'Essential' new track work will close line for six days

METROS WON'T RUN BETWEEN BENTON AND WALLSEND

- By EMILY GRAY

600 metres of new track will be installed

A BUSY section of the Tyne and Wear Metro line through North Tyneside is to close for six days to allow for “essential” investment in new track.

Between Sunday, October 26 and Friday, October 31 no trains will run between Benton and Wallsend.

Work during the planned closure will involve renewal of a key track junction at Monkseaton, vital for the operation of the Metro system which carries hundreds of train services each day. The affected route will reopen to Metro services on Saturday November 1.

A total of 600 metres of new track will be installed along with the new junction, including 1,200 metres of new rails, 900 sleepers and 2,700 tonnes of new ballast.

Metro operator Nexus said the work forms part of its Asset Renewal Programme which involves the modernisation of key items of Metro infrastructure including tracks and overhead lines.