Extra trains and safety steps - how Metro bosses are planning to cope with return of ‘regular rush hour service’

Metro bosses have confirmed measures to deal with a planned return to ‘regular rush hour service’.
A Metro trainA Metro train
A Metro train

The network is due to resume ‘normal daytime frequency’ from Monday May 18 in response to government guidance for workplaces to begin reopening.

Travellers have been urged to only use public transport for essential journeys due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, but those who do should expect plenty of guidance when they arrive at stations.

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A spokesman for Nexus, which runs the Metro, said: “There is new signage, floor markings and information throughout busy Metro and bus stations, and our customer service teams will control access and boardings if this is needed.

“We have stepped up cleaning regimes to target touch points and busy areas.

Buses and trains are confined spaces – like some shops and other amenities – so it is not always possible to keep two metres apart, but following a few simple steps can make a big difference.

“Maintaining distancing will become more challenging as passenger numbers grow, but we are tackling this as one transport industry, alongside our colleagues at bus and train operators in the region.”

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Earlier this week, Nexus managing director Tobyn Hughes revealed daily passenger numbers had slumped from 100,000 to about 5,000.

Some smaller stations have seen just a few dozen travellers per day, which transport chiefs say will feature ‘standard COVID-secure advice’.

Busier stations will have signs and markings to help social distancing near ticket barriers and on platforms.

Sunderland’s Park Lane interchange, Haymarket, in Newcastle, and Gateshead station will also have one-way systems.

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Starting from Monday, Metro services are due to double their frequency, from every 24 minutes to every 12 minutes, until 8pm on weekdays, which is predicted to increase the network’s socially distanced capacity to 26,000 people per day.

Martin Kearney, chief operating officer at Nexus, said: “There will be a train every three minutes through the central area between Pelaw and South Gosforth at peak times.

“This gives us more capacity and takes us back to pre-lockdown levels of service at busy times.

People are advised to take Metro only where a journey is essential, such as for work if you cannot do so from home, and where you can’t walk, cycle or use a car.”

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