A NEW Nottingham Express Transit (NET) discount ticket has been launched, offering Nottinghamshire school students cheaper travel across the city’s trams.
The news follows a successful trial with pupils at the George Spencer Academy in Stapleford, with Tramlink, which operates NET, now rolling the new initiative out across all Nottinghamshire schools that are located close to the network.
The discounted U19 Academic Pass will give school students unlimited tram travel every day for just 54p a day, compared to a standard £3 under 19 day ticket, and includes weekends and evenings.
The discounted ticket will run from 1 September 2023 to 31 July 2024 and will be open to all school students who are younger than 19 years old.
Andrew Conroy, chief operating officer at Tramlink, said: “We’re always looking at new ways to support our customers, especially during the ongoing cost of living crisis, so it was encouraging to see how positively our trial with George Spencer Academy was received.
“For us, it was about providing school students with a more affordable travel option, that not only allowed them to get to school on time cheaply and safely, but also meant they could use the discount to get around the city with friends on a weekend too.”
The new cheaper school ticket will only be available through schools that request a special unique discount code, which students can then enter into the NETGO free ticketing app to access the discounted fare. With the reduced cost, school students can get £100 off their pass, which usually costs £280 for the academic year.
The discounted ticket aims to provide an affordable and safe transport option for participating schools and students, aiding families during the nation’s current cost of living crisis.
The initiative also supports Nottingham’s plan for Carbon Neutrality by 2028, helping to reduce car emissions and traffic pollution created by increased vehicle usage during the school run.
Andrew added: “Over the coming year, we’ll continue to review the academic year ticket with a view towards hopefully extending it beyond the coming academic year.
“We welcome any schools who are interested in introducing the initiative at their school, to get in touch.”
To find out more about the initiative and for any schools who are interested in providing the discounted tram ticket, contact: schools@tramlinknottingham.co.uk