Metro announced new prices for its popular MetroCard and DayRover tickets from 2 January, in line with the annual increase in rail fares by train operating companies.
Metro announced last year that the January 2007 increase would help fund the additional 12 carriages that were introduced in December 2006 on two of the region’s busiest routes, the Leeds-Harrogate and Leeds-Bradford-Halifax lines, representing around 800 extra seats into and out of the city at peak periods.
Funding
Passenger Transport Authority members approved the rise, which is the equivalent of an extra 25p per week on a Zone 1-3 MetroCard, as part of a £20m funding package, which is also receiving £8.7m backing from Yorkshire Forward.
The Department for Transport could have increased fares in West Yorkshire and the extra money would have gone straight back to the Treasury with no benefits for local people, so the PTA decided to take the initiative. By doing so they ensured that the additional revenue is being ploughed straight back into the network on behalf of passengers in the form of additional carriages.
MetroCards can provide passengers with virtually unlimited travel on public transport services in West Yorkshire and are available for a week, a month, a quarter (3 months) or a year.
Prices for West Yorkshire DayRover will also change, for the first time in almost eight years. Family DayRover, for groups of up to five passengers, now cost £7.50, and are valid on buses and trains after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on public holidays.
Value
Bus MetroCards are available to regular travellers who don’t often use trains. They can be used on most buses throughout the county and prices start at just £16.50 for a week. Regular rail passengers can choose from a range of zoned MetroCards depending upon the journeys they make, with prices starting from £18.50 for a week. MetroCards valid for rail journeys also entitle the holder to use bus services throughout the county.
School Plus MetroCards can make bus travel cheaper and easier for young people aged 5 to 16 and full-time school students aged 16 to 18. Costing just £6.75 for a week or £25.50 for a month, they are valid for most journeys on most West Yorkshire buses displaying the Metro logo, at any time on any day of the week.
Anyone up to the age of 22 and mature students in full-time education, can make savings on bus and train travel throughout West Yorkshire with Student Plus MetroCards. It costs just £14.50 for a week or £55 for a month’s travel, and provides the holder with access to the county’s extensive public transport network, covering the Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield areas.
The complete price list for Metro prepaid tickets is available in the Tickets & Passes section, or from Metro’s Travel Centres at Bradford Interchange and Halifax, Huddersfield and Leeds bus stations.
