Article updated 17/02/2024 with addition of photo of engineering vehicles at Airport.
There will be no Tyne and Wear Metro services running between South Gosforth and the Airport for seven days as work takes place to renew track and overhead line. The closure will be in place between Saturday 17th and Friday 23rd February to allow the work to take place with a replacement bus in use instead.
During the closure 1.5km of track and 1,400 metres of overhead wire will be replaced and the chance will also be taken to complete other lineside works at the same time.
Stuart Clarke, Metro Infrastructure Director, said: “This major line closure is part of our ongoing multi-million pound investment in Metro modernisation to ensure that the network is here for many decades to come.
“These works will involve the renewal of 1,400 metres of overhead lines and a 1.5 kilometre section of track. We are also carrying out a range of other secondary works which includes lineside estate management.
“While there is no good time to close a large section of the Metro system, the works will improve Metro’s resilience in the future. We will do all we can to keep any disturbance to an absolute minimum, and I apologise in advance for the inconvenience this will cause.
“Customers will be provided with frequent replacement bus services throughout this work.”
Investment in new Metro infrastructure will have reached £38 million in the current year to the end of March 2024. Funding for the modernisation project comes from the Government and since work began in 2010, £446 million will have been invested.
In preparation for the works, platform 1 at Airport was barriered off and the track used to stable a number of engineering vehicles. (Photograph by Jim Smythe, 14th February 2024)