News

Metro timetable change will create room for social distancing on the network

14 May 2020

The Tyne and Wear Metro will return to a normal daytime service frequency from Monday May 18, maximising the capacity for social distancing on the network. Nexus, the public body which owns and manages Metro, is increasing the frequency of Metro services from 24 minutes to 12 minutes until 8pm…

Sky News team at Haymarket Metro station

Sky News features key workers at Nexus

13 May 2020

Key workers at Nexus are set appear in a special report on Sky News about life on the frontline during the pandemic. The report – 24 hours on Tyneside – will show Metro and Shields Ferry staff at work, lifting the lid on what key workers face amid the Covid-19 crisis. It will air this Friday, 15…

Graphic - follow Government advice and wear a face covering on public transport

People advised to wear face coverings on public transport

11 May 2020

People should now aim to wear a face covering when in confined public spaces, such as some shops and public transport, the Government has advised. Passengers using the Tyne and Wear Metro, buses, the Shields Ferry and rail services are being urged to follow this advice by regional transport body…

Gold Card holders are reminded not to renew at ticket machines unless for essential journey

7 May 2020

Metro Gold Card holders should wait until they need to travel before renewing their card at Metro station ticket machines. Gold Cards can be bought on the spot and are valid straight away – so passengers should only buy a new one the day they need to make an essential journey. Nexus, the public…

Tyne and Wear Metro secures an £8.6m Government bailout

1 May 2020

The Tyne and Wear Metro has secured £8.6m of financial support from the Government to sustain its services for key workers. The Department for Transport has agreed 12 weeks of funding for the Metro - £715,000 per week - enabling key routes to remain open for people travelling to hospitals,…

Area Controller Harry Hall with the rainbow art work at Park Lane Interchange

Children’s rainbow drawings bring a symbol of hope to local transport hubs during lockdown

30 April 2020

Children’s drawings depicting rainbows – the national symbol of hope in the lockdown – are on display at Park Lane and Gateshead transport interchanges to show solidarity with NHS workers fighting the pandemic. The colourful display was started by Nexus staffer Harry Hall, an Area Controller at the…

Passenger leaves touching thank you letter and rainbow badge for Metro drivers

23 April 2020

A passenger has left heart-warming letter on a Metro train to thank drivers who are continuing to work during the coronavirus lockdown. The anonymous writer said they were using the network to get to work themselves and thanked the Metro staff "a million times for keeping the trains going". The…

TV star Robson Green sends a message of support to public transport workers

23 April 2020

TV star Robson Green has sent a special message of support to key transport workers in his native North East England. The actor and television presenter, who is from Tyneside and still lives in the region, has recorded a video message for workers on the Tyne and Wear Metro, the cross-Tyne Shields…

Nexus uses birds of prey to scare off nuisance seagulls

21 April 2020

Nexus has brought in birds of prey to scare nuisance seagulls away from the new £21m Transport Interchange in South Shields. A falcon and a hawk are being used by a specialist firm to keep gulls off the roof of the new interchange building. This is being done to prevent the seagulls from claiming…

Gateline at Central station Metro concourse with the social distancing markings on the floor

Metro ticket gates are back in use with social distancing measures

20 April 2020

The automatic ticket gates on the Tyne and Wear Metro are back in operation with a new social distancing system in place. Nexus, the public body which owns and manages Metro, has placed special markings on floor of each ticket concourse to ensure passengers stay two metres apart as they use the…