Sunderland celebrates 20th anniversary of Metro services running to Wearside

By Neil Fatkin
Published 30th Mar 2022, 14:18 BST
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Councillors, businesses leaders and Nexus staff have been celebrating two decades since the landmark moment the Metro line was eventually extended to Sunderland.

The Metro commenced operation on Tyneside in 1981 and after two decades of waiting the £100m extension connecting the service to Sunderland was eventually opened on March 31, 2002.

The line was was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen in a ceremony at Park Lane Interchange on May 7 that same year.

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After unveiling an opening plaque at the interchange, the Queen took a Metro journey to Fellgate, Jarrow, and driving the train that day was Michael Scott, who is now retired and living in New Zealand.

Commenting on the responsibility of driving the monarch, Michael said: “I'm surprised at the pride and emotion I feel almost 20 years on from that big day. It was such an huge honour to drive a Metro train with the Queen on board.

“I had a similar feeling to someone about to play the FA Cup Final. I was really looking forward to it, but I was also really nervous. I was worried about something going wrong.

"What if I made an error? What if I went through a red signal and the brakes came on suddenly?

“I did get a bit twitchy about it all.”

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The Queen at the official opening of Park Lane Interchange on May 7, 2002.The Queen at the official opening of Park Lane Interchange on May 7, 2002.
The Queen at the official opening of Park Lane Interchange on May 7, 2002.