A new timelapse film has been released to mark the completion of the £70m rebuild of Gosforth Metro Depot.
The footage charts the progress and scale of this major construction project, near Newcastle, from the start date in 2020 through to completion in January this year.
The film is available to watch on the Nexus YouTube channel: New Gosforth Metro Depot.
It showcases the demolition of 100-year-old buildings in tandem with the creation of the modern new facilities on the site. The frame capture technology used to produce this video details the entire four-year programme in just four and a half minutes.
We commissioned the film jointly along with Stadler and VolkerFitzpatrick.
The new Gosforth Metro Depot is a modern home for the Tyne and Wear Metro’s new train fleet. Stadler has created the new Metro depot, with the construction work carried out by VolkerFitzpatrick.
Stadler, the Swiss train manufacturer, is building a total of 46 new Metro trains for Nexus.
Michael Richardson, Head of Fleet and Depot Programme at Nexus, said: “This new timelapse film really bring home the scale and complexity of the £70m Metro depot construction project over the last four years. It has been released to mark the completion of the project.
“It shows the demolition of the old buildings in 2020 and the rebuild on the same site, along with the creation of all 17 of the new train stabling lanes, the overhead lines and new signalling systems.
“The new Gosforth depot will revolutionise Metro train maintenance. It brings fleet maintenance into the 21st century, ensuing that we have the very best facilities for many years to come.
“This has been a substantial construction project and our thanks go to all our neighbours in Gosforth for their patience during these major works.”
Paul Patrick, Managing Director for Stadler Rail Service UK, said: “The new timelapse video, which charts the work from start to finish, illustrates the scope and complexity of the project to build a new depot. It’s a powerful depiction of how it has been transformed from a 20th century to a 21st century facility, designed specifically to maximise the availability and reliability of the new trains, promoting efficiency and ensuring a high quality service for Metro customers.
“Stadler Rail Service UK thanks Gosforth residents for the patience they have shown during the project to construct the new state-of-the art, purpose-built facility. Both the depot as well as the new fleet are designed to a high specification, using the latest technology and boasting a range of environmentally-friendly features. They will contribute towards a dramatically improved transport offering in the north east, enhance communities and boost the regional economy.”
Clinton Smith, Project Manager for VolkerFitzpatrick, said: “This timelapse film of the new Gosforth Depot really brings to light the scope and vast scale of the construction project on a live depot. I’m reminded of the collaborative spirit which helped us achieve the project safely and on time. I want to thank all the people that have worked on the project, at every stage, from our team to the client, and to our subcontractors and suppliers. It’s a huge achievement all round.”