Fares and Ticketing. 3.2.1 The Operator shall demonstrate that it has sought to improve value for money for passengers by confirming that it has considered options for capping and rationalising fares. No increase in fares will be allowed during the Term of this Agreement unless it is part of a proposal, approved by the Lead Authority, to improve overall value for money for passengers.
3.2.2 The Parties shall work together to develop and implement ticketing schemes for the benefit of passengers and the Operator, whether proposed on a statutory or non- statutory basis subject to compliance with competition law.
Fares and Ticketing. 4.1 A consistent system of fares and tickets will be applied to all bus services procured under the terms of the QCS throughout its duration, regardless of whether the customer is boarding inside Tyne and Wear or in an adjacent local authority area.
4.2 Fare zone boundaries affecting Northumberland, Durham and Hartlepool will be agreed jointly with the Councils.
4.3 Future changes to fare levels, fare products and zonal boundaries will subsequently be covered by an agreed change management process (see below), but the principle will be that changes will be applied equitably to all users throughout the fare zoning area.
4.4 All buses procured under the terms of the QCS will be equipped with smart ticket machines using the ITSO standard. Applicable smart ticket products using the NESTI infrastructure will be accepted.
Fares and Ticketing. 6.1 Nexus and the Combined Authority will use reasonable endeavours to ensure that any detrimental effect on travel by customers of Local Services within the Council Area is limited, whether the customer is boarding the relevant bus in the Tyne and Wear Area or the Council Area.
6.2 The Parties acknowledge and agree that changes to fare levels, fare products and fare zone boundaries following the Commencement Date will be covered by the Change Management Process set out at clause 11 and in respect of such changes, Nexus shall use all reasonable endeavours to seek to ensure that such changes, including increases in fares which may lead to a decrease in Accessibility, take into account the benefit and detriment of such changes to all users of such Services.
6.3 Nexus shall ensure that all QCS Services shall be implemented (save in the case of emergency) using vehicles that are equipped with smart ticket machines using the ITSO standard and accept smart ticket products using the NESTI infrastructure.
