There will be no Tyne and Wear Metro services between Regent Centre and the Airport from Thursday 29th May to Sunday 1st June to allow level crossing work to take place. Advantage will also be taken of this four day closure by completing over infrastructure work as part of the continued investment in the network by Nexus.
The main focus of the work is set to be the level crossings at Callerton Parkway and Bank Foot. During the work the road surface on the crossings will be relaid alongside new track ballast.
Continuing the Asset Renewal Programme other works will take place during these four days. This will include bridge repairs, signalling cable renewal, graffiti renewal, and repainting of yellow safety lines on Metro station platforms.
Paul Welford, Major Projects Director at Nexus, said: “This is vital renewal work on two of our Metro level crossings on the green line. We’re also packing in a host of other key modernisation schemes to make the most of the four-day closure as well.
“In order to carry out this project safely, buses will replace trains between South Gosforth and Airport, from 29 May to 1 June. We’re sorry for the inconvenience this may cause. Customers should plan ahead and allow extra time to travel during the closure.
“There is no good time to close such large sections of line, but we need a four-day window to get it done safely, ensuring a vital section of the Metro system is renewed. A frequent replacement bus service will run in the affected area so that customers can still travel around. While the buses won’t be quite as quick as Metro services, they will get everyone where they need to be during the closure.”
Passengers are advised to plan ahead of travel with a replacement bus service linking the Metro network with Newcastle International Airport.
Nexus – in partnership with the Department for Transport – has invested almost £1 billion in upgrading the Metro network over the past 15 years. This has not only included the construction of a new fleet of trains (now being introduced into service), the dualling of track in South Tyneside as well as numerous infrastructure upgrade projects.