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Metro Control Room Gets £8.8m Tech Overhaul
10 Mar
Summary
- £8.8m upgrade to modernize 30-year-old control room technology.
- Work scheduled around bank holidays to minimize passenger impact.
- New digital system will identify faults faster and resolve issues efficiently.
A substantial £8.8 million investment is being made to upgrade the Tyne and Wear Metro's control room technology. The control centre, located in South Gosforth, currently relies on systems installed in the mid-1990s, which are nearing the end of their operational lifespan. This modernization is considered vital for the Metro's long-term future.
The upgrade will replace the existing supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system with new digital technology. This will enable Nexus to identify faults more rapidly and manage infrastructure issues more effectively, ultimately leading to less disruption for passengers. The current system will remain operational until the new one is fully implemented.
To minimize inconvenience to customers, Nexus is carefully planning the upgrade work around upcoming bank holidays. Some late night and early morning train service suspensions will be necessary to switch over to the new equipment, with replacement bus services provided. This project represents the most significant upgrade to the control room since a £12 million signaling system was installed in 2018.
