New exhibition opens on the Tyne and Wear Metro

A new exhibition called Metro Memories which celebrates the history of the Tyne and Wear Metro has opened at The Common Room, Westgate Road, Newcastle. Featuring photographs, film and interviews with key decision makers along with engineers, designers and many now retired staff who helped make the project a reality in the late 1970s the exhibition is exploring what Metro means to the people and to the history of the region.

The exhibition is part of Metro’s belated 40th anniversary celebrations and has seen Nexus working alongside The Common Room and Newcastle University Oral History Unit and Collective.

Huw Lewis, Customer Services Director at Nexus, said: “We’re really excited to be able to put on this fantastic new exhibition celebrating the history and significance of the Tyne and Wear Metro. It provides a fascinating insight into this iconic transport system, which has transformed how people have been able to get around our region over the last 41 years. The team at Nexus, The Common Room, and Newcastle University Oral History Unit and Collective have put together some brilliant exhibits featuring film and photography from the archives, which visitors are going to enjoy, and we have had great input from staff and former employees who helped to build Metro in its early days. Metro is undoubtedly one of our region’s greatest post-war achievements. It’s a source of immense pride, affection, and is the envy of other UK cities. We’re thrilled to be showcasing it.”

The exhibition opened on 19th April and will be open 1000-1600 each day until 7th May. Alongside it there will be three, free family fun days on 21st, 22nd and 23rd April, where Nexus will be delivering lots of exciting Metro activities for all ages, including a Virtual Reality experience of the new fleet of trains.

In addition Remembering the Past, Resourcing the Future’s team of memory collectors will also host three drop-in community events throughout the exhibition period at The Common Room, where visitors will be able to share their own Metro memories or bring pieces of memorabilia to show and tell.

The exhibition is free to visit however a ticket must be booked in advance. Details on how to book at https://thecommonroom.org.uk/programme/whats-on/.

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