(11 Mar 2020, 5:54 pm)Michael wrote The Government has today agreed to fund a £100m scheme to increase service frequency, reduce journey times, and improve reliability on the Tyne and Wear Metro.

The Metro Flow project will see an existing freight line upgraded and electrified in South Tyneside from September 2022, making it capable of carrying Metro services, boosting the capacity for an extra 30,000 passenger journeys every day.

Three sections of single track on the Metro network totalling three kilometres will be dualled between Pelaw and Bede Metro stations #Budget2020

(11 Mar 2020, 5:54 pm)Michael wrote The Government has today agreed to fund a £100m scheme to increase service frequency, reduce journey times, and improve reliability on the Tyne and Wear Metro.

The Metro Flow project will see an existing freight line upgraded and electrified in South Tyneside from September 2022, making it capable of carrying Metro services, boosting the capacity for an extra 30,000 passenger journeys every day.

Three sections of single track on the Metro network totalling three kilometres will be dualled between Pelaw and Bede Metro stations #Budget2020

(20 Mar 2020, 8:24 am)V514DFT wrote Is there something wrong with the bridge between Howdon and Hadrian Road?,theres been a temporary speed restriction on there for 2 years

(02 Apr 2020, 3:42 pm)Ds1197 wrote https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/north-east-political-leaders-urge-government-bail-out-tyne-and-wear-metro

(02 Apr 2020, 5:26 pm)Andreos1 wrote It genuinely wouldn't surprise me, to see the network become part of the next 'Northern' franchise.

(02 Apr 2020, 5:39 pm)Ds1197 wrote I would rather keep it publicly owned than privatised

(02 Apr 2020, 5:26 pm)Andreos1 wrote It genuinely wouldn't surprise me, to see the network become part of the next 'Northern' franchise.

(22 Apr 2020, 7:05 pm)Michael wrote The North East would be sent “back to the ice age” if transport bosses were forced into mothballing the Metro during the coronavirus crisis, a council leader has warned.

As the struggling rail network loses close to £1 million a week after passenger numbers dropped more than 90% and still without any promise of any government support, there are mounting fears over the system's future.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/metro-mothball-coronavirus-government-bailout-18130142?fbclid=IwAR286S_OgKt1Jt5ReBSqZ3n3MOK7qx35oQtPcvAKEN-sy227n4LMhov0Nog

(22 Apr 2020, 7:05 pm)Michael wrote The North East would be sent “back to the ice age” if transport bosses were forced into mothballing the Metro during the coronavirus crisis, a council leader has warned.

As the struggling rail network loses close to £1 million a week after passenger numbers dropped more than 90% and still without any promise of any government support, there are mounting fears over the system's future.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/metro-mothball-coronavirus-government-bailout-18130142?fbclid=IwAR286S_OgKt1Jt5ReBSqZ3n3MOK7qx35oQtPcvAKEN-sy227n4LMhov0Nog

(23 Apr 2020, 11:56 am)markydh wrote The metro is already running at a vastly reduced frequency. It’s foolish in the extreme to suggest mothballing. I also don’t see why anyone would criticise local government politicians’ who make public calls for assistance. It’s what they are paid to do, after all. Given the government was very quick to support the private bus industry and provided almost instantaneous support to the heavy rail industry, it’s unacceptable that it’s taken this long to assist light rail operators which generally have a much higher percentage of local journeys when compared to heavy rail outside of the London commuter zone.

(23 Apr 2020, 1:09 pm)Ambassador wrote Local Government have mismanaged Nexus and transport integration (including the botched DB Regio and then in house ops debacle) for decades. The ridiculous focus on the pipe dream that was Project Orpheus and delaying any bid for new trains left Metro running on a shoestring.

Hysterical comments don't help and make the region look like a provincial backwater. If Forbes and Gannon had been remotely competent and forward thinking we'd be in a much better position (relatively considering the reach of Covid19) But let's pretend they are marvellous!

(23 Apr 2020, 3:51 pm)Ds1197 wrote Metro asked the government for new trains for years but the only really care about transport in London

(23 Apr 2020, 4:02 pm)Ambassador wrote Not remotely true and another propaganda piece happily trumpeted by our Labour lacklustre lot. A thriving London is a thriving UK, trickle down economics. 

Nexus declined to bid and went down a franchising route with DB Regio, again, they blew boatloads on Orpheus which was never ever going to be accepted by even then a Labour government that had poured millions into the region.

(23 Apr 2020, 6:39 pm)markydh wrote Exactly! Not only that, but the government would only agree to a full refurbishment, rather than stock replacement.

And apart from anything else, it’s hardly Nexus’ fault that ridership has decreased by 90% and they will have lost roughly £10 million by the end of July. What would you prefer, Ambassador? More extreme cuts to council services to account for the loss of Metro revenue, or a government grant to keep the system going during these somewhat extreme times?

(24 Apr 2020, 1:48 pm)Michael wrote Coronavirus: Government to fund 'essential' light rail services

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-52412285?at_custom2=twitter&at_custom3=Regional+BBC+North+East+and+Cumbria&at_medium=custom7&at_campaign=64&at_custom1=link&at_custom4=039AF4DC-8632-11EA-9804-04DA96E8478F

(02 May 2020, 4:29 pm)markydh wrote Not quite that simple.  The government have also told them that they will have to run enough trains to maintain social distancing.

(02 May 2020, 4:50 pm)Michael wrote True but once things sort its self out, which is god knows when, to save money, drop the frequency - until it picks up again, then they won't be asking for bailouts all the time, it'll only go so far before the government turn around and say no, to more money.