Strike and repairs to hit Metro services
AN RMT rail strike will mean Tyne and Wear Metro trains will not be able to operate on a section of the track, at the same time as another Metro line is closed for improvement works.
Tyne and Wear Metro staff are not taking part in the strikes planned by RMT for Wednesday, July 27, Thursday, August 18 and Saturday, August 20, but Network Rail employees are set to.
As the Metro shares a section of track with the National Rail network between Pelaw and South Hylton, Nexus can not operate Metros on it while Network Rail staff are on strike on July 27, as was the case during June’s walkout.
Meanwhile, improvement works to replace Tanner Bridge mean no Metros will be running from St James’ in Newcastle and Tynemouth, in either direction, on the same day.
“Nexus is not part of the strike but the line beyond Pelaw belongs to Network Rail, so when their staff are out we cannot run our trains on it, nor can Northern Rail,” a spokesperson for Nexus, which runs the Metro, said.
Nexus has not yet confirmed if the Pelaw to South Hylton track will be closed on the strike dates. But the stretch is likely to be shut down again if the strikes go ahead as planned.
Nexus said: “We need to find out what Network Rail can provide us, but during the last strikes there was no Metro service, so our customers should be prepared for that to happen again.
“Tyne and Wear Metro employees are not taking industrial action, but there will be an impact on Metro services operating between Pelaw and South Hylton because this stretch of line is part of the national rail network which is owned and managed by Network Rail. If Network Rail does not have enough people at work to operate signals then train services cannot run.”
Because of the strike, services between Pelaw and South Hylton will not start until 7am on July 28.
The line between St James in Newcastle and Tynemouth will be shut in both directions until Friday, July 29. Other routes are not affected by the strike, or bridge works.
There will be no replacement buses for the Metro during the strike, and passengers travelling between Pelaw and South Hylton are advised to find alternative travel, or not travel at all.
Nexus says: “It is not possible to provide replacement buses at short notice on other strike days, so customers should find alternative travel or put off their journeys.”
For those planning travel on track closed for engineering works, Nexus said: “Local bus services will be accepting Metro tickets and passes in the affected area. There will also be an early morning bus, the M1, that will do one journey Monday-Friday, Tynemouth to Monument (stopping at the usual replacement bus stops).”