Regent Centre has become the latest station on the Tyne and Wear Metro network to receive automatic ticket gates. This is all part of North East Mayor Kim McGuinness’ pledge to make public transport safer and to also reduce fare evasion.
The ticket gates went live shortly before Christmas and brings to an end the first phase of a £2.1m programme to install more ticket gates onto the system by 2027.
Kim McGuinness said: “Too often people don’t feel safe when using public transport, especially women and girls. That’s why I promised to put ticket gates and staff at more Metro stations before the end of the year. Now, with the gates live at Regent Centre and staff on the ground there, people can see the investments we’re making in deterring anti-social behaviour on our transport network.
“But this is just the start of our multi-million pound investment to make public transport safer by replacing unwanted old bus shelters right across the North East, putting in better lighting and updating CCTV.”
Nexus are now undertaking feasibility studies to identify which other Metro stations will be also receive ticket gates. It is said that ticket gates help to deter anti-social behaviour and tackle fare evasion.
Paul Welford, Major Projects Director at Nexus, said: “I’m pleased to say that our first new ticket gates for more than ten years are up and running on Metro, supporting North East Mayor Kim McGuinness’ pledge to make public transport safer.
“The new gates have gone in at Regent Centre Metro station near Newcastle. They will help to make this busy suburban interchange more secure and help us to lower Metro fare evasion.
“We continue to work on a feasibility study to identify which other stations on the Metro system would be suitable for the installation of new automatic ticket gates. It will determine how many stations will be incorporated into the programme, with considerations including safety, security, revenue protection and optimum value for money.
“We now have 14 out of our 60 stations with ticket gates. These include the busiest stations on Metro and it means that, in normal circumstances, 75% of customers must pass through a gate either at the start or end of their journey.
“Ticket gates help us to safely control customer flow and access to stations. This increases security and safety allowing only those travelling on Metro to access the platform.”
There are now ticket gates at Airport, Central, Gateshead, Haymarket, Heyworth, Jesmond, Manors, Monument, North Shields, South Shields, Chichester, St James, Byker, along with these new set at Regent Centre.