Cars in Driving Seat As Public Transport Slumps
Posted on: Tuesday, 4 October 2005, 06:00 CDT
The number of people using public transport in the North-East has more than halved in the last 20 years, according to new figures.
As an increasing number of people chose to rely on their cars, Tyneside's bus and Metro network has seen a huge decrease in passenger numbers.
Figures from the Tyne and Wear local transport plan reveal that passenger numbers have fallen from 375 million trips in 1985 to 176 million in 2004.
Bus services have been hardest hit with the number of journeys falling from just under 200 million to 130 million over the last decade.
In comparison, over the same period road traffic has risen by 15%, reflecting the above average growth in car ownership in the region.
Despite the figures, transport bosses insist they are confident they can halt the decline by modernising and improving services.
Proposals to entice people back on public transport and reduce road congestion include Project Orpheus ( the pounds 500m plan to modernise the Metro ( and expansion of the bus route network.
Motorists are also being encouraged to leave their cars outside city and town centres by expanding the use of park and ride schemes.
Nexus has plans to more than double the size of its park and ride area at Callerton Metro station near Woolsington with up to 531 new spaces. There are already more than 1,000 spaces at Metro stations.
The local transport plan is produced by the five Tyne and Wear district councils and Nexus. It is used to bid for Government cash for transport schemes.
A Nexus spokesman said: "Tyne Wear has a high quality public transport network built around bus and Metro. However, there has been a downward trend in patronage due to a rise in car ownership and land use policy. Nexus remains determined to turn the situation around."
Source: The Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne
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