Fares restructure plan for Tyneside
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• Tyneside PTE revealed this week that it is drawing up plans for a comprehensive fares restructure to cover the whole of its region — which could result in passengers having to pay more.
It is suggested that a reasonable step would be to increase all fares up to 5p by a penny, with 2p on fares over 6p.
Dr Tony Ridley, PTE director-general, said he was not in favour of a flat-fare system which would operate against shortdistance travellers. The PTE could also apply to increase its revenue by rate levy.
However, a spokesman for the PTE said on Monday: "This restructuring does not necessarily mean fares will increase: in some areas they might even go down."
But next year, Tyneside is going to need more money. Although the PTA announced a surplus of £305,466 for 1972, its extended boundaries under the Local Government Reform Act embrace Sunderland — expected to incur a loss of film in the current financial year.
Also straining the purse strings next year will be the £65.5m Rapid Transit System. Although this is being carried out with infrastructure grants, the PTA will still have to find 25 per cent of the cost.
Ratepayers are already contributing well over £2m to the PTA. But this helps pay for increasing subsidies to British Rail for the local commuter trains, and the concessionary fares scheme.
The spokesman added: "The PTA has kept fares down for nearly three years.
"Last year our passenger traffic increased by 5 per cent. This figure is still rising."
The restructure proposals will be considered by the PTA at its September meeting.