Travelling around the North East is about to get easier for people in Northumberland.

That’s because Network One, the travel ticket covering any bus, the Tyne and Wear Metro and Shields Ferry, has been extended to include travel in Northumberland and County Durham, meaning that people living outside of Tyne and Wear will be able to buy one ticket that’s valid for all journeys.

The region’s transport companies, local authorities and Joint Transport Committee have worked in partnership to come up with a new integrated ticketing service across seven local authority areas.

‘All Zones Plus’, the new ticket option, can be bought on any mobile app of the region’s main bus companies – Go North East, Stagecoach and Arriva. The ticket is not only valid for bus travel, but Metro and Shields Ferry services.

Steve Walker, chair of Network One Ticketing and managing director at Stagecoach North East, said: “Network One has long provide ticketing for customers in Tyne and Wear who use buses, Metro and the Ferry. It has also long been an aspiration for us to extend these tickets into County Durham and Northumberland. The travel work area has grown across the region, and I am pleased that this is now a reality making it easier for people to travel around the region.”

Martijn Gilbert, chair of NEbus and managing director at Go North East, said: “Partnership working has never been stronger in the region, with everyone working to an even more integrated and sustainable public transport network, which is crucial as the regional economy recovers from the pandemic.”