Metro lines to be shut for fortnight

THE Metro’s busiest lines will be closed for two weeks so that vital improvements can take place next month.

Nexus, the public body which owns and manages Metro, needs to replace essential overhead power lines as part of a £30m programme of wire renewals across the network.

There will be no Metro services between Heworth and Regent Centre/ Four Lane Ends for 14 days – from February 15 to 28. Services will resume as normal on Monday, March 1.

Frequent replacement bus services will be provided during the closure, calling at or near stations on the affected routes. Customers are advised to plan their journeys in advance.

Cathy Massarella, major projects director at Nexus, said: “We are investing £30m in Metro’s overhead lines. This is a once-in-a-generation piece of modernisation work.

“It will mean we can deliver a highquality Metro service for many years to come and it gets our network ready for the introduction of the new trains.

“As part of this renewal programme we have to carry out a two-week major line closure on the busiest lines that run through the heart of Newcastle and Gateshead.

“There is no good time to shut such a big chunk of the network, and this modernisation work can only be undertaken effectively during an extended closure period. I apologise to our customers in advance for the inconvenience this will cause.

“Overhead wires are critical for the Metro system to operate. They are where the trains draw their high voltage power from.

“The power lines in our central area are ageing. They face the most wear and tear on a daily basis and they need to be replaced as soon as practically possible, which is why this work is booked in for February.

“We will ensure there is a fast and reliable replacement bus service running when the Metro line is shut. We advise passengers to plan their journeys in advance before travelling.”