Nexus Matters What’s new in public transport in Tyne and Wear November 15 Issue 22 Minister launches Pop Pay As You Go travel Passengers on the Tyne and Wear Metro can now enjoy the convenience and value of Pay As You Go smart travel using the Pop card. Transport Minister, Andrew Jones, and Cllr Nick Forbes, lead member for transport on the North East Combined Authority, met at Haymarket Metro station in Newcastle to launch the distinctive new purple Pop card, the first outside London to offer a daily price cap. Customers can top up their cards in advance avoiding the need to pay every time they travel. Pop Pay As You Go provides a discount compared to normal single fares on Metro – while a best price guarantee means people will pay less than the price of a DaySaver for the zones they use, no matter how many journeys Transport Minister, Andrew Jones MP and Cllr Nick Forbes launch new purple Popcard they make. “Congratulations to the Nexus team for launching the The card allows users to store a cash value topped And Pay As You Go customers can also use their first capped pay as you go ticketing outside London.” up online, at PayZone agents or station ticket cards to travel on a growing number of bus machines. Pop Pay As You Go customers on Metro Cllr Nick Forbes, lead member for transport on the routes across the North East on which the smart also benefit from a ‘last journey’ guarantee – North East Combined Authority, said: “The North technology is now being tested with passenger allowing them to travel even if the journey takes East is at the forefront of smart travel and I am groups. them into a negative balance, provided that they delighted that the new Pay As You Go Pop card is Investment by local councils, Government and top up to a positive balance before they next use going to make life much simpler for travellers across bus operators has made the North East the the card. the region’s Metro and bus networks. first region outside London to offer a single Customers touching in and out at Metro validators “The Pay as You Go System makes paying for multi-operator smart card. and gates will see the best fare for them calculated journeys easier and cheaper. I have already signed Transport Minister, Andrew Jones, said: “The automatically. up for mine and I am sure this is going to be just as Pop Pay As You Go card is a great initiative that popular as London’s Oyster Card. Single journeys made with Pop Pay As You Go cost will ensure passengers across the North East 10p less than the standard fare, and all day travel “Nowhere other than London and the North East can enjoy seamless journeys and save money will cost 20p less than the equivalent DaySaver currently have this system and many are on their local bus and Metro services. price for the zones used. watching with interest. I hope that before too long we “The government is fully committed to can create a wider network of joined up journeys and “The smart system keeps track of journeys made, improving the ticketing experience for all ticketing as part of our Transport for the North plans.” and stops charging once a guaranteed daily price passengers. That is why we’re investing £2.2m cap has been reached for the zones used.” in smart ticketing technology in the North East The new card is on sale now from Travelshops and as part of our £12m Smart Cities Partnership from selected shops in the PayZone network across scheme. the region from later this month. What’s Inside . Metro passenger numbers hit five-year high Metro has achieved its highest passenger And figures released by the Department for figures for five years, with the number of Transport (DfT) in June showed that Metro has Page journeys on the system passing 39 million the fastest growing passenger numbers in the 2 Our £40 million investment plans in the last 12 months. country outside of London. Nexus, which owns and manages Metro, puts Cllr Nick Forbes, regional transport lead for the Page the growth down to keeping ticket prices low and North East Combined Authority, said: “The Metro 3 Meet the latest Nexus apprentices the introduction of smart ticketing, which offers is a great example of what can be achieved passengers more flexible ways to pay for their when local areas take responsibility for transport Page travel. infrastructure. 4 Metro modernisation: the story so far - infographics The system also benefitted from Rugby World “It is a success story invented and delivered in Cup events in the region, with around 250,000 the north east and it is set to go from strength to passengers travelling to matches and the fan zone strength.” last month. Nexus provides local transport services on behalf of the North East Combined Authority £40m investment targets track and train management Metro round-up New transport hub for South Shields Nexus is investing in a new transport interchange in South Shields as part of the Metro: all change modernisation Nexus is investing £40m in modernisation of Metro this year. The work will focus programme. on Metro track replacement, station refurbishment and essential new technology. The new-look transport interchange will be built in the heart of South Shields and will Key projects include for many decades to come. include a combined new Metro and bus station “There is also going to be investment in to the south of Keppel Street. • Track replacement on the QEII Bridge new technology. The new radio system for across the river Tyne It marks the second phase of the South Shields our trains will be much more reliable and 365 Town Centre Vision, a regeneration • Track replacement between Tynemouth effective. The new technology for our Metro scheme breathing new life into the town. and Northumberland Park stations Control Room is a major development behind The transport hub proposal has been • A new Rail Traffic Management System the scenes.” developed in conjunction with Nexus, South (RTMS) in the Metro Control Room “The main thing passengers will notice is the Tyneside Council, and Muse Developments. • A new digital radio system for the Metro refurbishment work at Central Station and three train fleet stations in Gateshead. Bridges strengthened in Jarrow and • A key track junction replaced at Regent The new radio system is being installed in the Hebburn Centre drivers’ cabs on Metro’s fleet and in the Metro Three Metro bridges crossing roads in The work forms part of the £389m Metro: all Control Room”. Jarrow and Hebburn are being strengthened change modernisation programme, a The installation of a new Rail Traffic and protected from vehicle strikes. Government-funded scheme to modernise the Management System (RTMS) is the single Crash barriers are being put in to reduce the Tyne and Wear Metro which began in 2010. biggest investment in new technology for the problem of lorries striking the bridge deck, which then leads to trains being held up while Director of Rail and Infrastructure for Nexus, Metro Control Room since it began operations engineers check the structure. Raymond Johnstone, said: “We have £40m of in 1980. Nexus is planning further investment lined up in 2015/16 as part of our redevelopment work at Sunderland Station, The work through this autumn will reduce potential delays on the line to and from South Metro modernisation programme. working in partnership with Sunderland City Shields, and secure the future of the Metro line “The track replacement work on the North Council and Network Rail. These works will for decades to come. Tyneside coastal loop in 2016 will be extremely complement the improvements made to the significant and is vital to keep Metro running sub-surface station in 2010. Central Station refurbishment begins £30m fleet revamp complete The £30m refurbishment of Metro’s train fleet has been successfully completed, five months ahead of schedule. Contractors Tolent have been appointed for the Cllr John Harrison, Chairman of the North East year-long project to refurbish Metro’s Central Combined Authority’s Tyne and Wear Transport Station in Newcastle. Sub-Committee, celebrated the final The work, started after the Great North refurbished car entering service with Metro Run, will focus on improving accessibility, Depot staff and Sharon Kelly, the Managing passenger waiting areas and information Director of train operator DB Regio which at the station, used by more than six million people a year. oversaw the work. It forms the latest phase of the wider A total of 86 Metro carriages have been regeneration of this important regional refurbished over the last five years, with each gateway, following projects to improve the one stripped down to replace corroded main station above and surrounding streets. bodywork, and improve accessibility and The Metro station will be closed after 8pm passenger facilities. The project extends the Sunday to Thursday to allow work to be carried cars’ life by 10 years. out. Felling and Gateshead Stadium stations get makeover Felling and Gateshead Stadium stations were refurbished during major summer events including the British Transplant Games. summer 2015 to improve accessibility and lighting, while giving them a So far 25 stations across Metro have been refurbished to include clean modern look. features like tactile surfaces, double handrails and bench seats. The work at Gateshead Stadium coincided with a project by Network Rail Work at Heworth – where new lifts and escalators have already to renew the road bridge next to the station, planned with Nexus to avoid been installed - is set to begin during the winter.