As we mentioned a few weeks ago weekends during August have seen closures on the Tyne and Wear Metro to allow for some essential track maintenance to take place south of Gateshead. The work is concentrated on the section between Heworth and Pelaw.
During the course of the works – which will take place over four consecutive weekends in August – 1.8km of track is due to be replaced which will also include 2,600 new railway sleepers and 6,400 tonnes of new track ballast put down.
Using hired in equipment to complete the work this view on 22nd August shows the old track ballast being loaded into the trucks for removal as the work to renew this section of track continues. (Photograph by Trevor Hall)