Mayor delays Metro fare rise over service quality

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has said the performance of the Tyne and Wear Metro needs to improve after almost two months of significant disruption.

Passengers have experienced a massive impact on services since the Gateshead flyover was closed due to structural problems on 15 December.

The mayor has decided to postpone annual price increases, usually rolled out in April, until July due to the issues.

Operator Nexus said holding back the changes "recognises the exceptional disruption caused to customers at the end of 2024".

From July, the cost of a single journey paper Metro ticket will go up from £2.80 to £3.00 for one zone, from £3.80 to £4.00 for two zones, and from £4.50 to £4.70 for three zones, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

McGuinness acknowledged issues were "in large part" caused by the closure of Gateshead flyover and the impact that had on the tunnels below.

The flyover was closed for 10 days affecting journeys across the whole network.

She said: "Metro performance needs to improve. I've been very clear with Nexus about that but know passengers have not seen that improvement happening.

"With this in mind it would not be the right thing to increase fares in April as has happened in previous years.

"People should not be paying more when they have had less."

Director of finance and resources at Nexus John Fenwick said fares needed to increase "in order to help us address the challenges of higher operational costs".

Mr Fenwick said costs would increase by 5.1% heading into 2025/26, adding: "Metro is a public service and doesn't make a profit so we require Government support, alongside the revenue that we generate from fares, to keep the system running."

Both Nexus and McGuinness pointed to savings available to people who switch to the Pop Pay As You Go option.

The new fare proposals will go before North East Combined Authority's cabinet meeting for approval on Tuesday.

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