23.05.13
Metro closure to allow modernisation works
Nexus, which operates the Tyne & Wear Metro, is to close major lines for 27 consecutive days as part of the £385m modernisation programme.13:0
The line between Haymarket, the airport and Four Lane Ends will be closed from August 4-27.
Replacement buses, an airport shuttle and extra Metro services around the coast will provide alternative journeys during the closure. The summer was chosen for this work as it has the lowest number of Metro passengers and falls during the school holidays.
6km of track will be replaced between Jesmond and South Gosforth, with stations to be refurbished and cable routes replaced to Newcastle Airport.
Director general of Nexus, Bernard Garner, said: “August will see one of the biggest and most complex pieces of modernisation work in Metro’s history. I apologise to Metro users who will experience the disruption it will cause.
“The major line closure means there will be no trains on the busiest part of the Metro system for 27 days. We have picked the quietest possible time of the year to do the work, with the schools off and generally fewer passengers using the system during August.
“This is a once in a generation piece of modernisation work which can only be done during an extended closure period. It will mean we can deliver a high quality Metro service for the next 50 years.
“We will ensure there is a fast and reliable replacement bus service running when the line is shut. We advise passengers to plan their journeys in advance before travelling.”
Nexus rail director, Raymond Johnstone, said: “It is vital that we replace the track between Jesmond and South Gosforth. The tracks on this busy stretch of line date back to the late 1960s. To ensure Metro’s reliability for passengers it is essential we replace this ageing part of the network.
“Passengers will notice a smoother ride when the work is done, while the wider modernisation projects add up to a more dependable service.
“The scale of the works we are undertaking means that a 27 day closure is the only realistic option. We will be working around the clock during this period, all the way from Haymarket to Newcastle Airport. The line between Haymarket and South Gosforth will see the bulk of the modernisation work.”
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