Tyne and Wear Metro bosses Nexus have engineers working “through the night” to fix an overhead wire problem at Haymarket, but another issue means service won’t run between Gateshead Stadium and Heworth on Friday morning.
That’s according to a statement from Nexus managing director Cathy Massarella on Thursday evening. She confirmed that it was the hope to fix the overhead line issue – which has seen trains unable to run between South Gosforth and Heworth for much of the day – in time for the start of Friday’s planned services.
However, a “bridge strike” whereby a vehicle has hit a bridge, at Heworth cannot be repaired before the morning, she said. This means a bus replacement service will run between the Heworth and Gateshead Stadium stations.
This comes after Nexus were able to reinstate service on the Metro between Heworth and Monument on New Year’s Eve, following weeks of disruption due to the Gateshead flyover crisis.
On Thursday night, Ms Massarella, said: “The Metro service between Heworth and South Gosforth will remain suspended in both directions for the rest of the evening. Our teams are working through the night to fix an issue with the overhead line near Haymarket, and we expect that to be resolved for the start of service tomorrow (Friday 3 January)
Nexus Managing Director Cathy Massarella
(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
“However, we have an additional issue in Gateshead. Following an earlier strike by a road vehicle, repair works need to take place on a bridge in the Heworth area which passes over the Metro tracks.
“Council contractors will be starting essential repairs on the bridge tomorrow morning. Until these repairs are completed there is a risk that debris could fall onto the tracks so we will be unable to run a service between Gateshead Stadium and Heworth.”
She added that Gateshead Council hoped these repairs would be completed “at some time tomorrow” – but until then the number 900 bus replacement service would run.
She added: ““Providing the overhead line is fixed as planned, Metro trains will run from Gateshead Stadium to Newcastle Airport on the green line, and to St James via the North Tyneside coast from start of service tomorrow.
“Metro services will also continue to operate between Heworth and South Hylton and between Heworth and South Shields at a reduced frequency, until the bridge repair works are complete.
“We’re sorry for the inconvenience caused. Please do leave extra time for your journey if you’re travelling. We will continue to keep customers updated and all the latest information can be found on the Nexus website, the Pop App, and on the Metro’s X page (formerly Twitter) @My_Metro.”
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