Tyne and Wear Metro

Tyne and Wear Metro
A Metrocar at Monument in 2015, branded in the current black and yellow colour scheme.
Overview
OwnerTyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (Nexus)
Area served
LocaleTyne and Wear
Transit type
Number of lines2
Number of stations60
Annual ridership24.3 million (2021/22)[2]
158.8%
Headquarters
Websitewww.nexus.org.uk/metro
Operation
Began operation11 August 1980 (1980-08-11)
Operator(s)Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (Nexus)
Number of vehicles87 Tyne and Wear Metrocars
Train length27.81 m (91 ft 3 in)
Technical
System length77.5 km (48.2 mi)
Track gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification1,500 Volt DC overhead lines
Top speed80 km/h (50 mph)

Tyne and Wear Metro is a rapid transit system in Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland.

It opened in stages from August 1980 and now has 60 stations, with two lines covering 77.5 km (48.2 mi) of track. It was mostly made from converted former railway lines linked with some new tunnels.

References

  1. The Highway Engineer, Volume 23. Institution of Highway Engineers. 1976. p. 44. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  2. "Light rail and tram statistics, England: year ending March 2022". Department for Transport. 24 August 2022.