Member Article

Metro "positive" about Downing Street support

Tyne and Wear PTA Chairman David Wood said earlier this week that he has been enjoying positive meetings at Downing Street promoting £600m plans for Metro Re-Invigoration. Mr Wood and Nexus Director General Bernard Garner met senior officials in the Prime Minister’s staff at the start of three days of intensive meetings in support of the plans for the Metro service.

Nexus has this week launched web pages at www.nexus.org.uk detailing the Metro Re-Invigoration project and inviting public support and comment on the plans. Over the coming months Nexus aims to carry out an extensive consultation on the project with passengers, businesses and other residents of Tyne and Wear. The 20-year Business Case for Re-Invigoration, if funded by the government, is designed to provide for the complete overhaul and modernisation of the system’s 59 stations, 90 Metrocars and 59km of track, tunnels and power supply within Nexus control.

Mr Wood said: “We have taken the case for Metro Re-Invigoration to the very heart of Government and it was clear the importance of Metro to Tyne and Wear was understood, as was the significance of our proposals for Metro Re-Invigoration. “This has been a very positive first day as we begin a round of meeting that will have a big impact on the future of Tyne and Wear’s transport systems, economy and the way people go about their daily lives.”

Nexus will also seek funding for the substantial modernisation of North Shields, South Shields and Heworth stations and better Park-and-Ride facilities at other stations.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .