METRO fare rises will be lower than expected next year after Government support was secured.
All Metro single tickets had been due to go up by 20p from January 1, but this rise will be just 10p.
The price of Corporate MetroSavers will also now be frozen, while season tickets and student passes will go up in price by less than was first planned. The price of a child DaySaver is also frozen at £1.10.
Metro owner Nexus said that councillors on the Integrated Transport Authority had been successful in bidding for one-off additional support from the Government.
The extra financial help on top of the normal subsidy means Metro fares will rise by an overall level of 5.8%, instead of 7.2% as had been planned. When the chancellor announced in his Autumn Statement he would be capping rail fares and helping transport providers meet those costs, the transport authority made a fresh bid for fare help.
David Wood, chairman of the Tyne and Wear ITA, said: “As a result of discussions we have won an improved settlement from the Government in 2012 that will reduce the impact of fare rises at a time when families are struggling with the cost of living.”
“I am pleased the Government has listened to the concerns of elected members on the authority and seen the need to assist with funds to alleviate the fares increases.”
Peter Wood, leader of the opposition group on the transport authority, had previously hit out at planned rises.
Last night welcomed the news, saying: “I’m much happier with this level of increase, as I believe my opposition colleagues will be.
“It’s much nearer the current rate of inflation and the rate by which rail fares nationally will be going up. Increasing fares above the inflation rate – as Nexus and Labour members of the authority originally intended – would only deter people from using public transport.
“The inflation rate is expected to fall significantly in the new year. Hopefully next year’s increase in Metro fares will be all the less as well.”
Bernard Garner, director general of Nexus, said: “The cost of single tickets, student passes and weekly and monthly MetroSavers will all go up by less than previously planned. Annual Metrosaver customers who renew online will be paying the same price as in January 2009, which provides terrific value.
“When we recommended new Metro fares to the ITA last month we kept them as low as we could, but we now have extra funds in 2012 to reduce the increase or freeze the price of some key fares.
“Despite this an increase in overall Metro fares are still needed to balance the contribution passengers make with the subsidy the system receives from local and national Government.”
