The Metro concourse and platforms at Central Station in Newcastle are to close for five full weekends to allow for important modernisation work.
Nexus, the public body which owns and manages Metro, is closing Metro Central Station over three weekends in September and over two weekends in October – but the station will be fully open for the weekend of the Great North Run.
On each weekend the station will close at 8pm on the Friday evening and will re-open to passengers at the start of service on the following Monday.
The weekend closures dates are as follows:
• Friday 2 September - Monday 5 September
• Friday 16 September - Monday 19 September
• Friday 23 September - Monday 26 September
• Friday 30 September - Monday 3 October
• Friday 7 October - Monday 10 October
Metro Central station, which is used by 5.3 million passengers a year, is currently undergoing a major programme of modernisation including improvements to accessibility, information and waiting facilities, as well as getting a bright new look.
The closures are needed to allow for new floor surfacing to be installed as part of the £6m refurbishment.
During the closures Metro trains will still run through Central Station without stopping.
Staff will be on duty at Central Station to provide assistance to passengers looking to access the Metro system.
Customers who would normally travel from or to Central Station are advised to use Monument Metro station.
Any customers unable to get to Monument from Central Station or to Central Station from Monument are advised to speak to a member of staff at the station.
Director of Rail and Infrastructure for Nexus, Raymond Johnstone, said: “I’m sorry for the inconvenience that will be caused by closing Central Metro station for five full weekends.
“We have ensured that it will remain open for the Great North Run on the second weekend in September.
“The station has to be shut so that we can carry out important work to install new floor coverings. This can only be done safely during a full closure.
“There will be extra staff on duty to assist customers.”
On Sunday 28 August, Bank holiday Monday 29 August, and Sunday 11
September no early evening closure will take place at Metro Central Station.
The work has meant that the Metro platforms and tickets halls close to passengers at 8pm, Sundays to Thursdays.
The work forms part of the £350m Metro all change modernisation programme, which has already seen 25 Metro stations modernised at locations throughout the five districts of Tyne and Wear.
The redevelopment of Metro’s Central station is being jointly funded, with £3.5m coming from the Metro modernisation programme and a £2.5m contribution from the Government’s Single Local Growth Fund.
Like Haymarket, rebuilt in 2009, Central will feature a predominantly white interior with feature walls picked out in a feature colour, helping assist passenger navigation.
Improvements to the passenger waiting areas and platforms include new way-finding signage on new vitreous enamel panels.
New seating, which includes benches and renewed perch seats, and brighter lighting will be installed along with tactile paving to assist passengers with visual impairments.
Tolent is the contractor carrying out the works at Central Metro station.