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.