The next stage of rail replacement works on the Tyne and Wear Metro will get underway later this month as the track in the tunnels beneath Newcastle City Centre is treated as part of a £3.4 million project. The rail replacement will ensure that the busiest part of the network is resilient for many years to come.
During the closures (taking place over two weekends to minimise disruption) a key junction located in the tunnel between Monument and Haymarket stations will be replaced. Prudhoe Street crossover carries 400 train movements every day and is the busiest junction on the network making it essential for the smooth operation of services through the centre of Newcastle.
Buses will replace trains between Heworth and South Gosforth over the weekend of 16th and 17th March and over Easter weekend – 29th March to 1st April. The work has been timed to be completed before the forthcoming start of major restoration works on Tyne Bridge.
Once this replacement is finished it will complete the rail renewal work in the tunnels under Newcastle – all way from Jesmond to Gateshead. Much of this work has taken place at night to avoid disruption of services but the replacement of the junction is more complex and requires the closure.
Stuart Clarke, Metro Infrastructure Director, said: “Metro’s central area tunnels are iconic and are a vital asset for the smooth operation of the network. We are investing £3.4m to replace what is a key junction in our tunnels between Haymarket and Monument.
“This work will see a large section of the track completely replaced. This is the busiest junction on the Metro system, one which carries hundreds of Metro services every single day. We’ve completed refurbishment schemes on the Prudhoe Street crossover in recent years, but now we are going in to do a full renewal.
“These works have been meticulously planned. It’s a critical part of the Metro system which will be replaced over two weekend line closures to ensure the least possible amount of disruption to customers.”
The work will involve the concrete trackbed completely replaced. Fresh concrete will be pumped 150 metres down to the site before the new track junction is taken into the tunnels in sections to be carefully fitted into place.
By the end of March 2024 investment in new Metro infrastructure will have reached £38 million in the current financial year. The work is funded by the government with a total of £446 million having been invested since 2010.