The Tyne and Wear Metro is set to undergo a major modernisation programme in the first three months of 2024. The work will include the renewal of track, overhead lines, and other infrastructure, and is part of a £38 million investment in the Metro system.
Nexus, the company that runs the Tyne and Wear Metro confirmed that the necessary works will be undertaken to prepare the network for the arrival of its Stadler built trains. The new Class 555 Metro trains were built at the firm’s site in Switzerland with the first being delivered to Metro’s depot in Gosforth.
The modernisation work will be carried out in a series of phases, with the bulk of the work taking place at weekends to minimise disruption to passengers. However, there will be three weekends where the Metro's central area will be affected, and there will be a nine-day major line closure between South Gosforth and Airport.
The whole programme itself which is being funded by the UK government includes the completion of the new Gosforth Depot, installations of over two kilometres of new track, new track junctions, and 1.4 kilometres of new overhead line. Alongside those works, the subsequent lineside estate works will also be carried out.
Metro Infrastructure Director, Stuart Clarke, said: “A wide range of major projects are being packed into the first three months of the new year as we continue to invest in the modernisation of Metro’s infrastructure.
“In the year to March 2024 we will have invested a total of £38m on the renewal of track, overhead lines, stations, and other key areas of the Metro system to ensure its long-term future as we countdown to the first new Metro train entering service.
“The Metro asset renewal programme stretches all the way back to 2010. A vast number of projects have been completed since then, and we hope to be able to do more renewal works over the spring and summer of 2024.”
Photo: iStock
