Tyne and Wear Metro line closure for works in February

There will be no Tyne and Wear Metro services between St James and Tynemouth between Monday 21st and Friday 25th February to allow a major programme of modernization works to take place. Replacement buses will run throughout this period.

The main purpose of the works will be to replace overhead wires as part of the £30 million programme of wire renewals to get the complete network ready for the new trains, due to be introduced from 2023. As well as these works the chance will be taken to replace track, vegetation management and essential work on bridges and embankments.

Cathy Massarella, Nexus Major Projects Director, said: “We are investing £30m in in Metro’s overhead lines as we get ready for the new trains arriving at the end of the year. The five-day closure allows us to replace a large section of wire between Newcastle and North Tyneside, and also carry out other essential modernisation including track and embankment work.

“There is no good time to close a large section of the network and I apologise in advance for the inconvenience this will cause. Carrying out major work in half term break means we also avoid disrupting education for pupils who use Metro to get to school in the affected area. We will ensure there is a fast and reliable replacement bus service running when the Metro line is shut. We advise customers to plan their journeys in advance before travelling.”

Included in the wire renewals this time will be sections of overhead in the central area tunnels between St James and Manors. In total 12,000 metres of contact and catenary wire will be replaced over 6km of line.

Services are due to resume as normal from Saturday 26th February.

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