During this weekend, 12th/13th February and 5th/6th March there will be no Tyne and Wear Metro services operating between Airport and South Gosforth.

The closures are necessary as a major programme of track renewal is taking place to prepare Metro lines in the Gosforth area for new trains later this year. The work is taking place between South Gosforth and Regent Centre.

Sections of track, sleepers. and ballast will be completely replaced at a key access point that serves both the current Metro depot the new £70m depot on the same site when it is completed.

During the weekend closures, Fawdon level crossing on Fawdon Lane will be closed to traffic with a diversion will in place., but will remain open for pedestrians.

In the areas where Metro trains are not running, a frequent and accessible replacement bus service will operate.

46 new Metro trains are being built by the Swiss train manufacturer, Stadler. They are designed to be 15 times more reliable and to cut energy consumption by 30%.

Modern features include charging points, air conditioning, and an automatic sliding step at every door, making travel easier for wheelchair passengers and people with children’s buggies, luggage, or bicycles.

Major Projects Director at Nexus, Cathy Massarella, said: “We are carrying out vital track renewal work between Regent Centre and South Gosforth over two weekends as part of our modernisation programme.

“We are replacing a key section of line which serves the Metro depot. The junction there will be vital for getting the new trains in and out of the new £70m Gosforth depot, which is really starting to take shape.

“These works will secure the future of Metro for many years to come.

“There is no good time to close a large section of the network, but we are working at weekends when customer numbers are lower in order to keep the level of disruption to a minimum.”