There were a record 4.3 million trips made on the Tyne and Wear Metro using Pop Pay As You Go in 2023 according to new figures released by Nexus. Not only are these passengers saving money when compared to buying paper tickets but its also saving time by not having to queue up and use ticket machines.
Metro trips have grown 13.5% in the last year as thousands of people have discovered the value of Pop PAYG alongside the Metro Take The Kids For Free price promise and the £1 single fare for those aged 21 and under.
Nexus Customer Services Director, Huw Lewis, said: “It’s fantastic to see Pop PAYG becoming more and more popular and we expect even more customers will be making the switch this year. A record 4.3 million Metro journeys were made with Pop PAYG 2023, with customers clearly recognising it’s the best way to get the cheapest single and day fares available.
“Moving to PAYG Go in Google Pay, or getting a free Pop card from nexus.org.uk, which now has a minimum top of just £5, means customers can save up to £1.35 every day, compared to paying for travel from a Metro ticket machine.
“The evidence is that Pop is encouraging our customers to travel more often as we have seen numbers grow 13.5% as Metro continues to recover towards pre-pandemic levels.
“I recommend that customers make the switch even if you travel only once a week or less – either by finding Pop in your Google Pay application or applying for a Pop card online from the Nexus website.”
Anyone who is aged 22 and over saves money on every Metro trip with a Pop PAYG card compared to adult paper day and single tickets. This amounts to at least 95p on a single ticket and up to £1.35 on all-day travel depending on the zones used. Those aged 21 and under can get a Pop Blue card which enables them to take advantage of the £1 flat fare introduced last year.