Metro services extended closure for North Shields bridge repairs

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 1 Nov, 15:58 · Archive

Tyne and Wear Metro services between Wallsend and Tynemouth will remain closed until Thursday for urgent bridge repairs in North Shields.

Tyne and Wear Metro services between Wallsend and Tynemouth will remain suspended until Thursday, 5 November, whilst urgent repairs are carried out to a Victorian bridge in North Shields. The damage was identified this week during planned infrastructure inspections that are taking place as part of the current major line closure between St James and Monkseaton, which was due to end on Monday.

The bridge, which crosses over the Metro line between North Shields and Tynemouth Metro stations, requires immediate and substantial repairs that can only be carried out safely whilst trains are not running. The bridge was already closed to the public. Kevin Storey, Operations Director at Nexus, the Metro operator, said the scale of the work necessitates keeping the section closed. He explained that turning off power to that section of the system and installing scaffolding above the tracks is required.

Nexus is investigating the cause of the damage, including whether recent storms contributed to it. A replacement bus service (the 900) will operate in the area at a 20-minute frequency during the extended closure. However, Alistair Ford of the North East Public Transport Users Group said passengers would face yet more disruption, noting that replacement buses have much lower capacity and longer journey times than the Metro.

Storey apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the extended closure and confirmed that repairs are expected to be completed for full service to resume on 5 November.

Metro services extended closure for North Shields bridge repairs — Image: Shields Gazette

Comments (0)

How it is being reported

South Tyneside Metro users warned of extended north of the Tyne line closureTyne and Wear Metro users have been warned of an extended closure north of the Tyne.Shields Gazette · 1 Nov, 15:30
Further Metro disruption as services remain suspended in North Tyneside due to bridge repairsServices between Wallsend and Tynemouth will be suspended until Thursday, November 5ChronicleLive · 30 Oct, 17:21
Metro closure extended for bridge worksBridge repairs in North Shields mean a section of the Metro will stay shut for longer than planned.BBC Tyne And Wear · 30 Oct, 16:29

In this story: Tyne and Wear Metro · North Shields · Nexus · Kevin Storey · Alistair Ford

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log