Pelaw Junction to South Hylton
Pelaw Junction to South Hylton is an 18.5 km long[1] stretch of dual-track making up part of Tyne and Wear Metro's Green Line. Notably, it is owned and operated by Network Rail,[2] as opposed to Nexus who own and operate the rest of the Metro network. As a result, this stretch (in particular between Pelaw Junction and Sunderland) is shared with heavy rail traffic, and is also subject to slightly different rules and signage. Nexus still own all of the stations within this stretch,[3] except for Sunderland which is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.[4]
Metric and imperial
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Where most (if not all) other railways in the UK primarily use miles and chains (imperial), such as for indicating distances or speed limits, the Tyne and Wear Metro primarily uses metric.
Speed limits between Pelaw Junction and South Hylton are provided in both imperial (using Network Rail's standard circular signs) and metric (using Metro's standard elongated-hexagonal signs, with "kmh" written at the bottom). The metric speeds are rounded down to the nearest 5 km/h and, as a result, Metro trains are subject to slightly lower speed limits relative to heavy rail using the same track.[5][6]
Similarly, distances are marked in both miles and chains, and in metric units.
Train safety systems
[edit | edit source]Uniquely among railways in the UK, Metro trains use automatic train protection for Metro trains is implemented using Indusi, which has been specially implemented on this stretch. The stretch between Pelaw Junction and Sunderland is additionally fitted with equipment for the Automatic Warning System and the Train Protection & Warning System[7][8] for use by heavy rail traffic.[9]
Radio
[edit | edit source]Trains on this stretch typically use GSM-R radio to communicate with controllers at Tyneside ROC. However, metrocars are exclusively fitted with TETRA radios. As such, Metro trains (including Class 555 trains, despite being additionally fitted with GSM-R radios) typically communicate with controllers via TETRA.
Electrification
[edit | edit source]The Tyne and Wear Metro is the only railway in the UK to power its trains with 1,500 V DC,[10] which it does systemwide including between Pelaw Junction and South Hylton. Prior to the Class 555 fleet being tendered, Nexus planned to re-electrify this stretch to the Network Rail standard of 25 kV AC, and for the new fleet to be dual-voltage so it could run on both infrastructures.[11] However, this did not go ahead because fitting the new fleet with dual-voltage equipment would result in the fleet's ceilings being too low.[12]
Network Rail Open Data
[edit | edit source]Because this stretch is owned and operated by Network Rail, who make a large amount of data openly available through their Open Data platform, all Metro trains in this stretch, including empty coaching stock that does not usually show on the Pop app, can be tracked through services like Realtime Trains and Signal Maps.
Sources
[edit | edit source]- ↑ OpenStreetMap contributors and calculations from BRouter
- ↑ Office of Rail and Road (15 March 2022). "Track access agreement between Network Rail and Nexus" (archived)
- ↑ The Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport (Sunderland) Order 1998, SI 1998/3269 (legislation.gov.uk)
- ↑ Office of Rail and Road (12 January 2024). "Amendments to the SAC for Sunderland station" (archived)
- ↑ "LN627 - NORTHALLERTON LONGLANDS JN TO NEWCASTLE EAST JN VIA THE COAST - Sunderland South Jn To Pelaw Metro Jn: Permissible Speed Signs". London North Eastern Route Sectional Appendix (archived). Module LN8. Network Rail. June 2026 [last amended 2 December 2006]. p. 93 of module, p. 1038 of complete document.
- ↑ "LN628 - SOUTH HYLTON TO SUNDERLAND SOUTH JN.: Permissible Speed Signs". London North Eastern Route Sectional Appendix (archived). Module LN8. Network Rail. June 2026 [last amended 2 December 2006]. p. 96 of module, p. 1041 of complete document.
- ↑ "LN627 - NORTHALLERTON LONGLANDS JN TO NEWCASTLE EAST JN VIA THE COAST - Ryhope Grange Jn To Pelaw Jn for Leamside: TPWS/INDUSI Automatic Train Stop". London North Eastern Route Sectional Appendix (archived). Module LN8. Network Rail. June 2026 [last amended 10 February 2020]. p. 89 of module, p. 1034 of complete document.
- ↑ "Tyne & Wear Metro shares tracks to Sunderland" (archived). Railway Gazette International. 1 July 2001.
- ↑ Powell, Jonathan Peter; Fraszczyk, Anna; Cheong, Chun Nok; Yeung, Ho Ki (December 2016). "Potential Benefits and Obstacles of Implementing Driverless Train Operation on the Tyne and Wear Metro: A Simulation Exercise". Urban Rail Transit. 2 (3–4): 114–127. doi:10.1007/s40864-016-0046-9.
- ↑ "Tyne & Wear Metro Rapid Transit System, United Kingdom" (archived). Railway Technology.
- ↑ "Metro and Local Rail Strategy". North East Combined Authority; Nexus. Nexus.
- ↑ "Metro Futures Webinars Q&A". Nexus; Stadler; Open Lab. Nexus. "Will the trains also be dual-voltage so that they could go to more places e.g. Cramlington, Chester-Le-Street?". p. 8.
