Metro passengers are being warned to prepare for a very busy weekend as thousands of music fans head out to watch Sam Fender and P!nk at their concerts.
North Shields singer Sam Fender is performing at St James' Park in Newcastle on Friday June 9 and Saturday June 10, while P!NK will be wowing crowds at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on Saturday June 10 and Sunday June 11. Transport bosses are warning that services will be a lot busier than usual.
Queuing systems will be in place at Metro stations and some will be closed early or made exit only. Passengers are being asked to leave extra time and plan their journeys in advance. Scroll down to see details of travel arrangements on the nights.
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Huw Lewis, customer services director at Nexus, said: "We've got Sam Fender and P!nk playing sell-out stadium gigs the same night - Saturday night. And of course Sam Fender's playing on June 9 and we've got P!nk on Sunday night.
"If you're going to any of those concerts, plan ahead about how you are going to travel. There is lots of late public transport running but know where it is, know how you are going to get home. You can find all the details at nexus.org.uk/concerts
"If you're at the P!nk gig on either Saturday or Sunday night, there's going to be late Metro trains running into well after midnight to get you home to the Newcastle area and beyond. There are going to be late trains on Friday night as well when Sam Fender is playing.
"On the Saturday, we've got a combination of Metro and bus services leaving the city. Don't worry about which ticket you've got because they'll all be accepted, all return tickets are valid.
"But make sure you know whether or not you're catching a Metro, which leaves from Monument station going out towards Wallsend, North Shields and the coast, or if you're catching a bus which will get you to many other destinations on the network and leave from stops in the city centre.
"We've got lots of extra staff. We've got 102 of our customer service staff, we've got 45 extra shifts by drivers on Metro, we've got 60 extra bus drivers and support staff working with us and 45 volunteers from our own office-based staff who have given up their Saturday night to be there.
"Concert nights are fun. We really enjoy them, we enjoy interacting with the crowds, we enjoy getting into the spirit of things. So plan ahead, have a really good night, enjoy the shows and we'll make sure you get home afterwards."
Concert day travel
Sam Fender - Friday June 9, St James' Park
Travelling to the concert
Extra Metro trains will be running before the concert to help get everyone to St. James’ Park. Trains will be exceptionally busy after 4pm so please make sure you leave extra travelling time.
Travelling after the concert
Metro trains will be running later to help get concert goers home. Crowd control measures will be in place, including queues.
If you're travelling towards Wallsend/the coast by Metro, there will be a frequent service from Monument. Join the queue at Monument (Grey Street entrance), straight after the concert to be sure of getting your train home. For help planning your journey use the Live Travel Map.
Metro station closures
To assist with crowd control some stations will be closed early and other stations will be for customers leaving the station only (no entry).
St James – closed from 8.00pm
Monument platform 4 (to St James) – exit only from 8.00pm
Haymarket exit only all day (no entry into the station)
Trains will run through closed stations and platforms without stopping.
Sam Fender - Saturday June 10, St James' Park
Metro tickets
If you don't have a Pay As You Go card, save time on concert day by buying your Sam Fender Metro travel ticket in advance from any Metro ticket machine. The ticket costs £6.20 and is valid for all day, all zone Metro travel for one adult on 10 June 2023.
The ticket will also be valid on the three concert shuttle bus services leaving Newcastle city centre after the concert numbers: SF1, SF2 and SF3. If you're travelling with children, remember up to three children aged 11 and under can travel for free on Metro and the Shields Ferry with a fare paying adult.
Metro and Rail services
Extra Metro trains will be running before the concert to help get everyone to St. James’ Park. Metro trains will be exceptionally busy after 4pm so please make sure you leave extra travelling time. The usual timetabled Rail services from Newcastle and Sunderland will be running.
Travelling after the concert
Crowd control measures will be in place including Metro station closures and queues for Metro travel from Monument (towards Wallsend). If you're travelling towards Wallsend by Metro, there will be a frequent service from Monument. Join the queue at Monument (Grey Street entrance), straight after the concert to be sure of getting your train home
Metro station closures
To assist with crowd control some stations will be closed early and other stations will be for customers leaving the station only (no entry).
St James – closed from 8.00pm
Monument platform 1 (towards Heworth) will be closed from 10.00pm
Monument platform 2 (towards South Gosforth) will be closed from 10.00pm
Monument platform 3 (towards Wallsend) will remain open for travel towards Whitley Bay via Wallsend.
Monument platform 4 (to St James) – exit only from 8.00pm
Manors– Closed from 10.00pm
Jesmond – Closed from 10.00pm
Haymarket– exit only all day (no entry into the station)
Central Station – exit only from 10.00pm (no entry into the station)
Trains will run through closed stations and platforms without stopping.
