Metro services in Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland expected to be suspended until next week

Tyne and Wear Metro operators Nexus has confirmed parts of the system will be suspended until early next week.

Emergency repairs are needed on damaged power lines in South Tyneside which will keep the Tyne and Wear system out of action across much of the network.

A total of 800 metres of overhead wire came down between Pelaw and Hebburn at around 6am on Thursday, March 30. The cause of the fault is being investigated and repairs are underway, Nexus said.

Metro services will remain suspended between Pelaw and South Shields and Pelaw and Brockley Whins until the overhead lines have been replaced by engineers.

Nexus said it was sorry for the disruption caused to customers, and that it was working as fast as possible to restore services in the affected areas.

Metro Infrastructure Director, Stuart Clarke, said: “The damage is extensive and is over a wide area. It will take us a few days to get this fixed. Our engineers are working flat out to get this problem rectified as quickly as they possibly can.

“The repair has been made particularly complicated by the fact that it is adjacent to the Network Rail overhead lines, and we need safety agreements in place on both sides in order to proceed.

“Customers who need to travel through the affected areas are advised to allow extra time to complete their journeys. Replacement buses are in operation when available to us, and we will have Metro ticket acceptance on local bus routes when needed.”