Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive
Encyclopedia
The Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (TWPTE) using the brandname of Nexus, is the Passenger Transport Executive
for the Tyne and Wear
region of North East England
.
Nexus is the operations arm of the Tyne and Wear Integreated Transport Authority (TWITA). The ITA is made up of fifteen councillors from the county: four from each of Newcastle upon Tyne
and Sunderland
, three from Gateshead
, and two from each of North Tyneside
and South Tyneside
.
The Nexus Business Intelligence Annual Report 2008/09 provides analysis of public transport statistics and sets this in context with wider socio-economic factors and is freely available at nexus.org.uk.
Tyne and Wear ITA is responsible for the following aspects of the Tyne and Wear transport system:
In April 2009 Nexus launched a Bus Strategy aimed at improving the bus network in Tyne and Wear, which accounts for around 77% of all public transport journeys in the area. Nexus said it wished to work in partnership with commercial bus companies which operate 90% of services in Tyne and Wear without regulation, using partnership opportunities created in the 2008 Local Transport Act, as well as with local authorities which control highways. Priorities include increasing the punctuality and reliability of bus services, improving information and ensuring the network offers a high level of access to local shops, services and workplaces.
Nexus is a leading partner in NESTI - the North East Smart Ticketing Initiative. This is a joint programme with local councils and commercial transport operators to introduce a smart card payment system for North East England, including Northumberland, Durham and the Tees Valley. The core of the system would be public transport use but it could be extended to other public and commercial services. Nexus intends to introduce smart ticket machines and readers on Metro in 2011, inter-operable with technology also being rolled-out by bus companies. Full implementation is expected to take until 2013.
Nexus seeks to reduce social exclusion, particularly for disabled people, through a number of overlapping schemes. These include subsidised taxis, weekly community bus services between sheltered accommodation and supermarkets, a 'companion card' allowing free use of public transport by caretakers, and specialist training and mentoring for people with learning difficulties. This programme has won several national awards.
Passenger Transport Executive
In the United Kingdom, passenger transport executives are local government bodies which are responsible for public transport within large urban areas...
for the Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
region of North East England
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
.
Nexus is the operations arm of the Tyne and Wear Integreated Transport Authority (TWITA). The ITA is made up of fifteen councillors from the county: four from each of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
and Sunderland
City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
, three from Gateshead
Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead
The Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead is a metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. It is named after its largest town, Gateshead, but also spans the towns of Rowlands Gill, Whickham, Blaydon and Ryton; suburban areas include Felling, Pelaw, Dunston and Low Fell.It is bordered...
, and two from each of North Tyneside
North Tyneside
The Metropolitan Borough of North Tyneside is a metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England and is part of the Tyneside conurbation. Its seat is Wallsend Town Hall....
and South Tyneside
South Tyneside
South Tyneside is a metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear in North East England.It is bordered by four other boroughs - Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead to the west, Sunderland in the south, and North Tyneside to the north. The border county of Northumberland lies further north...
.
The Nexus Business Intelligence Annual Report 2008/09 provides analysis of public transport statistics and sets this in context with wider socio-economic factors and is freely available at nexus.org.uk.
Operations
Tyne and Wear PTE is responsible for the following aspects of the Tyne and Wear transport system:- operating, maintaining and modernising the Tyne and Wear MetroTyne and Wear MetroThe Tyne and Wear Metro, also known as the Metro, is a light rail system in North East England, serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland. It opened in 1980 and in 2007–2008 provided 40 million public journeys on its network of nearly...
; - owning, maintaining and operating the Shields FerryShields FerryThe Shields Ferry operates across the River Tyne, England, between North Shields and South Shields. The service is operated by Nexus and is part of the Tyne and Wear Metro System...
; - coordinating local bus services;
- subsidising socially necessary, but unprofitable, bus services, including school buses;
- subsidising local rail services between Newcastle and Sunderland;
- running the concessionary travel scheme for people aged 60 and over and eligible disabled
- subsidising public transport for children aged under 16 and further education students
- providing public transport information;
- maintaining bus stops and most bus stationBus stationA bus station is a structure where city or intercity buses stop to pick up and drop off passengers. It is larger than a bus stop, which is usually simply a place on the roadside, where buses can stop...
s. - running Taxicard, a subsidised taxi service for disabled people
Tyne and Wear ITA is responsible for the following aspects of the Tyne and Wear transport system:
- administering the concessionary travel scheme;
- setting fares on secured bus services, local rail, metro and ferry services;
- owning the Tyne Tunnel river crossings, which are being expanded by a concessionaire.
