Amazing time-lapse footage has been released by Nexus who own and operate the Tyne and Wear Metro, and shows the amazing journey of the rebuild of Gosforth Metro Depot near Newcastle.

The vast project got underway in 2020 and finished last month (Jan 2024) with an investment of £70m with the film documenting its progress from start to end.

The four-and-a-half-minute film uses frame capture technology to reveal how the 100-year-old buildings were demolished, alongside building brand new state-of-the-art facilities on the massive site over a four-year period.

The new Gosforth Metro Depot was created by Stadler with construction undertaken by VolkerFitzpatrick and is now home to Tyne and Wear Metro’s new train fleet.

The film was commissioned by Nexus, Stadler and VolkerFitzpatrick.

This new timelapse film really bring home the scale and complexity of the £70m Metro depot construction project over the last four years. It has been released to mark the completion of the project.

It shows the demolition of the old buildings in 2020 and the rebuild on the same site, along with the creation of all 17 of the new train stabling lanes, the overhead lines and new signalling systems.

The new Gosforth depot will revolutionise Metro train maintenance. It brings fleet maintenance into the 21st century, ensuing that we have the very best facilities for many years to come.

This has been a substantial construction project and our thanks go to all our neighbours in Gosforth for their patience during these major works.

Michael Richardson, Head of Fleet and Depot Programme at Next

The new timelapse video, which charts the work from start to finish, illustrates the scope and complexity of the project to build a new depot. It’s a powerful depiction of how it has been transformed from a 20th century to a 21st century facility, designed specifically to maximise the availability and reliability of the new trains, promoting efficiency and ensuring a high quality service for Metro customers.

Stadler Rail Service UK thanks Gosforth residents for the patience they have shown during the project to construct the new state-of-the art, purpose-built facility. Both the depot as well as the new fleet are designed to a high specification, using the latest technology and boasting a range of environmentally-friendly features. They will contribute towards a dramatically improved transport offering in the north east, enhance communities and boost the regional economy.

Paul Patrick, Managing Director for Stadler Rail Service UK

This timelapse film of the new Gosforth Depot really brings to light the scope and vast scale of the construction project on a live depot. I’m reminded of the collaborative spirit which helped us achieve the project safely and on time. I want to thank all the people that have worked on the project, at every stage, from our team to the client, and to our subcontractors and suppliers. It’s a huge achievement all round.

Clinton Smith, Project Manager for VolkerFitzpatrick