Metro Line Shut For Modernisation

29 October 2012, 07:16 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Nexus, which owns and manages the Tyne and Wear Metro, is carrying out a six-day major line closure on the busiest section of the Metro system to replace tracks.

The Metro line between South Gosforth and Regent Centre, and South Gosforth and Benton, will be closed from Sunday 28th October until Saturday 3rd November.

This key junction on the Metro network has carried five million trains over the last 32 years and the track has to be replaced.

The work can only be done by closing the line.

A special offer on free car parking at Metro park and ride sites has been extended by Nexus until the end of November as a goodwill gesture to Metro users around the modernisation work.

This latest line closure marks the start of a 15 month programme of modernisation work on Metro's busy central corridor between South Gosforth and Newcastle city centre.

Nexus has timed the forthcoming closure to coincide with the half term school break in order to minimise the level of disruption.

A high frequency replacement bus service will ensure passengers see as little inconvenience as possible while the line is closed.

The buses will operate between Regent Centre and Palmersville, calling at all stations on the affected route.

Passengers travelling on southbound Metro services from the coast wishing to board the bus replacement service will be advised to alight at Palmersville, rather than Benton.

During the line closure Metros will operate to all other destinations but there will be a reduced frequency of service.

Across the system there will be a train every 15 minutes.

Additional rush hour services will not run. In the central area through Newcastle there will be a train every seven and a half minutes.

The work forms part of the £385m 'Metro: all change' modernisation programme, the largest series of capital projects on the system since it opened more than 30 years-ago.

Director General of Nexus, Bernard Garner said:
"This work is a vital part of our £385m Metro all change programme. It marks the start of a major programme of work on our central route through Newcastle.

The six day major line closure will allow us to replace tracks at Metro's busiest junction and this can only be done by closing a section of the line.

This will mean some disruption for Metro passengers. There will be a reduced frequency of Metro services during the closure and replacement buses will be running in the affected areas. I apologise in advance for any inconvenience.

The line will re-open fully again for the start of Metro services on Saturday November 3rd."