The number of Tyne and Wear Metro trains running at peak commuter times has been slashed.
North East transport bosses have confirmed that they are axeing the extra trains that run during morning and evening peaks, claiming that they are no longer needed as the number of people still working from home after the Covid-19 pandemic has reduced demand. While it is hoped that the move will also mean less strain is put on the Metro’s ageing carriages before a new £362m fleet is put into service, a passenger group warned the cuts will leave trains around Newcastle city centre more crowded.
The Sort out the Metro group said it had “believed for some time that a reduction in service was inevitable” because of the deteriorating condition of the trains that have served Tyne and Wear for more than 40 years, while some passengers complained on social media that morning trains are already “rammed”. Metro operator Nexus announced on Friday that removing the Pelaw to Monkseaton trains would mean a “more reliable” service, albeit less frequent, with a train running through central Newcastle every six minutes and every 12 minutes on the outer parts of the network.
The extra peak time trains have not been seen for some weeks but are now being permanently withdrawn from the Metro timetable, with the “spare” trains instead being kept in reserve to “meet extra demand as and when needed”. Nexus’ customer services director, Huw Lewis, said: “More people work from home these days so the traditional rush hour is not as busy as it used to be, particularly on Mondays and Fridays.
"To reflect this we have decided to withdraw some extra peak services that run between Pelaw and Monkseaton stations between 7am and 9am and then again between 4pm and 6pm. Instead of appearing in the timetable trains will now be kept ready to meet the busiest times of day and the busiest days of the week, entering service when they are needed.
“Doing this will mean a more reliable service for all our customers. It means we can continue to meet peak demand while also being able to respond quickly should a train break down, something which is happening more as our current fleet approaches the end of its life.”
Nexus recently took delivery of the first train in the Swiss-built new fleet and that is due to enter service this autumn, with all 46 new trains arriving by 2025. However, it is understood that the peak train service will not be restored once the new trains are running - though the frequency will be upped to one every five minutes through central Newcastle and every 10 minutes outside the heart of the Metro system.
The switch to the modern fleet is much-needed, with the existing carriages becoming ever more prone to failures – something passengers have experienced during this week’s cold weather. Sort out the Metro campaigner Kevin Dickinson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that reduced train services coupled with significant cuts to bus routes over the last year was “like we have gone back 50 years in terms of passenger service”.
He added: “Inevitably, this will lead to more cars on the road, more pollution and reduce the ability of the North East to attract businesses based in a mobile workforce. It is time for Nexus and councillors to be open and honest about the current issues, ensure public transport is prioritised and passengers are fully informed on the actions they are taking.”
Thom Campion, a Lib Dem councillor in Newcastle, added that it was "clear that Nexus can no longer deliver a peak timetable that’s fit for purpose".
He said: "This isn’t just about passenger dissatisfaction, this is about missed hospital appointments, missed work meetings and missed interviews that have eroded all trust in the Metro and have forced more people in to taking their cars. Local leaders across Tyne and Wear need to be asking serious questions about this change and whether falling passenger trust and satisfaction will have long term ramifications on our regional economy."
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