Tyne & Wear Metro Rapid-Transit System, United Kingdom
Key Data:
Population (2004)
Tyne and Wear – 1,085,600
Newcastle (city) – 269,500
Sunderland (city) – 282,700
Operator
Nexus (Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive) until March 2010, DB Regio from April 2010
System:
Opened (Phase 1)
1980–84
System Length
78km (48.5 miles)
Gauge
1,435mm
Lines
2
Stations
60
Passengers Carried/Year
40 million
Power Supply
750V dc overhead supply
Rolling Stock:
Vehicle Total
90 twin-car articulated units
Builder
Metro-Cammell
Max Speed
80kmh/50mph
Introduced
Prototype – 1975; Production – 1980
Weight
40t
Capacity
68 seated/232 standing
Power
2 x Siemens-type 185kW
Special Characteristics:
First of a 'new generation' of light rail systems in the UK
System built largely on or alongside heavy rail alignments
Park-and-ride at many stations to discourage car use in centre
Serves regional international airport
£50m investment project in place for works up to 2010
Government funding for long-term future of the system approved in 2008
Transition to separate operating body due from 2009
