Page 129 onwards of the latest NECA Cabinet agenda pack for tomorrow has an update on the Mayor's (NECA) fares. 

Confirmation that the period is extended to 31st March 2027 now, and that includes the £2.50 singles.

Northumberland ticket remains at £6, Durham ticket increases by £1 to £6, and the Tyne and Wear only ticket is proposed to be quietly scrapped. So you'll have even more of a postcode lottery of £7.50 in Tyne and Wear or £6 in each of the other two counties, as users will be forced to pay for a lot more coverage than they need.

There's also a proposal to agree that "tickets for young people aged 21 and under will only be available to those in possession of a “Pop Blue” smartcard, in a change to be introduced over the course of the next financial year.". So that's likely to cause some issues, as I think a lot of people have just got their ID on the Go North East app? I guess they have to try and justify this nonsensical crusade with Pop 2.0 in some way though...

Cost of subsidised fares is expected to be in the region of £32m for the year.