Metro Flow works extended as £104m project nears completion

Nexus said today that the Metro Flow line closure between Pelaw and South Shields will be extended by up to one week to allow contractors to complete the final stretch of overhead power lines and test safety signals across the 4.6km of route.

A frequent replacement bus service will continue to operate to all stations until the £104m project to convert a freight line for Metro trains, and improve reliability across the system, is complete.

Major Projects Director at Nexus, Cathy Massarella, said:

“We are very close to re-opening the Metro line between Pelaw and South Shields but our contractors need up to one more week to complete this complex project.

“I want to apologise to Metro customers who were looking forward to being back on trains at the start of next week and assure you we have a revised programme to make this happen as soon as possible. We’ll keep customers updated on what day next week the line will re-open.

“Metro Flow involves converting a freight line for Metro trains with both sharing the track in future. It is essential we do not rush the re-opening, so we must complete and test new signal systems fully before passenger services operate.

“Our frequent replacement bus service will remain in place for customers. This includes a bus that calls at all Metro stations on the route and a rapid express bus that runs from Heworth straight to Jarrow and South Shields.”

The £104m Metro Flow project is being delivered through a line closure between Pelaw and South Shields planned to last 12 weeks and re-open on 4 December – the longest and biggest single project Nexus has undertaken on the original Metro network since it was completed in 1984.

A 4.6km stretch of Metro track has been replaced and completely new overhead line and signalling installed to remove three sections of single-track between Pelaw and Bede Metro stations

Metro Flow will improve reliability across the whole network by removing these ‘pinch points’ which delay trains, as well as allowing Nexus to increase the frequency of Metro services in the future.

Nexus secured £95m from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund to deliver Metro Flow, with the work carried out by railway engineering specialists Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd.

Hear all the latest news from across the North East on the hour, every hour, on 97.1FM, 103FM DAB, at metroradio.co.uk, and on the Metro Radio app.