Tyne and Wear Metro

Tyne and Wear Metro is a light rail system serving Tyne and Wear, England, including the cities of Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland, as well as Gateshead, North Tyneside, and South Tyneside. The system is operated by Nexus (Tyne and Wear), a passenger transport executive that also manages bus services in the region, in partnership with Arriva UK Bus and Go North East. The Tyne and Wear Metro is an integral part of the region's public transport network, which also includes rail services operated by Northern (train operating company) and TransPennine Express. The system has undergone significant modernization, including the introduction of new trams and the refurbishment of existing infrastructure, with support from Her Majesty's Government and the European Union.

Introduction

The Tyne and Wear Metro system has a total route length of approximately 48 miles (77 km), with 60 stations, making it one of the most extensive light rail systems in the United Kingdom, comparable to the Manchester Metrolink and the West Midlands Metro. The system is used by over 40 million passengers per year, with popular destinations including Newcastle Central Station, Gateshead Interchange, and the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, home of Sunderland A.F.C.. The Tyne and Wear Metro also connects to other modes of transport, such as National Rail services at Newcastle Central Station and Sunderland railway station, as well as bus services operated by Stagecoach Group and Arriva UK Bus. The system is also integrated with the Sunderland to Newcastle upon Tyne rail line, which is operated by Northern (train operating company) and passes through Chester-le-Street and Durham.

History

The Tyne and Wear Metro system was first proposed in the 1960s, with construction beginning in 1974 and the first phase opening in 1980, under the leadership of Michael Heseltine, the then-Secretary of State for the Environment. The system was initially operated by British Rail, but in 1980, operation was transferred to the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive, now known as Nexus (Tyne and Wear), which also manages the Tyne Tunnel and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. The system has undergone several expansions, including the opening of the Sunderland extension in 2002, which was supported by Gordon Brown, the then-Chancellor of the Exchequer, and John Prescott, the then-Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The system has also been modernized, with the introduction of new trams and the refurbishment of existing infrastructure, with support from Network Rail and the Department for Transport.

Network

The Tyne and Wear Metro system consists of two main lines: the Green Line (Tyne and Wear Metro), which runs from Airport to South Hylton via Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead, and the Yellow Line (Tyne and Wear Metro), which runs from St James to South Shields via Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead. The system also includes several branches, including the Airport branch, which serves Newcastle International Airport and is used by passengers traveling to London Heathrow Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, and the Sunderland branch, which serves the city of Sunderland and is used by passengers traveling to Middlesbrough and Hartlepool. The system is integrated with other modes of transport, including National Rail services at Newcastle Central Station and Sunderland railway station, as well as bus services operated by Stagecoach Group and Arriva UK Bus, which also serve Durham University and Newcastle University.

Rolling Stock

The Tyne and Wear Metro system operates a fleet of Metrocars, which were built by Metro-Cammell and Bombardier Transportation and are similar to those used on the Docklands Light Railway in London. The system also operates a fleet of trams, which were built by Stadler Rail and are similar to those used on the Sheffield Supertram and the Nottingham Express Transit. The system's rolling stock is maintained at the Nexus (Tyne and Wear) depot in Gosforth, which is also used by Arriva UK Bus and Go North East for the maintenance of their bus fleets. The system's trams are also maintained at the Stadler Rail depot in Stadler Rail's Swiss factory, which also produces trams for the Zurich tram system and the Vienna U-Bahn.

Operations

The Tyne and Wear Metro system is operated by Nexus (Tyne and Wear), which is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the system, as well as the management of bus services in the region, in partnership with Arriva UK Bus and Go North East. The system is used by over 40 million passengers per year, with popular destinations including Newcastle Central Station, Gateshead Interchange, and the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, home of Sunderland A.F.C.. The system operates from approximately 5:30 am to 12:30 am, Monday to Saturday, and from approximately 6:30 am to 12:30 am on Sundays, with frequencies of up to 10 minutes during peak hours, which is comparable to the London Underground and the Paris Métro. The system is also integrated with other modes of transport, including National Rail services at Newcastle Central Station and Sunderland railway station, as well as bus services operated by Stagecoach Group and Arriva UK Bus.

Future Developments

There are several future developments planned for the Tyne and Wear Metro system, including the introduction of new trams and the refurbishment of existing infrastructure, with support from Her Majesty's Government and the European Union. The system is also planned to be extended to Washington, which would provide a direct link to the A1(M) motorway and the A19 road, and to Seaham, which would provide a direct link to the A19 road and the Port of Sunderland. The system is also planned to be integrated with other modes of transport, including National Rail services at Newcastle Central Station and Sunderland railway station, as well as bus services operated by Stagecoach Group and Arriva UK Bus, which would provide a seamless journey for passengers traveling across the region, including those traveling to Durham University and Newcastle University. The planned developments would also support the growth of the regional economy, including the NewcastleGateshead Quayside and the Sunderland City Centre regeneration projects, which are supported by HM Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Category:Transport in Tyne and Wear