Nexus – the public body which owns and operates the Tyne and Wear Metro – is cutting fares for young people.

Young passengers with a ‘Pop card’ will pay just one pound for a single journey and a maximum of £2.20 for unlimited daily travel.

The new fares will apply from Sunday 7 May. At the same time, the Pop Blue smartcard will expand its scope from its current 16-18 age range to anyone aged 21 and under, and the Pop 19-21 card will be scrapped.

Nexus said the move will simplify its ticketing offer to young people, making Metro travel more affordable for them. It will more than halve the price of an all-zone Metro journey for young people. The one-pound single fare is a reduction from £1.20 for under-19s and from £2.30 for 19-21-year-olds.

At the start of this month, Nexus froze fares for holders of its Pop Pay As You Go card.

The new fares are being introduced to coincide with reduced bus fares due to launch across the region under a new Bus Service Improvement Plan partnership between local councils and bus operators.

The Junior Blue smartcard for under-16s, on which single tickets are already charged at £1 with a £1.70 daily cap, will remain at its current rates.

These changes will be mirrored on Shields Ferry and bus services operated by Nexus.

Customer Services Director, Huw Lewis, said: “We are delighted to be able to deliver lower Metro fares for young people, which will see them paying just £1 per journey with a Pop card.

“This delivers a big saving and simplified fares for everyone aged 16 to 21. It’s a significant change in how young people pay for their Metro travel.

“Young people are our future customers. If we are going to have any chance of tackling the climate emergency we need to encourage young people to make public transport a permanent part of their lives for the future. That’s why we already have the Take the kids for free offer and are now introducing this simple £1 offer.

“It makes travel for under 19s a little bit cheaper, going down from £1.20 to £1. And now anyone aged 19 to 21 with a Pop card, not just students will see a fare reduction from £2.30 down to £1. It more than halves the price of a journey on all all-zone ticket.”