Nexus has announced an £8.8 million upgrade to the Tyne and Wear Metro’s control room systems, replacing technology that has been in place since the mid-1990s.
The project will renew the existing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which manages critical infrastructure including Metro power supply, fire and intruder alarms, lighting, lifts, escalators, and tunnel drainage pumps. The upgraded digital system is expected to enable faster and more effective fault detection, helping to reduce disruptions for passengers.
Nexus has confirmed that the current system will remain operational throughout the transition, ensuring the Metro is never left without backup power or control at any point.
To carry out the work safely, a series of short, planned closures have been scheduled around upcoming bank holidays to minimise impact on passengers. The affected dates are:
- Easter Monday, 6 April: No trains system-wide from 5am until 10am
- Sunday 3 May: No trains system-wide from 8.30pm, with no trains between Pelaw and South Hylton all day
- Early May Bank Holiday, Monday 4 May: No trains system-wide until 10.30am, with no trains between Pelaw and South Hylton all day
The longer closure on the May bank holiday weekend is linked to a separate Network Rail closure on infrastructure between Pelaw and South Hylton.
The upgrade is being delivered by Sella Controls, a HIMA Company, on behalf of Nexus.