Metro plots the way forward with £600m bid for massive overhaul

Mar 13 2007 By The Journal

A £600m bid to overhaul the Metro transport system which spans Tyneside and Wearside has been submitted to Downing Street.

The 20-year plan was handed to one of the Prime Minister's top political advisers, Jonathan Pearse, hours after it was agreed by Tyne and Wear councillors.

It includes major work on the system's crumbling Victorian infrastructure, refurbishment of stations and replacement of the entire fleet of trains in about 2023. It proposes all ticket machines being replaced with ones capable of taking notes and credit cards, and security barriers to prevent fraud at 14 of the busiest stations - Monument, Haymarket, Central Station, Manors, St James, Jesmond, West Jesmond, South Gosforth and Airport, all in Newcastle, plus North Shields, South Shields, Gateshead and Heworth, along with one of the Tyneside interchanges.

The aim is to complete this work by 2009 and the second stage, which involves most of the major engineering work, station improvements and the refurbishment of trains, would happen between 2009 and 2017.

The fleet of 90 Metro trains would be replaced in the final stage, between 2018 and 2026.

Nexus director general Bernard Garner and Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority chairman David Wood travelled to London for three days of intensive talks on the network's future.

The 320-page document sets out where the money needs to be invested and a timetable for the work.

The hope is that ministers will give the green light by the end of the year.

Tyne Bridge MP David Clelland said: "This is about reducing congestion, climate change, economic development of the region, social mobility - it hits all the right buttons for Government.

"Metro has provided over the last 20 years the kind of transport system the Government would like to see, but it won't be able to do so over the next 20 years without substantial investment ."

The proposals will include putting the Metro system out to tender in 2009.

An `in house' Nexus bid will compete against private firms.