Bus services
In addition to the usual network of bus services, Nexus has arranged for three separate concert shuttle bus services to operate from Newcastle city centre to help get you home. These bus services will operate up to every 10 minutes from 10pm until late.
All valid Metro tickets will be accepted for travel on the concert shuttle bus services.
-
Bus SF1 stops on Blackett Street (stop number 08nc108)
Stopping only at Gosforth High Street/Brandling Arms, Regent Centre Interchange, Fawdon Mormon Church and Kingston Park Metro -
Bus SF2 stops on St Mary’s Place (stop number 08nc76)
Stopping only at South Gosforth roundabout, Longbenton shops, Benton cemetery, Forest Hall shops, Palmersville Metro and Cramlington Manor Walks -
Bus SF3 stops on Market Street (stop number 08nc68)
Stopping only at Gateshead Interchange, Low Fell The Cannon and Chester-le-Street Red Lion.
Bus service 306 stops at stand L at Haymarket bus station
This bus will serve all regular stops between Haymarket and North Shields. A 10 minute frequency will be in operation after the concert. Valid Metro tickets will be accepted on this service after 11.00pm.
P!NK - Saturday June 10, Stadium of Light
Metro tickets
If you don't have a Pay As You Go card, you can get a P!NK travel ticket in advance from any Metro ticket machine. The ticket costs £6.20 and is valid for all day, all zone Metro travel for one adult on June 10.
Travelling to the concert
Before the concert extra Metro trains will be running to help get everyone to the Stadium of Light. Metro trains towards Sunderland will be exceptionally busy after 4pm.
Whatever your destination, anyone boarding at Newcastle city centre stations may be asked to queue outside between 4pm and 8pm, to manage large crowds.
Concert goers with purple, red or yellow entry tickets should travel to Stadium of Light Metro station. Concert goers with blue, orange, platinum, green or pink entry tickets are best travelling to St Peter's Metro station.
Travelling after the concert
Metro trains will be running later to help get concert goers home, including a later train to South Shields from Pelaw. Crowd control measures will be in place for Metro customers, including queues.
If you're travelling by Metro, join the queue at St Peter's or at Stadium of Light station immediately after the concert to be sure of getting your train home. Queues at both stations will move at the same speed.
Metro station closures
Access to Sunderland station and Park Lane will be limited after 10pm to assist with crowd control.
- Park Lane Metro station will be fully closed from 10pm
- Sunderland station will be closed to Metro customers from 10pm
Some Newcastle city centre stations will also be closed or be exit only:
St James – closed from 8pm
Monument platform 1 (towards Heworth) will be closed from 10pm
Monument platform 2 (towards South Gosforth) will be closed from 10pm
Monument platform 3 (towards Wallsend) will remain open for travel towards Whitley Bay via Wallsend.
Monument platform 4 (to St James) – exit only from 8pm
Manors– Closed from 10pm
Jesmond – Closed from 10pm
Haymarket– exit only all day (no entry into the station)
Central Station – exit only from 10pm (no entry into the station)
Bus services
In addition to the usual network of bus services, Nexus has arranged for three separate concert shuttle bus services to operate from Newcastle city centre to help get you home. These bus services will operate up to every 10 minutes from 10pm until late.
All valid Metro tickets will be accepted for travel on the concert shuttle bus services. Details of these shuttle buses are given above.
P!NK - Sunday June 11, Stadium of Light
Metro tickets
You can buy a P!NK travel ticket in advance from any Metro ticket machine. The ticket costs £6.20 and is valid for all day, all zone Metro travel for one adult on June 11.
Travelling to the concert
Before the concert extra Metro trains will be running. Trains towards Sunderland will be exceptionally busy after 4pm. Anyone boarding at Newcastle city centre stations may be asked to queue outside between 4pm and 8pm.
Concert goers with purple, red or yellow entry tickets should travel to Stadium of Light Metro station.
Concert goers with blue, orange, platinum, green or pink entry tickets are best travelling to St Peter's Metro station.
Travelling after the concert
Crowd control measures will be in place including queues for Metro travel. Metro trains will be running later to help get concert goers home, including a later train to South Shields from Pelaw.
Join the queue at St Peter's or at Stadium of Light Metro station immediately after the concert to be sure of getting your train home. Queues at both stations will move at the same speed.
Metro station closures
Access to some stations will be limited to assist with crowd control.
- Park Lane Metro station will be fully closed from 10pm
- Sunderland station will be closed to Metro customers from 10pm
- Haymarket exit only all day (no entry into the station)
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