Nexus, the public transport company of Tyne and Wear, local council leaders and contractor Buckingham Group Contracting launched the GBP 100 million (EUR 119 million) Metro Flow project expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The track doubling project will increase service frequency, reduce journey times, and improve reliability.
The Metro Flow project will see an existing freight line upgraded and electrified in South Tyneside, making it capable of carrying Metro services, boosting the capacity for an extra 24,000 customer journeys every day.
The [capacity] increase helps us to deliver on our green ambitious as outlined in the North East Transport Plan, providing appealing, sustainable transport choices for local people. Thanks to funding from the region’s Transforming Cities Fund, this project will help to welcome many new passengers to our public transport network,” Cllr Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee said.
Three sections of single track will be doubled between Pelaw and Bede Metro stations, with the most intensive period of track works taking place between September and December during a 12 week major line closure.
Metro Flow allows three sections of single track on the Metro network totalling 3 kilometres to be dualled between Pelaw and Bede Metro stations.
There are three single-track sections on the Metro network, where trains must use the same line in both directions.
The sections of line are located between Pelaw and Hebburn (800 metres), Hebburn and Jarrow (1.4km) and Jarrow and Bede (600 metres).
A total of GBP 95 million (EUR 113.3 million) has been secured from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund, allowing Metro operator Nexus to deliver the scheme, which will cost GBP 103 million (EUR 123 million) in total.
The funding for the Metro Flow project has allowed Nexus to buy four additional new trains on top of the 42 which have already been ordered from Stadler.
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