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Tyne and Wear Metro

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The Tyne and Wear Metro is a light rail metro system in Tyne and Wear in north-east England, which opened in 1980, and in 2002-3 served 40 million journeys. It is operated by Nexus, previously known as the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (TWPTE). Nexus also operate a passenger ferry service at the mouth of the River Tyne between North Shields and South Shields.

Overview

Yellow, Green - existing Metro lines run by Nexus. Black - Tyne passenger ferry run by Nexus. Dark grey - proposed extensions on existing rail lines. Light grey - proposed extensions requiring new track.

The Metro system has two lines:

The majority of track is overground, built mainly on existing trackbeds, but there are purpose-built underground sections in Newcastle and Gateshead. The section between Pelaw and Sunderland is shared with mainline trains.

The Tyne and Wear Metro is also the first underground train network which allows customers to use their mobile phone across the entire network, an achivement which is being closely watched by the London Underground. The Metro does not however permit the carriage of standard bicycles, a policy which has received much criticism from environmental campaigners (only small folding bicycles are permitted).

Opening dates

The system opened in stages:

  • August 11, 1980 - Tynemouth to Haymarket (Newcastle city centre) via Whitley Bay and South Gosforth
  • May 10, 1981 - South Gosforth to Bank Foot via Fawdon
  • November 15, 1981 - Haymarket to Heworth via Monument and Gateshead
  • November 14, 1982 - St. James to Tynemouth via Monument, Wallsend and North Shields
  • March 24, 1984 - Heworth to South Shields via Pelaw and Jarrow
  • November 17, 1991 - Bank Foot to Airport
  • March 31, 2002 - Pelaw to South Hylton via Sunderland

Metro stations

Purpose-built stations

The following stations were built specifically for the Tyne and Wear Metro system.

  • Airport (opened November 17, 1991)
  • Bank Foot (opened May 10, 1981)
  • Bede (opened March 24, 1984)
  • Byker (opened November 14, 1982)
  • Callerton Parkway (opened November 17, 1991)
  • Central Station (opened November 15, 1981)
  • Chichester (opened March 24, 1984)
  • Chillingham Road (opened November 14, 1982)
  • Fawdon (opened May 10, 1981)
  • Fellgate (opened March 31, 2002)
  • Four Lane Ends (opened August 11, 1980)
  • Gateshead (opened November 15, 1981)
  • Gateshead Stadium (opened November 15, 1981)
  • Hadrian Road (opened November 14, 1982)
  • Haymarket (opened August 11, 1980)
  • Heworth (opened November 15, 1981)
  • Ilford Road (opened August 11, 1980)
  • Jesmond (opened August 11, 1980)
  • Kingston Park (opened September 15, 1985)
  • Manors (opened November 14, 1982)
  • Meadow Well (opened November 14, 1982) - originally called Smiths Park
  • Millfield (opened March 31, 2002)
  • Monument (opened November 15, 1981)
  • Pallion (opened March 31, 2002)
  • Palmersville (opened March 19, 1986)
  • Park Lane (opened April 28, 2002)
  • Regent Centre (opened May 10, 1981)
  • St James (opened November 14, 1982)
  • St Peters (opened March 31, 2002)
  • Shiremoor (opened August 11, 1980)
  • South Hylton (opened March 31, 2002)
  • South Shields (opened March 24, 1984)
  • Stadium of Light (opened March 31, 2002)
  • Tyne Dock (opened March 24, 1984)
  • University (opened March 31, 2002)
  • Wansbeck Road (opened May 10, 1981)

Converted stations

The following stations were originally built solely for mainline trains, but have since been converted or re-built for Metro use. All except Sunderland now serve Metro trains only.

  • Benton (opened March 1, 1871; Metro since August 11, 1980)
  • Brockley Whins (Metro since March 31, 2002)
  • Cullercoats (opened July 7, 1882; Metro since August 11, 1980)
  • East Boldon (Metro since March 31, 2002)
  • Felling (opened November 18, 1896; Metro since November 15, 1981)
  • Hebburn (opened June 18, 1839; Metro since March 24, 1984)
  • Howdon (opened June 18, 1839; Metro since November 14, 1982)
  • Jarrow (opened March 1, 1872; Metro since March 24, 1984)
  • Longbenton (opened July 14, 1947; Metro since August 11, 1980)
  • Monkseaton (opened July 25, 1915; Metro since August 11, 1980)
  • North Shields (opened 1890; Metro since November 14, 1982)
  • Pelaw (opened November 18, 1896; Metro since September 16, 1985)
  • Percy Main (opened June 18, 1839; Metro since November 14, 1982)
  • Seaburn (Metro since March 31, 2002)
  • South Gosforth (opened June 27, 1864; Metro since August 11, 1980)
  • Sunderland (Metro since March 31, 2002)
  • Tynemouth (opened July 7, 1882; Metro since August 11, 1980)
  • Walkergate (opened June 19, 1839; Metro since November 14, 1982)
  • Wallsend (opened June 19, 1839; Metro since November 14, 1982)
  • West Jesmond (opened December 1, 1900; Metro since August 11, 1980)
  • West Monkseaton (opened March 2, 1933; Metro since August 11, 1980)
  • Whitley Bay (opened October 9, 1910; Metro since August 11, 1980)

The future

A new station Northumberland Park is due to open in 2005, it will serve a new large scale housing development between Shiremoor and the A19 Holystone Interchange. The new station, will be located adjacent to existing track between Palmersville and Shiremoor on the northern loop section of the yellow line. In addition, the redevelopment by 2005 of Haymarket "Hub" Station in Newcastle City Centre, will include leisure and retail proposals.

An expansion to Ryhope was planned, but is unlikely, as the Metro's operator is examining 'Project Orpheus', a tram system and other more flexible types of public transport.

Several other extensions have been suggested at various times with the aim of reducing traffic congestion in the area. These have had strong public backing, but funding for any of them is very unlikely at least in the near future. The cheapest to install would be the lines to eastern Washington, and to Blyth & Ashington, both of which would run on existing little-used freight lines; these would require little more than the building of stations and electrification. Extension to Cramlington would require widening of the busy East Coast main line to four tracks, while the extension to Newcastle's west end would require entirely new track involving tunneling and bridging in hilly terrain; this would be very costly and is pehaps least likely to receive funding.

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