the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) visit: www.northeast-ca.gov.uk/how-we-work/transport/bus-service-improvement-plan
For more information on the Mayor’s bus fares visit: www.northeast-ca.gov.uk/bus