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Chronicle Live
National
Kathryn Riddell

Metro disruption: Where has the line closed, how can I travel and when will trains be back on?

A second day of Metro disruption is causing a headache for commuters around Newcastle and North Tyneside.

Due to two overhead line faults on Monday, there are no Metro trains running between Benton and St James on Tuesday.

Bus replacement services are running instead during the line closure.

Here's everything you need to know if you're planning to travel on the Metro.

Where are Metros off?

There are no Metros running between Benton and St James - so there is no service covering the North Tyneside coast.

Trains ARE running as normal between South Hylton and Airport. They are also running between Benton and South Shields although this may not be to timetable due to the overhead line work.

What happened?

Around 600 metres of overhead line came down between West Monkseaton and Palmersville just after 9am on Monday.

The line was then suspended between Benton and North Shields.

Then, in a separate incident, a 500 metre section of overhead line came down at Chillingham Road at around 1pm.

Passengers who were on board a train near Walkergate had to get out and walk back to the station , aided by the emergency services.

The line was then closed between Benton and St James, affecting more than a third of the Metro's 60 stations.

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What is being done?

Engineers were set to work through the night between Monday and Tuesday with warnings that there would the service would not be back on until Tuesday.

However, on Tuesday morning it was confirmed that there would be no trains running between Benton and St James.

Work is still taking place to repair the two overhead lines.

How can I travel?

 

Bus replacement service at Tynemouth metro station (Newcastle Chronicle)

Replacement bus services are running between the affected stations.

The number 900 is calling between Four Lane Ends and North Shields and the number 900A is running between North Shields and St James.

Replacement buses are expected to be very busy.

Go North East, Arriva and Stagecoach buses are also accepting Metro tickets.

When will the trains be back on?

Workers were trying to reopen the line through Monkseaton before the afternoon rush hour, but further damage has been found.

Overhead line damage at Chillingham Road has caused havoc on the Metro (Nexus)

The line is expected to open between Benton and North Shields later on Tuesday but there is no fixed time yet.

However the repairs needed at Chillingham Road are described as "more complex" with the line between North Shields and St James expected to stay closed into Wednesday.

What have Nexus said about it?

Metro Customer Services Director Huw Lewis on today’s disruption

Customer services director at Nexus Huw Lewis said: "I’m sorry for the disruption caused to our customers.  Two sections of overhead line have come down and the damage is significant.

"Our engineering teams are going to work around the clock to get this work carried out as quickly as possible so that Metro services can be restored in the affected area."

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