North East leaders have said they will “try” to reduce Tyne and Wear Metro fares to £2 following the Government’s announcement of a nationwide £2 bus fare cap, but have stopped short of making any promises.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed on 22 July that single bus fares across England will be capped at £2 throughout 2027, backed by £400 million in government funding.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness welcomed the move, saying it would make a significant difference to families facing cost-of-living pressures.
However, it remains uncertain whether a similar reduction can be introduced on the Tyne and Wear Metro.
The mayor previously introduced a £2.50 fare cap for Metro passengers using a Pop Pay As You Go card, matching the region’s discounted bus fares. That cap is due to remain in place until the end of March 2027, with a decision on its future expected early next year.
A spokesperson for the North East Combined Authority said the Government’s new funding only applies to buses, meaning any further reduction in Metro fares would have to be funded locally.
They said: “People across the North East have saved money on almost 100 million daily journeys on bus and Metro with the £2.50 adult Mayor’s Fare and £1 Mayor’s Fare for everyone aged 21 and under.”
“The latest data shows that bus usage in the North East increased by 8% in the year to March 2025, among the fastest growth in the country.
“This shows that cheaper fares make a difference in more ways than one. Wednesday’s announcement by the Prime Minister that the Government will pay for a £2 single fare on buses from January is great news and builds on the real savings we have delivered.”
“On Metro we’ve already cut the price of travel for many passengers this year to £2.50 and they will remain frozen at that price until March next year.”
The mayor’s office said Ms McGuinness wants fares to remain as low as possible and, if funding allows, would seek to freeze or reduce Metro fares further.
The Metro fare cap currently costs the authority around £1 million a year to subsidise. It reduced the cost of many longer journeys by as much as 34%, although some shorter trips became more expensive when the scheme was introduced.
