Metro Flow

Metro Flow will mean more frequent trains, more space for passengers and smoother and shorter journey times.

Metro has some small areas of single-track South of the Tyne (around Pelaw, Bede, Hebburn and Jarrow) which hinders the movement of trains around the system.  These ‘single track’ sections make it very difficult to plan the expansion of Metro as trains must be timetabled precisely to meet available slots at either end, with little headroom for additional stops or to integrate new routes.

Metro Flow explained

The Metro Flow Project seeks to resolve this issue by converting an under-used national freight line, owned by Network Rail, to take Metro trains as well.  Nexus will convert the line through installation of overhead power supplies and appropriate signalling which will allow Metro and the Freight traffic to share the track, as happens now between Pelaw and Sunderland. 

There will be two frequent replacement bus services in operation. All buses will be double deckers with wheelchair and pushchair spaces. Your Metro ticket/pass will be valid on these services and the drivers will be selling tickets. 

• Service 900 which will call at or close to all stations Heworth - South Shields
• Service X900 an express service which calls at Heworth, Jarrow and South Shields only 

Your journey will take longer so please allow extra travel time and check replacement bus and train times before starting your journey.  For help planning your journey use the Live Travel Map or call 0191 20 20 747 (lines open Monday-Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm). 

• All you need to know about the Major Line Closure (2.01 MB)
• Replacement bus stop locations (1.41 MB)
• 900 bus replacement Monday-Friday timetable (248.81 KB)
• 900 bus replacement Saturday timetable (242.87 KB)
• 900 bus replacement Sunday timetable (240.08 KB)
• X900 express bus replacement Monday-Friday timetable (223.14 KB)
• X900 express bus replacement Saturday timetable (222.8 KB)
• X900 express bus replacement Sunday timetable (221.73 KB)

The project is designed to realise the full potential of Metro through more frequent and reliable services, with more capacity to meet the needs of the region’s growing economy so improving accessibility, driving productivity and enhancing our environment.  It will provide: 

• The potential to increase the frequency of Metro trains
• The potential to boost the capacity by up to 24,000 extra passenger journeys every day
• Improved resilience: solving the traffic light problem and improved performance.
• Improved integration: shorter waiting and journey times for those interchanging with Metro.
• The potential to deliver £350 million of economic benefits across the North East.
• The potential to remove up to 3 million car kms per year from the road, improving air quality by reducing CO2 emissions by up to 500,000kg and NO2 by up to 40,000kg per year and generating wider health benefits.
• Provide the foundation for future growth.

The scheme will unlock three key pinch points on the current network where trains now use the same line in both directions – with drivers waiting for a green light like motorists facing temporary roadworks on every trip. (Anything more than a few seconds’ additional wait for an oncoming train at each section can have a knock-on impact leading to delays elsewhere).

An increase in the frequency of Metro trains will provide additional capacity and support more passenger journeys, making travel by Metro a more attractive choice for commuters and leisure users.

Yes, we have a new fleet on the way and we originally ordered 42 ‘full length’ new vehicles (equivalent to 84 of our existing 90 Metro cars). 

We have ordered a further 4 trains from Stadler, our contractor for the manufacture of our new fleet.

Yes.  The dualling of single track removes pinch points in the network.  This will complement the new fleet resulting in a much more reliable service for our customers.

Yes - The improved integration of services means shorter waiting and journey times for those interchanging with Metro.

To allow two-way traffic to flow and ease the pinch-points we will have to remove and replace some of the heavy rail.  We will also be fitting overhead lines onto the Network Rail sections which Metro will need to use. Adjustments to track height will be required in some areas to accommodate the overhead lines and freight train under the existing bridges. 

This will involve removal and replacement of ballast and track to a reduced level at the overbridge locations and reduction in platform levels at Hebburn and Jarrow Metro stations

The works will adopt the adjacent Network Rail freight line to remove the three remaining sections of single track on the Metro network at Bill Quay, between Hebburn and Jarrow Metro stations and from Jarrow to the A19 overbridge crossing.

No. However, we are likely to make some adjustments to the platform height at Jarrow and Hebburn stations to accommodate the freight trains.

No.

Nexus have appointed Buckingham Group Construction Ltd to carry out the works.

Preparation works are already ongoing.

There will be a 12-week closure of the line between Pelaw and South Shields immediately following the Great North Run 2022 (12 September - 3 December) along with two weekend closures, one in late June and one in early July 2022. 

This method of delivery was preferred to multiple weekend closures over a 1-2 year period to complete the work, which would extend the disrupted period and significantly increase costs.

Yes.  Our main compound site will be on land adjoining the Metro lines at Wardley Lane near Pelaw. Smaller compounds will be accommodated around Hebburn, Jarrow, Pelaw and Bede Metro stations.

The compounds will receive most of the materials initially by road.  However, Nexus will encourage the contractor to utilise deliveries from the wider Network Rail infrastructure where it is practical to do so.

Neighbours will experience some increase in noise levels over and above the regular track maintenance work which we currently carry out.  The work will be carried out 24/7 for the 12 weeks.  We looked at the option of closing lines on weekends only but this would require 42 weekends of closures this was considered to be more disruptive to our lineside neighbours than the relatively short and intense programme adopted.  The frequency and intensity of works and associated noise will vary as the works travel along the rail corridor.   

Nexus.

Nexus has already undertaken detailed environmental surveys of the area and to date have not identified any major areas of impact for local residents and the surrounding habitats.  None the less, the chosen contractor will be required to provide an Environmental Management Plan for the Project showing how it will comply with relevant environmental legislation and codes of practice.

The  works will take approximately 12 months to deliver between February 2022 and February 2023.  Most of the work will be undertaken during a 12-week line closure between 12 September and 3 December 2022. No trains will run on the South Shields line from Pelaw during these 12 weeks. 

The main compound works started in January 2022, and vegetation clearance and other preparation works are underway. The main 12 week line closure will start on 12 September 2022 and last until 3 December. 

We will do as much as possible during the day.  However, there will be enabling work carried out during night working where Metro operations make it impossible to avoid.  We will make sure neighbours are given plenty of notice when this is the case.