Policies and programmes
Nexus is pursuing a number of major programmes aimed at improving public transport in Tyne and Wear. These include the £385 million 'Metro: All Change' programme to modernise the Tyne and Wear Metro over eleven years. Funding has been secured from government. Nexus will continue to own all infrastructure, set fares and service frequencies through the ITA, while the operation of trains and stations is carried out on its behalf by a concessionaire, it being a condition of Government funding that this area be market-tested. The 'revenue risk' from passenger numbers changing will remain with Nexus, unlike in UK rail franchises. Most of the capital money will be invested in renewal and upgrade of infrastructure, with modernisation of stations and trains also included. Trains will not be replaced within this programme, but are expected to be replaced in around 2023.In April 2009 Nexus launched a Bus Strategy aimed at improving the bus network in Tyne and Wear, which accounts for around 77% of all public transport journeys in the area. Nexus said it wished to work in partnership with commercial bus companies which operate 90% of services in Tyne and Wear without regulation, using partnership opportunities created in the 2008 Local Transport Act, as well as with local authorities which control highways. Priorities include increasing the punctuality and reliability of bus services, improving information and ensuring the network offers a high level of access to local shops, services and workplaces.
Nexus is a leading partner in NESTI - the North East Smart Ticketing Initiative. This is a joint programme with local councils and commercial transport operators to introduce a smart card payment system for North East England, including Northumberland, Durham and the Tees Valley. The core of the system would be public transport use but it could be extended to other public and commercial services. Nexus intends to introduce smart ticket machines and readers on Metro in 2011, inter-operable with technology also being rolled-out by bus companies. Full implementation is expected to take until 2013.
Nexus seeks to reduce social exclusion, particularly for disabled people, through a number of overlapping schemes. These include subsidised taxis, weekly community bus services between sheltered accommodation and supermarkets, a 'companion card' allowing free use of public transport by caretakers, and specialist training and mentoring for people with learning difficulties. This programme has won several national awards.
Tyne and Wear Zoning System
Nexus and bus companies in Tyne and Wear in 2010 simplified the previously-complex zone structure on which ticket prices are based. There are now five travel zones for 'network' season tickets and 'Tranfare' day tickets valid across operators on both bus and Metro. Metro uses three of these zones. Each bus company may have its own zone structure for its own services.Travelshops
Nexus runs ten travelshops selling season tickets, providing information, etc. These are located at:- Four Lane Ends Metro stationFour Lane Ends Metro stationFour Lane Ends Metro station is a station on the Tyne and Wear Metro network. It forms part of a major transport interchange located on the boundary of North Tyneside and Newcastle upon Tyne in England.-Location:...
- Gateshead InterchangeGateshead InterchangeGateshead Interchange is a transport interchange in the centre of the town of Gateshead, England. It is served by the Tyne and Wear Metro, whose station is underground, as well as local bus services...
- Gateshead MetroCentre Bus Station
- Heworth stationHeworth stationHeworth Interchange serves the Heworth area of Gateshead. There is a station here on the Yellow Line and the Green Lines of the Tyne and Wear Metro as well as the Carlisle to Middlesbrough rail line operated by Northern Rail....
- Newcastle (Haymarket Metro stationHaymarket Metro stationHaymarket Metro station is a station on the Tyne and Wear Metro in the north of the city centre of Newcastle upon Tyne. Like the other stations in the city centre, its platforms are located underground...
) - Newcastle (Monument Metro stationMonument Metro stationMonument is a principal station on the underground section of the Tyne and Wear Metro system and is used by almost 6 million passengers per year. It is named after Grey's Monument, which stands directly above the station...
) - North ShieldsNorth ShieldsNorth Shields is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne, in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in North East England...
Metro Station - South ShieldsSouth ShieldsSouth Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, located at the mouth of the River Tyne to Tyne Dock, and about downstream from Newcastle upon Tyne...
34-36 Fowler Street - Sunderland Park Lane InterchangePark Lane InterchangePark Lane Interchange is a busy transport interchange on the south-western fringe of the city centre of Sunderland, North East England. It offers Tyne and Wear Metro services, long distance coach services and also local bus services. It is on the site of the Park Lane Bus Station that was built in...
- Newcastle Central stationNewcastle Central stationNewcastle railway station , is the mainline station of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England and is a principal stop on the East Coast Main Line. It opened in 1850 and is a Grade I listed building...