Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive - Policies and Programmes

Policies and Programmes

Nexus is pursuing a number of major programmes aimed at improving public transport in Tyne and Wear. These include the £385 million 'Metro: All Change' programme to modernise the Tyne and Wear Metro over eleven years. Funding has been secured from government. Nexus will continue to own all infrastructure, set fares and service frequencies through the ITA, while the operation of trains and stations is carried out on its behalf by a concessionaire, it being a condition of Government funding that this area be market-tested. The 'revenue risk' from passenger numbers changing will remain with Nexus, unlike in UK rail franchises. Most of the capital money will be invested in renewal and upgrade of infrastructure, with modernisation of stations and trains also included. Trains will not be replaced within this programme, but are expected to be replaced in around 2023.

In April 2009 Nexus launched a Bus Strategy aimed at improving the bus network in Tyne and Wear, which accounts for around 77% of all public transport journeys in the area. Nexus said it wished to work in partnership with commercial bus companies which operate 90% of services in Tyne and Wear without regulation, using partnership opportunities created in the 2008 Local Transport Act, as well as with local authorities which control highways. Priorities include increasing the punctuality and reliability of bus services, improving information and ensuring the network offers a high level of access to local shops, services and workplaces.

Nexus is a leading partner in NESTI - the North East Smart Ticketing Initiative. This is a joint programme with local councils and commercial transport operators to introduce a smart card payment system for North East England, including Northumberland, Durham and the Tees Valley. The core of the system would be public transport use but it could be extended to other public and commercial services. Nexus intends to introduce smart ticket machines and readers on Metro in 2011, inter-operable with technology also being rolled-out by bus companies. Full implementation is expected to take until 2013.

Nexus seeks to reduce social exclusion, particularly for disabled people, through a number of overlapping schemes. These include subsidised taxis, weekly community bus services between sheltered accommodation and supermarkets, a 'companion card' allowing free use of public transport by caretakers, and specialist training and mentoring for people with learning difficulties. This programme has won several national awards.