Nexus, which owns, manages and is modernising the Tyne and Wear Metro, is investing half a million pounds on the modernisation of passenger help points on the Metro system.
The work will vastly improve the quality and reliability of the help points, switching them from an analogue to a digital system.
It will also make it easier for Nexus to maintain them.
A total of 127 help points are being modernised. The project is expected to last for 19 weeks.
All Metro stations are fitted with passenger help points. Each has an enquiry button that provides audio on when the next train is due. There is also an alarm that allows passengers to get in contact with the Metro Control Room.
Director of Rail and Infrastructure for Nexus, Raymond Johnstone, said: “The passenger help points are vital. People use them to obtain Metro service information and use them as a direct link to staff in the Metro control centre.
“Each help point will be stripped down and refitted with a digital system. The project will make the help points more reliable and give them a better audio system. They will also be easier for us to maintain. “This is a smaller element of the £389m modernisation programme, but one which is extremely important for our customers.”
Much of the modernisation work on the Metro help points is being carried out by Nexus apprentices, under close supervision, as part of their three-year training programme.
The work forms part of the £389m Metro: all change modernisation programme, a Government-funded scheme to modernise the Metro system, including refurbished stations and trains, and new tracks and new rail infrastructure.