What doesn't help Go North East in the Howdon / Wallsend area is that both Wallsend and Howdon Metro Station are barrierless, meaning you don't need a ticket to get through the barriers onto the platform / train. And since Metro Inspectors only travel the line once in a blue moon, a large number of people will probably have the metro as their first option and dodge paying the fare. Even if they do get caught, the fine would be well less than what they have saved by not paying the fare between Wallsend and Howdon or vice versa. This also applies to Percy Main and Meadowell stations too, as they too can travel to Wallsend, where as if they have to go to North Shields, they have to have a ticket to get through the barrier. Comes to me as no suprise that Wallsend is one of the worst towns in the area for beggers too, especially since the station doesn't have ticket barriers. No matter how low value the bus fares are, it won't beat free (albeit illegal) travel on the Metro.