The Junior Blue smartcard has been launched by Nexus as a cash-free way for under 16s to pay for travel on the Tyne & Wear Metro.

The new smartcard can be purchased and topped up online and works like other Metro smartcards.

A journey paid for using the card is priced at the same as tickets available via ticket machines.

More information on the Junior Blue cards can be found on the Nexus website.

The card is free but has to be purchased with a £10 balance. The Junior Blue card completes the range of new cards and tickets available. Teenagers 16-18 have the Pop Blue smart card, and adults can take 3 under 11s at the weekend for free with any valid ticket.

Huw Lewis, Customer Services Director at Nexus, said: “Launching Junior blue for under 16s means we now offer cash-free smart card travel for everyone, no matter what their age.

“We know parents want an easy cash-free way to pay for their children’s Metro travel, so we sped up the development and launch of Junior blue due to the pandemic.

“With Junior blue parents can get a free smart card online and keep it topped up – so they never have to worry about their children having the right change or using ticket machines.

“Travel on Metro is already great value for young people, with commercial single trips for just 90p and £1.40 to travel all day. Junior blue is a really simple pay-as-you-go card, which our young passengers can use as often as they like, to get to school or go out with family or friends outside of school time.

“Passengers just need to tap through the station gates or validators, and remember to top the card up online, taking away the need to use the ticket machines.”

Chair of NECA’s Tyne and Wear Transport Sub-Cttee, Cllr Gladys Hobson, said: “This is an excellent smart card product for young people who need to use the Metro.

“It means there is now a cash-free smart travel option for everyone, which is vital in this Covid-19 era where we need to move away from cash transactions as much as possible.”

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