Nexus has announced the completion of a major project to refurbish Cullercoats Metro station’s historic footbridge.

Nexus is the public body which runs the Tyne and Wear Metro. It has spent £579,000 on the work.

Restoring Cullercoats station’s footbridge, which dates from the Victorian era, was the central focus of Nexus’ infrastructure modernisation programme.

The footbridge is among many original station structures which remain in place, although the station master’s house and the adjacent signal box were demolished last century.

Last year and three years ago, Cullercoats was one of several Metro stations to display artworks by local young people.

Footbridge closed

To enable the works, the footbridge closed in August 2023, and an alternative walking route between the two station platforms has been available since then. The footbridge re-opened to the public at 9am today, Wednesday 17 April.

It has a wrought iron structure, which engineers strengthened with new steelwork. They also replaced the outer wooden panels and decking, to freshen their appearance.

The windows, which had been boarded up, have been renewed with new glazing, improving the natural light within the footbridge. Workers have also installed new CCTV cameras.

Engineers have also replaced the decorative dagger boards on the station canopies.

Nexus contracted Gateshead-based G&B Civil Engineering, to carry out the work.

The North-Eastern Railway opened Cullercoats station in 1882, and it was converted to a Metro station when the Metro opened in August 1980.

Nexus is also carrying out major renewal works at Monkseaton and Whitley Bay stations in North Tyneside.

Modernising the Metro

Spending on these and other projects has taken investment in new Metro infrastructure to £38 million pounds in the year to the end of March 2024 and £446 million since work started in 2010. The government funds Metro’s modernisation works.

Since 2010, work on the Metro Asset Renewal Programme has included:

• refurbishing 35 stations
• renewing or refurbishing 65km of track
• renewing or refurbishing 52 switches and crossings
• replacing 52 sets of points motors
•  installing 6.5km of track drainage
• refurbishing 33km of cable troughing
• replacing 85km of signalling cable
• repairing the structures of 62 bridges
• replacing three bridges
• removing five bridges and filling in
• replacing 27 escalators and 12 lifts
• acquiring a new rail tamping machine
• repairing 2km of earthworks through ballast retention and stabilisation
• replacing 65km of overhead line
• replacing help points, the public address system and  500 CCTV cameras
• installing a new radio system
• installing a new Rail Traffic Management System (RTMS)
• completion of the £104m Metro Flow project which saw three key sections of Metro line dualled.

“We’ve invested more than half a million pounds refurbishing Cullercoats Metro station, including its historic footbridge, which was in particular need of work.

“I am pleased to say that the project has now been completed and the bridge is open for the public once again.

“Our thanks go to customers for their patience during this scheme. We appreciate that the alternative walking route between the two platforms has been an inconvenience for people.

“The works has seen the footbridge strengthened structurally, the wooden panels, the deck and the glazing all renewed. It’s a structure which has been there since 1882 so it’s been a real thrill to restore it back to its former glory.

“This project is part of our infrastructure modernisation programme, which is ensuring that we have a Metro system for many generations to come.

“Our focus on the North Tyneside coastal stations doesn’t end here. We are close to completing renewal work at Monkseaton Metro station, and our major refurbishment of the canopy at Whitley Bay Metro station remains ongoing.”

Sarah McManus, Head of Renewals at Nexus