Filming and photography
Licence, camera, action!
Our iconic settings, vehicles and views offer countless opportunities for media producers, photographers and location scouts, not to mention memorable personal snaps to share with family and friends.
As with any public spaces and private locations however, safety and privacy guidelines must be followed and permissions may be required. Here’s what you need to know.
Personal filming and photography
We welcome train and bus enthusiasts and customers wanting to take videos and photos on our networks, and we’re happy for you to take family snaps and selfies with phones or cameras while on our stations, interchanges or vehicles. All we ask is that you do so safely and sensibly, following the guidelines here. You don’t need authorisation or a licence as long as any videos or photos taken are for personal use only.
If you want to take pictures or film as part of a larger project—including as an enthusiast—we ask that you get in touch first so we can make sure you work safely and get the most out of your time.
Guidelines for filming
- Don’t trespass on the tracks or any other area that’s inaccessible to the rest of the public.
- Always stand behind the yellow line, away from the platform edge at Metro stations.
- Don’t stand in the roadway at bus stations or interchanges
- Don’t interfere with any signs or signalling systems which are vital to the safe running of Metro or buses.
- Don’t wear anything similar in colour to safety clothing, as this could confuse drivers and other employees.
- Don’t climb on any structure or interfere with any platform equipment.
- Don’t congregate in groups at busy areas of the platform, stations or interchanges, especially where this may interfere with any employee duties.
- Any commercial content must be approved by Nexus in advance.
- You’re not permitted to photograph CCTV or security systems.
- Please don’t use flash photography, this can distract our train crews and create a severe safety hazard.
- Please don’t use bulky equipment or tripods as this can cause an obstruction for other customers.
- Please respect fellow customers who may not want to be filmed.
No filming or photography on escalators.
Filming of the following activities is not permitted on Metro, bus or Shields Ferry:
- Smoking or intoxication
- Fare evasion
- Use of firearms or other weapons
- Vandalism or graffiti
- Assaults on customers or Nexus employees
- Misuse of escalators or other Nexus property
Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of our customers and employees using our services. Anyone found taking photographs or filming on Nexus premises will be challenged by one of our team if they have concerns about safety or security.
Our employees can use their judgement if they need to stop any filming or photography that could impact the safety and security of others. Please comply with their requests.
Professional/commercial filming and photography
If you’re filming on behalf of a company or organisation, you’ll need to follow the procedure below. You must gain our approval and attend a safety briefing before your shoot on Metro, bus or the Shields Ferry, to ensure your safety as well as that of our customers.
- You must obtain written permission from the filmoffice@nexus.org.uk to film or take photographs at our Interchanges, on the Shields Ferry landings, at Metro stations, or on board public transport. We’re keen to help and will try to accommodate filming and photo requests wherever possible.
- You’ll need to give us three weeks’ notice so we can arrange for a Nexus team member to be present.
- Filming times are normally limited to off-peak periods—Monday–Friday 10am-3pm. Evenings and weekends will depend on team availability.
- Filming or photography is NOT permitted on roadways for safety reasons.
- Public Liability Insurance cover (usually £5m) is required—you must provide us with a copy of your insurance certificate in order for us to authorise your shoot.
- To discuss photography and filming, please email filmoffice@nexus.org.uk.
Media enquiries
Our Communications Team can respond to all your media enquiries about Nexus and the services we provide, including requests for corporate photographs, film clips and filming on our networks.