Kids ride free this Easter break

A North East public transport initiative is helping families travel more affordably during the Easter holidays.

The regionwide Kids Go Free scheme has returned, allowing up to three children aged 11 and under to travel for free on bus services when accompanied by a fare-paying adult or concessionary passholder.

Available across County Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear until April 19, the offer aims to reduce travel costs while encouraging greater use of public transport.

The initiative has already seen strong uptake, with hundreds of thousands of children benefiting from free travel during previous holiday periods.

It also runs year-round on the Tyne and Wear Metro, providing ongoing support for families.

North East mayor Kim McGuinness said: “Kids Go Free has already helped hundreds of thousands of children travel for free with their parents and carers, and I’m really pleased it’s available again this for the Easter holidays.

“School holidays should be a chance for families to spend time together, but we know costs can quickly add up and what should be an exciting couple of weeks can be overshadowed by money worries. 

“Kids Go Free is about helping people keep more money in their pockets while making it easier to get out and enjoy everything our region has to offer by bus.”

Cathy Massarella, managing director of Nexus, added: “Kids Go Free has been a real success story on Metro, and it’s great to see the offer continuing on the bus again this Easter. 

“It’s a fantastic way to give families more choice and flexibility to get around the region during the school holidays.”

By making travel more accessible, the programme is designed to help families enjoy days out, visit attractions and stay connected over the school break.

A joint statement on behalf of local bus operators added: “We’re proud to continue working together on this initiative which makes days out more affordable for parents and carers. 

“Whether exploring the coast, countryside or city, we hope many families will take the opportunity to explore our beautiful region by bus this Easter.”

Want your business, product or service to be seen regionally and nationally? Bdaily helps you get your story in front of the right audience, every day. Find out how Bdaily can help →

Join more than 55,000 subscribers by signing up to our daily bulletin each morning here.