Passengers aiming to travel on the Tyne and Wear Metro network over the Easter weekend are being reminded that major modernization works will be taking place which will see no trains running between Heworth and South Gosforth from Friday 29th March to Monday 1st April.
The works taking place are the second phase of the £3.4 million track junction renewal project in the tunnels underneath Newcastle City Centre. The junction – between Monument and Haymarket – is known as Prudhoe Street crossing and will mark the completion of track renewal in the tunnels from Jesmond through to Gateshead.
Stuart Clarke, Metro Infrastructure Director, said: “This is the second phase of our major track junction renewal works in our city centre tunnels to ensure that this key asset is completely replaced.
“We’re asking customers to plan ahead and allow plenty of time to make their journeys on Metro when the line is closed. We have organised extra replacement buses to help customers get to where they need to be. My thanks go to customers for their patience while the line closures are in place.
“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, and we need to ensure it is fit for purpose for many more years to come.
“These works have been meticulously planned into weekend closures to ensure the least possible amount of disruption to our customers. We’ve completed refurbishment schemes on the Prudhoe Street crossover in recent years, but this is a full renewal.”
During the closure:
- No trains will stop at Monument platforms 3 or 4 with trains running through non-stop. Any passengers who usually uses Monument platform 3 or 4 is asked to use Manors or St James
- Central Station will be fully closed
- Replacement bus 900 will run between Heworth and South Gosforth. This will continue to run through to Regent Centre for the return trip.
- Extra replacement bus services will run on Saturday 30th March with Newcastle United playing at home. There will also be additional trains running from the North Tyneside Coast via Wallsend to St James.