News - 24 April 2020 14:33

Exact money only for cash fares on Go North East buses from Monday 27 April

From Monday 27 April, Go North East will be making some changes to its onboard payment options, with exact money required for anyone paying by cash.

Go North East is encouraging anyone making an essential journey to pay for their ticket with a contactless bankcard, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.

Customers also have the ability to buy their ticket in advance on the Go North East app with a range of day, weekly and monthly options available.

For the safety of the company’s drivers, anyone travelling from Monday onwards during the coronavirus crisis who needs to pay with cash will be required to use exact money as no change will be given.

Drivers will have a tube/bag for the cash to be placed in so they do not need to physically touch it, helping minimise the risk of spreading infection.

Martijn Gilbert, managing director at Go North East, said: “This is the latest change we’ve made to improve safety for both our workforce and our customers.

“We’re doing everything we can to make sure key workers and essential journeys can still be made in the safest way possible. We know that not everyone has the option to pay by a contactless bankcard and that’s why we’re still going to be accepting cash, but using an ‘exact fare’ system so our drivers don’t have to physically handle it or give change.”

To find out more about Go North East and to view emergency timetables for key workers and essential journeys, visit www.gonortheast.co.uk/coronavirus.

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On the Go since 1913

Around 175,000 journeys are made on Go North East bus services every day to travel around this wonderful region. Travelling to work or education, to visit friends and family, to have a night out, or to visit one of the region's many tourist and leisure attractions.

For over 100 years, Go North East has connected the region's towns and villages with the cities of Newcastle, Durham and Sunderland and currently operates across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and into Tees Valley.

Employing over 2,000 local people, with a fleet of almost 700 buses and coaches and an annual turnover of £100m, the company is the regional subsidiary of the Go-Ahead Group plc, one of the UK's leading providers of passenger transport.