The Tyne and Wear Metro line between Pelaw and South Shields has been closed since 12th September to allow for major work to take place which includes the dualling of track from Pelaw to Bede. The Metro Flow project is being funded through the Transforming Cities Fund and should provide a major boost to capacity on the network once it is completed.
In total 3km of track is due to be dualled: Pelaw-Hebburn (800 metres), Hebburn-Jarrow (1.4km) and Jarrow-Bede (600 metres). This is being done by the upgrading of an existing freight line which runs into the Jarrow Oil Terminal. Once completed it will enable 24,000 extra passengers a day to be carried with trains able to run every 10 minutes on this section. It will also mean that the network will be able to recover from disruption quicker.
Work – which got underway on 12th September – is due to be completed by 4th December.
The track on the right with the end of the Network Rail ballast train on is the freight only line into the Jarrow Oil Terminal from the Network Rail line at Pelaw. At the top is the single Metro line which runs from to Pelaw and which runs down beside the freight line. This section is on the schedule to be dualled.
The view from the other side of the road bridge looking towards Hebburn with a Freightliner Class 66 at the head of the ballast train. There is a new crossover in front of the 66 to enable trains to access the Metro lines from the freight line.
The platform at Hebburn on the side going to South Shields. They are altering the platforms to enable the oil tanks to pass.
The platform at Hebburn on the side heading towards Newcastle. The current freight line is on the left. All the overhead wiring has been removed. (All Photographs by Trevor Hall, 4th October 2022)