Travel costs have been slashed for millions of journeys in the coming year as a new range of cheaper day tickets for bus travel launched in the North East, targeted at multi-modal and multi-operator journeys. 

From 5 November, new more affordable day tickets were made available for adults across the region, with many tickets offering a major cost-saving when compared to the existing product – with a new region-wide ticket saving a whopping 46% each day (£5.90 cost saving). 

Using North East Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding, a range of improvements to buses have already been launched across the region, including a flat £1 bus fare for young people aged 21 and under. More improvements are on the way in the coming months thanks to the region’s Enhanced Partnership between local authorities and bus operators. 

Passengers are now able to purchase a new range of day tickets for unlimited travel as follows: 

• Day tickets for unlimited bus, Metro and Ferry travel in Tyne and Wear for £6 
• Day tickets for unlimited bus travel in County Durham for £4 
• Day ticket for unlimited bus travel in Northumberland for £5 
• Day tickets for unlimited bus, Metro and Ferry travel across all of the North East (Tyne and Wear, Durham and Northumberland) for £6.80 

These new products sit alongside the national £2 single bus fare for adults, and the £1 single fare and £3 day ticket for young people aged 21 and under. This means that travelling by public transport in the North East will be substantially cheaper for millions of journeys in the coming year. 

Cllr Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, said: “I’m pleased that we’re helping to make every day travel much more affordable for local people with this range of adult day tickets – to be able to travel affordably by bus around our region, for example from Berwick to Bishop Auckland, or from Haltwhistle to Houghton-le-Spring – and back again – for £6.80 is incredibly good value and I hope helpful for passengers.  

“These new offers build on the successful launch of our £1 fare for young people aged 21 and under which I’m really proud to have delivered through our region’s Enhanced Partnership. Cheaper travel opens up numerous opportunities for education, employment and leisure, and I hope people take advantage of these new fares to get out and about by public transport when they can.  

“Cheaper tickets will help to save people money which is even more important as people continue to struggle with the reality of the cost of living crisis. The existing region-wide ticket for bus, Metro and Ferry travel is £12.70. The new ticket will slash that cost to £6.80, meaning people commuting regularly by bus could make major savings – this is great news for local people, our environment and economy.” 

Glen Sanderson, Leader at Northumberland County Council said: “I think this is a fantastic initiative which will really make transport accessible for more people across Northumberland and the North East in general.

“Not only will this encourage more use of public transport but will help us look at alternative ways to travel.”

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships and the authority’s representative on the North East Joint Transport Committee, said: “We are pleased to be putting this funding towards directly helping people by offering these reduced fares which bring down the price of journeys for the travelling public.

“These tickets offer great value for money at a time when people are struggling with the cost of living, especially in the run up to Christmas, when household budgets tend to be under extra pressure.”

Steve Walker, Managing Director of Stagecoach North East and Chair of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with local authorities to deliver substantially cheaper adult day tickets for passengers in the North East. This is great news and I’m sure this will be popular with passengers. We hope the new fares will encourage more people to try the bus for their every day journeys.” 

Roads Minister Guy Opperman said: “People up and down the country deserve a modern, reliable, and affordable public transport system. That is why we have provided the North East with more than £163 million to boost its bus services.

“Supporting Transport North East with delivering new more affordable day tickets is fantastic for local residents, who will now be able to get to work, school and visit loved ones more easily.”

For more information visit www.transportnortheast.gov.uk/allday  Terms and Conditions apply.