Disabled people in the North East can benefit from free Metro travel before the national changes in April 2027, thanks to little-known options offered by Nexus, the region's transport operator.
From April 2027, disabled people across England will be able to use public transport for free at any time of day, no longer limited to after 9:30am or before 11pm. However, Nexus, which also runs the Shields Ferry and many buses in the region, already provides several ways for disabled people to save money.
Qualifying for a Concessionary Travel Pass
To qualify for free Metro travel, you need a Concessionary Travel Pass (CTP), issued by your local authority with similar criteria across County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Northumberland. You can apply if you receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with at least eight points against the 'Moving around' or 'Communicating verbally' activities, the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (HRMCDLA), or the War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement (WPMS).
You can also apply through Nexus, where an option asks: "Are you employed or attending education for 15 hours or more each week?" If you answer yes and provide proof, you become eligible for all-day travel with no time limits. This includes the Metro, once you purchase a Metro Gold card to add to your CTP, valid for one year.
Metro Gold card costs and other benefits
The Metro Gold card gives a year's worth of Metro travel. It costs £18 for Tyne and Wear residents and £24 for those living outside the region.
Nexus also offers free travel before 9:30am for attending a hospital appointment, with free passage to or from the hospital, and free travel until the last bus of the evening, even after 11pm. For passholders who receive higher levels of disability benefits and would otherwise be unable to make a journey, free travel is available for a companion.
