Rise in passengers returning to Metro
The return of workers to offices has seen a rise in the number of people travelling on the Tyne and Wear Metro.
Passengers slumped by up to 95% at the peak of the corona virus pandemic, although use has now recovered to about half of the pre-lockdown level.
But bosses have warned they still face a huge financial challenge to keep services running while also complying with social distancing regulations.
A spokesman for Nexus, the Metro operator, said: “Metro fare revenue has recovered to almost half of what it should be.
"But it is still nowhere near what it was before lockdown – the number of people travelling on our trains is about half of what it typically should be.
“The numbers have gone up slowly as lockdown has eased and some people have started to return to offices.”
Extra measures to ensure compliance with COVID-19 restrictions at mains tations.
These have included social distancing markers, mask vending machines and extra staff.
Bosses have insisted potential passengers should be “confident” about travelling on the network.
But while there opening of schools in September and the gradual opening of offices and other workplaces have seen some regular commuters return to trains, many are still working from home.
Some remain hopeful however the business could be about to see a sustained increase in users.
“The farebox revenue is increasing faster than they [Nexus] anticipated and last week was at 45% [of what it should be ],” George Clark told a meeting of the North East Combined Authority’s Audit and Standards Committee, of which he is also vice-chairman.
“We would imagine, with people going back to work and schools going back that that will increase from this week onwards.”
Nexus was handed £8.5million by the Government in August.
That was its third bailout since the start of the pandemic to keep Metro services afloat.
The network has been given £24.7million in total by ministers since May, but more is expected to be needed to keep trains running beyond October.