The Tyne and Wear Metro enjoyed a boost in tickets and passenger numbers last weekend thanks to the Great North Run.

Nexus says that the Metro carried 90,000 passengers on the day of the Great North Run. A total of 10,400 passengers used the cross-Tyne Shields Ferry service.

Extra Metro services were successfully delivered by an army of 400 staff, with trains every seven and a half minutes from South Shields.

And there was a further boost for Metro as people opted to use its service to see the England’s Rugby Union international at St James’ Park on Friday, and the Tour of Britain cycling event on Monday.

What did the officials say?

Managing Director of Nexus, Tobyn Hughes, said:

“The Great North Run was once again a fantastic day for Metro and the whole region.

“We carried more than 91,000 passengers and we’ve seen excellent ticket sales – Metro is a public service operated without a profit, so this all helps meet the cost of supporting the event.

“The last few days have showcased much that is good about the Tyne and Wear Metro as a mass transport system. Many months of meticulous planning has paid off.

“It was amazing to see so many thousands using our services, with very positive feedback from runners and spectators. It was a brilliant atmosphere and people had a fantastic day. The Great North Run puts the eyes of the world on our region and there’s nothing quite like it. It’s one of the best mass participation events in the world.

“We’re already planning for 2020, when the Great North Run and Tyne and Wear Metro will both be celebrating our 40th anniversaries.”

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