Member Article

Metro facelift closes major line

THE region’s business commuters will face upheaval in March when Metro lines between Byker and Tynemouth close for 23 days during the spring.

Nexus, which owns and manages the Tyne and Wear Metro, is to spend more than £22m on the comprehensive modernisation of the route.

The work will result in a major line closure between March 12 to Sunday April 3, in addition to a series of weekend line closures and major building works at stations.

Nexus has said they will provide a frequent replacement bus service to ensure passengers suffer as little inconvenience as possible.

Ken Mackay, Director of Rail and Infrastructure for Nexus said: “The scale of the works leaves us with no choice but to close the line between Byker and Tynemouth for 23 days and over a number of weekends before that. Some stations will also need to close in the evening from 8pm.

“We know this will cause inconvenience, but the work cannot be done safely without closing lines, and the best way to do that is through a small number of concentrated blocks of work in one area at a time.”

The work forms part of an 11-year £385m Metro modernisation programme using money awarded by the government in 2010.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .