Nexus launch 19-21 Pop card giving students discount on travel

Nexus introduced another ITSO based smartcard into the Pop card family in September. The Pop 19-21 smartcard gives young people discounted travel on the Tyne and Wear Metro.

More than a thousand young people are already benefitting from a 30% discount on the Metro less than a month after Nexus launched the new smartcard deal.

The Pay As You Go product for all 19 to 21-year-olds provides them with 30% off every journey they make.

Customer Services Director at Nexus, Huw Lewis, said: “We are seeing young people take over 500 journeys a day using Pop 19-21, which is great for them and great for us, as we welcome more customers back after the pandemic.

“Young people told us they wanted greater value and flexibility with travel tickets, and Pop 19-21 gives them exactly that.

“We want young people to grow up with Metro as the clean, green way to travel for the rest of their lives and we have made it cheap and easy to do that. We’re proud to be able to offer free travel or great value smart card discounts on Metro from birth into your twenties.  

“Children travel free with an adult until they are 11, young people pay no more than £1 until they are 18, and now benefit from a new 30% discount right up to age 21.”

The 30% discount provided by Pop 19-21 means a reduction in an all zone daily ticket on a normal adult pay as you go card from £4.85 to £3.40.

So far a total 1,178 Pop 19-21 cards have been issued in the first four weeks on sale. The card itself is free but must be purchased with a £10 balance.

Michelle Allen from University of Sunderland Student Union said: “This new ticket came at the perfect time, as we welcomed students back face to face after the pandemic, and lots of new students started, many from outside the region.

“It’s easy to use, doesn’t require any commitment to regular travel and is great value, perfect for students.”

Nexus already offers discounted Pay As You Go travel for 16-19 year-old through its Pop blue card, which was launched in 2018 and has allowed young people to make 1.2 million journeys for £1.

The launch of Pop 19-21 comes hot on the heels of the successful Take the Kids For Free offer, which was recently made permanent and allows children under 11 to travel for free on Metro when they are with a parent or guardian.

For more information and to apply for a Pop 19-21 card go to: www.nexus.org.uk/pop