Concessionary fares rejig to free up space
CONCESSIONARY travel rules have been rejigged in an effort to manage social distancing on public transport as people slowly return to work.
Older and disabled passengers will no long be able to travel free of charge on buses or the Metro in Tyne and Wear at morning peak hours.
From May 26, only customers paying full price will be to use the services before 9.30am on weekdays.
Allowing concessionary travel throughout the day was introduced earlier in the Covid-19 pandemic, in part to allow vulnerable people to travel to supermarkets earlier in the day when panic-buying was a problem.
Now as the Government slowly eases the lockdown, Nexus, bus operators and local authorities say the rules must be changed back to ensure public transport doesn’t become overcrowded.
Huw Lewis, customer services director at Nexus, said: “People with concessionary travel cards should, like everyone, only make essential journeys by public transport and travel in the afternoon if they can.
“There’s more space on buses and Metro after 12 noon, so that’s more secure for everyone.
“We are acting as one in North East England to end the temporary relaxation allowing older and disabled people to travel free during the busier morning peak period on weekdays, because the local situation has moved on.
“The relaxation was brought in by Nexus and Durham and Northumberland county councils, who administer concessionary travel schemes, to allow older people more flexibility to visit supermarkets at the start of the lockdown period.
“With the pressure on supermarkets now gone and more commuters returning to public transport, the best way to maintain social distancing is to encourage people to travel at different times of day.”
Local concessions still apply in Durham and Northumberland, passengers with all-day disabled cards are not affected, nor those with hospital appointments that require travel before 9.30am. Travel on weekends and bank holidays is not affected.
The return to normal concessionary schemes applies to all bus services in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and County Durham, plus journeys made with a Gold Card on Metro and the Shields Ferry.
Older and disabled customers can still travel before 9.30am by paying a fare or following local concessionary schemes.