Its also sad for the red line as they used to terminate in the station at Benton,then go off into the siding,which was unfortunately removed about 10 years ago

I remember the red and blue short workings well. Compare the Metro frequency now and then. Blue line to North Shields ran every 10 minutes and yellow round the loop via Whitley Bay also every 10 minutes giving a combined service every five minutes. Since all driver reliefs took place at South Gosforth, trains used to run round the loop to St James, then short working to North Shields and back then round the loop to South Gosforth. I cannot remember if red line trains used to interwork or not. Now trains are every 12 minutes around the whole North Tyne loop, which is how you serve the Airport, Sunderland and South Hylton with the same number of units!

This is first I've heard about the red and blue lines. Interesting video

The 'Blue line' (St James-North Shields) was actually the first ever line opened on the Metro. I was on the first ever Metro service on the route, in August 1980. (Showing my age). The rest of hte network was still being built; with the other routes and stations coming in incrementally.

@edificity

Жыл бұрын

I thought the first section to open was Haymarket to Tynemouth (via Benton)... The way I've read it the Byker Viaduct wasn't finished until '82 and that's when the St James to Tynemouth section opened

@andrewphippsphillips1455

Жыл бұрын

​@@edificityyou're correct. The pylons for N.Shields to St James weren't added until later, so the loop wasn't completed. That section was old diesel multiple units until it could be switched. I can remember the maps with outlined white sections (under construction) and the loop wasn't finished. This is why the North/South tunnel at Monument runs deeper than the East/West one. Still the only station of the whole network where it interchanges with itself

Makes sense. It's unnecessary and confusing to make line that just runs along one other line and has zero stations just for itself. It's better to just run peak trains on specific line and not on separate lines made just for peak service.

When the Sunderland extension opened they needed the extra Metro cars from the Red & Blue lines to run it.

Red was originally Benton-Heworth when the network was being built and the green terminated at Bank Foot. Pelaw was one of a trio of additional stations, along with Palmersville & Kingston Park

There's still a terminus shortly after Benton Station, as you head to the coast. You used to be able to see the red line trains parked off to the left as your train pulled out.

@MichaelGraham21

11 ай бұрын

It was removed years ago. You can still see on google maps where it used to be as it curves off towards the ECML

since nexus is planning to extend the metro further to places like the metrocentre, we could see the introduction of a brand new line

@m_affiliates

Жыл бұрын

@Ben Lawson oh, I see, still ironic how the metro centre (the place with metro in the name) has no connection to the metro

@stephenc2022

Жыл бұрын

I don't think a Metrocentre service would be impossible. They can do a dual line from Pelaw down to Sunderland, I wonder if it's feasible to do the same from Central Station to Metrocentre (this is a throwaway example, the work to make this particular example happen would be very expensive, very lengthy and very disruptive. But it's purely to generate conversation on what could be the best way to do it, because for me using the existing platform and lines is the only feasible way as digging up the road beneath the bus station for a underground station personally sounds even more problematic.)

@avaughan585

Жыл бұрын

All extension proposals all got scrapped around 2016, including Washington, Brockley Whinns to Tyne Dock and street running trams to team Valley and Newcastle west end

is this why you here the "this train is for all stations to South shields via Newcastle" announcement and just benton? it is my local station and have always wondered why

If I remember correctly red and blue were planned when the system was designed with the bus interchanges as a core function. Buses would all head to and terminate at the bus interchanges like Four Lane ends and Heworth. All passengers would then Transfare and Red and blue were needed for the extra passengers that would be expected to head into the city section.

@edificity

11 ай бұрын

That sounds about right, I know they planned a lot of bus feeder routes. I need to look at the impact of bus deregulation at some point.

Fairly sure the Red line for a time used to only run on Saturdays!

there will never ever be a line to Consett

I wasn't around in the 1980s, but this map (below) seems to imply that the red and blue lines ran all the time (other than 'evenings and after 10:30am on Sundays'): www.projectmapping.co.uk/Reviews/Resources/T%26WPTE%20metro%20map%201980b.png

@edificity

Жыл бұрын

I think that from what I can tell (I wasn't around in the '80s either), since that leaflet is from 1980, before most of the network was open, it's from back when they were planning on running most metrocars as single units. At some point soon afterwards they prioritised the Yellow and Green lines with most of the trains running doubled up, and the red and blue only as peak services. A fascinating remnant of the early days though!

@jamesbrady8190

Жыл бұрын

@@edificity I see. Love your content BTW. :)

@martymoo82

Жыл бұрын

So the red and blue lines were at the time I think the most populated areas. The red line especially i remember used to run at peak times near the end. Sunday Metros used to very often be only one carriage long.

The red and blue lines are pointless

Real life have Benton scr have Benton what is the real Benton

@disappointingmarbleraces9028

Жыл бұрын

The real Benton on the Tyne and Wear Metro is real! Not the scr Benton.

@matteomaximum

Жыл бұрын

SCR fan 💀💀💀