New Metro CCTV is just the ticket!

At its best, the Metro is a great transport network. It’s a super system that takes us to the coast or city centre. To the match or for a night out. And if we are travelling further afield, it links us to the region’s wider transport network of railway stations and the airport.

Sadly, a small anti-social minority can sometimes spoil the passenger experience for users with their actions, whether on board trains or around stations and platforms.

So it’s welcome news to hear that Metro operators Nexus have invested in hundreds of new CCTV cameras. No fewer than 740 cameras will be positioned across the network’s 60 stations.

Each cameras has advanced picture quality, making it easier to pinpoint troublemakers. Hopefully they will act as a strong deterrent against crime on the Metro and bring more reassurance to passengers, especially as lockdown eases and more people start travelling on trains again.

Some will say nothing beats seeing the visible presence of ticket inspectors and security staff on trains and platforms when it comes to dealing with criminal and anti-social behaviour on the system. But with the technology including new pan, tilt and zoom cameras, capable of zooming in even closer when operators need to, the improved CCTV footage will be a great help in gathering evidence and supporting prosecutions.

We’re all for anything that makes passengers feel better about their journeys. And to those who think it’s acceptable to commit crime on the Metro, just remember: You are being watched.