Renewing a vital asset
A new signalling system
Signalling is a safety and service critical asset on the Tyne and Wear Metro. Without it, the Metro cannot run.
The current signalling system, a traditional arrangement involving mechanical relays and track circuits, was put into place in the 1970s with an expected 30–40-year lifespan.
In July 2025 the Government confirmed it would fund the upgrade of our signalling system, which will cost up to £400m and take several years. A new system will improve journey times, reliability and safety, and pave the way for the future expansion of the Metro network.
Delays and difficulties
All systems go
Our teams have managed to extend the life of Metro’s signalling system through regular maintenance and repairs, but it’s having a significant impact on our service.
Over 60% of all infrastructure related delays are due to signalling failures.
Parts for the current system are hard to repair and replace, accessing faults is challenging and it will continue to degrade in the coming years.
We’ve got a team working on the project, which we’ve called Metro Go. They’re co-ordinating a feasibility study to identify the key issues and requirements.