Metro Connect
Metro Connect is a free public Wi-Fi network that has been available at Central Metro station since 8 December 2025, where it was launched as part of a three-month trial. It is part of a wider free public Wi-Fi network across Newcastle and Manchester[1] called Purple ConneX. Nexus has said that, if the trial were successful and demonstrated high customer demand, then they would assess providing it at other key sub-surface Metro stations.[2][3] However, as of 22 July 2026, Nexus has not yet publicly issued an update on the trial's success or whether they will provide Wi-Fi at any more stations.
Connecting
[edit | edit source]Nexus recommends that the easiest way to connect to Metro Connect is through the Pop app,[2] which shows a banner on the home screen when location permissions are enabled, the user's nearest station supports Metro Connect[4], and the device isn't already connected to Metro Connect or Purple ConneX. However, internally, the button in this banner just prompts the device to connect to the "Metro Connect" SSID, so connecting via the Pop app provides no additional support or functionality compared to connecting directly through a device's native Wi-Fi settings.
Since Metro Connect is part of the wider Purple ConneX network, users can also connect to it using the "PurpleConnex" or "Secure Purple WiFi" SSIDs, or using Purple's mobile app, which will also connect the user to other supported free Wi-Fi nodes provided by Purple. Purple ConneX also supports HotSpot 2.0, meaning that devices that support it and have it enabled will also automatically connect without any user interaction.
Restrictions
[edit | edit source]Metro Connect does not appear to be metered. Speed tests conducted on 10 December 2025 showed symmetrical speeds of roughly 100 Mbps.[OR] However, "indecent and inappropriate material" is filtered.[2]
Pop app technical details
[edit | edit source]The Pop app has supported Metro Connect since build 360 which was released on 9 December 2025. The Pop app receives a list of stations currently supporting the Metro Connect network from its journey plan API, meaning that users on build 360 or later should be able to use it to connect to Metro Connect at more stations supported in the future without a software update.
Sources
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "What is Purple ConneX" (archived). Purple.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Free Wi-Fi is trialled on the Tyne and Wear Metro" (accessed 29 May 2026). Nexus. 10 December 2025.
- ↑ Younger, Owen (10 December 2025). "Free Wi-Fi being trialled for Tyne and Wear Metro system for the first time" (archived). ChronicleLive.
- ↑ "Metro Connect" (accessed 29 May 2026). Nexus
