The Tyne and Wear Metro’s Asset Renewal Programme will be continuing for five days in February, with a line closure between Shiremoor and St James from Monday 16th to Friday 20th February.
During this closure the opportunity will be taken to modernise key items of Metro infrastructure, including tracks and overhead lines. A total of 950 metres of new track will be installed between Chillingham Road and Walkergate, and over 1,000 sleepers replaced. There will also be cable testing, lineside estate management, platform repairs and essential structural inspections taking place at the same time.
Paul Welford, Major Projects Director at Nexus, said: “We’re investing in new track and other key infrastructure to ensure that Metro continues to reliably serve North Tyneside and Newcastle for many years to come.
“There is no good time to close a section of the network, and we do so to minimise disruption to as many customers as possible. Our plans consider school holidays, to ensure the least possible disruption to customers and the most efficient works.
“By replacing essential infrastructure components, this project ensures that a vital section of the Metro system is future proofed and reliable for the long term. By scheduling these works during the Spring half-term, we can avoid impacting busy school commutes, and less congestion on the roads should speed up alternative travel times.
“It can only be carried out safely during a five-day closure of the Metro system so that our engineers can get extended access to the lines.”
Over the course of these five days the following services will run:
- Shiremoor to South Shields via South Gosforth
- Normal service runs Airport to South Hylton
- A replacement bus will run between Shiremoor and St James calling at close to all Metro stations