All systems By city Tyne and Wear Metro
Light metro
Tyne and Wear Metro
Britain's first modern light rail system, running from the coast at Tynemouth and South Shields through central Newcastle and on to Sunderland. Fares are set by three simple zones rather than by distance.
Which ticket should you buy?
Photo: Ardfern · CC BY-SA 3.0
Ticket options
Single, one zone
£2.60
Best for A short hop
Buy before boarding; there are no on-train sales and inspections are routine.
Single, all zones
£4.30
Best for Newcastle to Sunderland or the coast
Covers the full length of the network in one direction.
DaySaver, all zones
£5.90
Best for More than two journeys in a day
Pays for itself on the second return trip. Contactless capping reaches the same figure automatically.
Day Rover (Metro, bus and Shields Ferry)
£9.20
Best for Combining the Metro with buses
Sold as the Network One Day Rover. Useful for reaching the coast or Beamish.
Metro Weekly, all zones
£29.50
Best for Week-long stays and commuters
Loaded onto a Pop card at a station machine.
Fares checked May 2026. Confirm on the operator’s own fares page before you buy.
Where you tap
Tap in and tap out. Forgetting to tap out means the journey is recorded as incomplete and charged at the maximum fare for where you started.
Is the day ticket worth it?
Comparing the Single, all zones at £4.30 with the DaySaver, all zones at £5.90, travelling across all three zones. The day ticket becomes the cheaper choice from your second journey onwards.
| Journeys in a day | Singles cost | Against the day ticket |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £4.30 | £1.60 cheaper |
| 2 | £8.60 | £2.70 more |
| 3 | £12.90 | £7.00 more |
| 4 | £17.20 | £11.30 more |
How to pay
- Contactless at the gateline and on platform validators, with a daily cap
- Pop card (the local smartcard) for season tickets
- Ticket machines at every station — cash and card
Concessions
- Under 5s travel free.
- Children 5–15 pay a flat reduced fare; a Pop Blue card is needed for the cheapest rates.
- Students at local universities can buy discounted Pop season tickets.
Worth knowing
- The airport is inside Zone C — an all-zones ticket covers it, with no premium supplement.
- Validate a paper ticket or tap in even at ungated stations; penalty fares are enforced.
- The Shields Ferry is included on Day Rover tickets and is the nicest way to cross the Tyne.
Photos
Common questions
- How much is a single on the Tyne and Wear Metro?
- The cheapest single listed is £2.60 (Single, one zone).
- Is a day ticket worth it on the Tyne and Wear Metro?
- It pays for itself on your second journey. The DaySaver, all zones costs £5.90 and the Single, all zones £4.30, so 2 singles come to £8.60.
- Do I need to tap out on the Tyne and Wear Metro?
- Tap in and tap out. Forgetting to tap out means the journey is recorded as incomplete and charged at the maximum fare for where you started.
- Can I pay with a contactless card on the Tyne and Wear Metro?
- Yes. Contactless at the gateline and on platform validators, with a daily cap.
- What do children pay on the Tyne and Wear Metro?
- Under 5s travel free.