The Tyne & Wear Metro is to receive £14m to improve its ticketing system, in the first stage of its modernisation programme, transport minister, Sadiq Khan, has announced.
The funding will enable 225 existing ticket machines to be replaced at 60 stations.
The new machines will be set up to enable the introduction of a smart ticketing system similar to London’s ‘Oyster’ card.
Automatic gates will also be installed at 13 of the busiest Metro stations to help reduce fare evasion.
Mr Khan said: ‘Improvements such as this make public transport more attractive, helping reduce congestion on the region’s roads, lower pollution, and improve the local environment, as well as providing a more efficient service for Metro users.’
This announcement came a week after the Government launched its national consultation on smart ticketing, which could see paper tickets become a thing of the past.
The Government estimates the benefits of universal, ‘integrated smart’ ticketing could be as much as £2bn a year across the country, through improved journey times and faster, more convenient and reliable purchasing and use of tickets, with benefits for local government and operators too.
Following this approval, Nexus – the Metro operator – can now award the contract for the work, and begin the detailed design and installation.
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