Inspiring transport in Tyne & Wear
As part of our work supporting transport operators, authorities and sub-national transport bodies across the country, we spent the day in Newcastle and Gateshead to find out about the latest developments in Tyne and Wear.
There is a lot happening in the region and at Transport North East, from the hugely significant news of rail reopenings (the stuff of dreams for so many) to a new set of trains for the fantastic Metro, bus promotions, behaviour change, health interventions and the promise of a Metro Mayor next year.
We were given a superb tour of the Metro network, which is introducing an entire new fleet of modern trains later this year for the first time since the network was created.
The Tyne and Wear Metro is remarkable in many ways – not only is it the only other underground rail network in England outside London, but it was also the first public transport network of any sort to be completely accessible when it was created in 1980. That’s quite an exceptional claim to fame, when accessibility is such a barrier for so many wanting to use the train, board buses or get down to the underground. It was created to lift the region out of economic slump in the 1970s, and it offers a perfect example of the vital importance of public transport networks for economies. At a time when we are facing the combined challenges of the climate emergency, a cost-of-living crisis and communities and high streets struggling to survive, much inspiration can surely be taken from the Tyneside Passenger Transport Authority (now known as Nexus) and their vital work in the 1970s to create this extraordinary network. The Tyneside Metropolitan Railway Act was in fact passed 50 years ago this year, the year of our own foundation, of course. Full accessible, fully electric and, hard to believe, but it was even integrated with the bus timetables until bus deregulation. Imagine! Practically Switzerland. Little surprise therefore that Transport North East are keen on looking at bus franchising to get some way towards that level of smooth inter-operation between metro and bus. Another point which should offer inspiration is that this light rail network was created on former heavy rail infrastructure, which should be another source of inspiration for other regions.
As part of our tour with Huw Lewis, Director of Customer Services, and Lynne Robinson, Public Affairs Manager at Nexus, we were also taken on the ferry from North Shields to South Shields, a vital link across the Tyne which also showed off its fantastic cycle storage facilities with a large group of cyclists on board. We then visited the Nexus Learning Centre, where we saw one of the new trains for the Metro, had a go on the fantastic driver simulator, and saw a centre which is set up to train every type of staff member, from drivers to ticket staff and cleaners, in a mock-up station and track environment, also boasting library and innovation centre.
Norman trying out the tram simulator
In the afternoon we were treated to presentations by the excellent team at Transport North East, who told us about a range of superb projects and priorities, from exploring transport and health with public health experts to bus reform, behaviour change and generous offers of free bus travel to 18-25-year-olds coming out of care. We heard about the forthcoming reopening of the Northumberland Line from Ashington to Newcastle, which we have been supporting as part of our rail reopenings work. We will be sure to celebrate the reopening of the Northumberland Line next year, which promises to be transformational for the region.
We also heard more about the compelling case for reopening the Leamside Line, 23 miles of rail line sitting effectively mothballed and ready to open up opportunities for over 70,000 people. With Washington being the fourth largest town in the UK without a rail station, a key regional priority is a new Metro connection from Pelaw to South Hylton via Washington, known as the ‘Washington Metro Loop’.
Meanwhile, we will be closely following the work of TNE on transport and health, behaviour change, bus reform and the revived Transport Plan as part of the North East devolution deal and we look forward, with the Northumberland Line, the new Metro and a Metro Mayor, to a very positive year to come in 2024 for Tyne and Wear.
