modes of public transport

It may seem like a daunting task to get out of your car and take public transport.

Where do I get the bus from? How long will it take? How do I know when to get off? At Smarter Choices we want to make your life easier, which is why we have put together the following bits of advice to help you make a safe and efficient journey.

Information about your journey
When you’ve decided to try public transport, you firstly need to find out what mode of transport takes you where you want to go. You can visit Traveline's website, or call them on 0871 200 22 33 where their helpful staff will assist in your journey planning.

Travelling by bus
Once you have found out where your stop is and the number bus to take, the rest is easy.

If you’re unsure of your destination stop, ask the driver to let you know when to hop off and he or she will give you a shout when it’s time to leave.

All you need to do now is find a seat and relax with a good book or listen to music, or catch up on that report you didn’t finish yesterday. You can even have a snooze if it’s early in the morning!  To find out more visit Nexus.

Travelling by Metro
Tyne and Wear Metro is a light rail system with 60 stations serving Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, North Tyneside and South Tyneside. It has been rated as one of the country’s most efficient modes of transport and currently carries around 40 million passenger journeys per year.

Stations are located at the heart of both Newcastle and Sunderland city centres, railway stations and at the airport - so getting around couldn’t be easier.

Ticket machines are located inside each station entrance and once you buy your ticket, there are destination boards, listing all stops in both directions and showing which platform you need to go. And do take note; you may need to change trains for some journeys.

Travelling by Ferry
If you’re looking to get from North to South Shields quickly, the Shields Ferry is for you. The Pride of the Tyne or the brand new Spirit of the Tyne operate across the River Tyne between North or South Shields ferry landings, every 30 minutes in each direction. The crossing will take you about seven minutes.

The ferry landing is only around a 5 minute walk from South Shields Metro station. Most local buses serve Keppel Street bus station.

The ferry landing is about a 10 minute walk from North Shields Metro station. The route is a little steep, but the FerryLink (Service 333) provides a free shuttle service to Shields Ferry passengers. The Route 19 bus also leaves directly from the Ferry landing towards Cobalt Business Park and Northumberland Park Metro.

For more information please visit Nexus.

Travelling by Rail
Railway stations in Tyne and Wear exist at Newcastle, Sunderland, Metrocentre, Dunston, Blaydon, Heworth and Manors.

From there you can continue to regional stations in Northumberland, County Durham and the Tees Valley, which are very useful for commuting journeys. At Newcastle and Sunderland you can also catch fast and frequent inter-city services to destinations across the UK.

Remember, for longer journeys big discounts can be gained by booking tickets in advance. This can be done at your local ticket office, through the train operator or through National Rail on 08457 48 49 50 or at www.nationalrail.co.uk.