Tuesday 21 April

The new Metro Zones have been introduced through the joint efforts of Metro and the Leeds City Region Partnership-which brings together authorities from across the travel to work area for Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield, York along with North Yorkshire County Council.

Find out further details about Metro Zones 6 & 7.

At today's Harrogate launch Councillor Mike Gardner, Leader of Harrogate Borough Council said the Leeds City Region Leaders' Board has long campaigned for the extension of the Metro Zones.

Interconnecting communities

"Interconnecting our communities has been the top priority for the Leeds City Region over a number of years and this is an excellent outcome. The Metro Zone 6 card offers better value and seamless travel for those who travel regularly from Harrogate to Leeds and elsewhere within West Yorkshire by train. We are now looking to extend it to other modes of public transport across the city region."

Big difference for Craven residents

At the Skipton launch, Councillor Knowles-Fitton, Leader of Craven District Council said, "I'm very pleased to see that the Metro Zones has been extended to Skipton. This is something Craven has been pushing for some time and will make a big difference to residents in Craven who are regular travellers into West Yorkshire. The next obvious step is to look at extending the zones yet further to stations such as Gargrave.

Addressing cross-boundary travel

County Councillor Clare Wood, North Yorkshire's executive member for passenger transport said: "MetroCard is a strong brand and for many years people in Harrogate and Skipton have asked for this facility to be introduced.

"Addressing cross-boundary travel issues is a high priority for North Yorkshire which is why we have invested £400,000 improving stations on the Harrogate - Leeds line. This latest initiative is more evidence that close partnership working between authorities produces positive results which benefit all communities."

Surpassing traditional borders

"Introducing these new Metro Zones 6 & 7 is an important step in recognising the importance of the Leeds City Region as an interconnected area which surpasses the traditional administrative borders that have restricted us in the past," said Leeds City Region Chair, Councillor Andrew Carter.

"It is an example of how we can work together to recognise how our hitherto separated districts cover a large area in which people choose to live and work and across which they need to travel as they contribute to our regional economy."

Benefits for regular travellers

"These new Zones can provide benefits to people in Harrogate and Skipton who are regular travellers across the Leeds City Region," said Metro Deputy Chairman, Councillor Ryk Downes.

"They will also help to end the situation we have at the moment where people from these places are driving across the border into West Yorkshire and fill up already busy station car parks to be able to take advantage of existing MetroCard savings."