Editing Tyne and Wear Metro (section)

=== History ===

==== Predecessors ====
''This section is intentionally simplified to only what directly lead to the formation of the Tyne and Wear Metro. Where no primary source is provided, the linked Wikipedia articles are the source. For more information about these predecessors, see the linked Wikipedia articles.''
[[File:Tyneside Electrics diagram.png|thumb|Diagram of the Tyneside Electrics network at its full extent]]
Most of Metro's [[yellow line]] is based on an older suburban railway known as the '''[[wikipedia:Tyneside_Electrics|"Tyneside Electrics"]]''', which itself was based on the steam '''[[wikipedia:Newcastle_and_North_Shields_Railway|"Newcastle and North Shields Railway"]]''', part of the '''[[wikipedia:Blyth_and_Tyne_Railway|"Blyth and Tyne Railway"]]''', and the South Tyneside line of [[wikipedia:Brandling_Junction_Railway|'''"Brandling Junction Railway"''']]'''.''' The {{Abbr|N&NSR|Newcastle and North Shields Railway}} opened in 1839, running between the temporary terminus [[wikipedia:Carliol_Square_railway_station|Carliol Square]] (between [[wikipedia:Manors_railway_station|Manors]] and what is now [[wikipedia:Newcastle_railway_station|Newcastle Central]]) and [[North Shields]]<ref>Grace's Guide ({{#dateformat:29 june 2022}}). [https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Newcastle_and_North_Shields_Railway "Newcastle and North Shields Railway"] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20240405181348/https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Newcastle_and_North_Shields_Railway archived])</ref>. In 1864, the {{Abbr|B&TR|Blyth and Tyne Railway}}, which extended the {{Abbr|N&NSR|Newcastle and North Shields Railway}} from North Shields to north of [[Monkseaton]], was extended from [[Monkseaton]] to New Bridge Street (between [[Jesmond]] and [[wikipedia:Manors_railway_station|Manors]]) via [[Benton]]<ref>Young, Alan. [http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/n/newcastle_new_bridge_street/ "NEWCASTLE NEW BRIDGE STREET"] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20250221050300/http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/n/newcastle_new_bridge_street/ archived]). ''Disused Stations''.</ref>, forming most of what became the '''North Tyneside Loop'''. Tyneside Electrics electrified the North Tyneside Loop using third rail and opened their network in 1904. In 1935, Brandling Junction Railway proposed a line connecting [[Gateshead]] to [[South Shields]]. That line was electrified by Tyneside Electrics and added to their network in 1938. In the 1960s, [[wikipedia:British_Rail|British Rail]] de-electrified the network and converted it to diesel operation.

Metro's [[green line]] between [[South Gosforth]] and [[Airport]] is based on the [[wikipedia:Ponteland_Railway|'''Ponteland Railway''']] between [[South Gosforth]] and [[wikipedia:Kenton_Bank_railway_station|Kenton Bank]] (which became [[Bank Foot]]). The Ponteland Railway opened in 1905 and continued from [[wikipedia:Kenton_Bank_railway_station|Kenton Bank]] to [[wikipedia:Ponteland_railway_station|Ponteland]], but this continuation of the line no longer exists. The Ponteland Railway closed to passengers in 1929.

Metro's [[green line]] between [[Pelaw]] and [[Sunderland]] is based on part of the [[wikipedia:Durham_Coast_Line|'''Durham Coast Line''']], which still runs to this day. This particular stretch of track was opened in 1939 as another section of [[wikipedia:Brandling_Junction_Railway|'''Brandling Junction Railway''']].

The rest of the [[green line]], between [[Sunderland]] and [[South Hylton]], is based on part of the '''[[wikipedia:York,_Newcastle_and_Berwick_Railway#Durham_Junction_Railway|Durham Junction Railway]]'''.

The proposed "[[Metro to Washington]]" extension is based on part of the [[wikipedia:Leamside_line|'''Leamside line''']]<ref>Nexus. [https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/metro-washington "Metro to Washington"] (accessed {{#dateformat:22 august 2025}})</ref>, which itself is another part of the '''[[wikipedia:York,_Newcastle_and_Berwick_Railway#Durham_Junction_Railway|Durham Junction Railway]]'''. This particular stretch of the line was opened by the [[wikipedia:York,_Newcastle_and_Berwick_Railway|'''York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway''']] in 1849 and closed in the early 1990s.

==== Planning ====
In 1969, local authority staff and consultants were undertaking a study into "a strategic framework for land use and transportation planning in the [Tyneside] area"<ref>Nexus (May 2014). [https://www.nexus.org.uk/history/landmarks-urban-transport "Landmarks in urban transport"] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20141128203959/https://www.nexus.org.uk/history/landmarks-urban-transport archived])</ref>. In 1971, their findings were published under the title "Transport Plan for the 1980s"<ref>Alan M. Voorhees & Associates; Colin Buchanan and Partners (1972). ''Transport plan for the 1980's''. ISBN 0-904211-00-2.</ref>, and the main recommendation was investment in rail rapid transit. The Government accepted this result and, in December 1972, agreed a 75% infrastructure grant towards the capital costs of the system. On {{#dateformat:25 july 1973}}, Elizabeth II approved the [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/1973/32/enacted Tyneside Metropolitan Railway Act 1973] which empowered the [[Tyneside PTE]] to construct works and acquire lands for the system.

The requirements established through this planning process included:
 
* Tunnels through the centre of Newcastle and Gateshead, separating it from the main line
* A new railway bridge crossing the Tyne to connect Newcastle and Gateshead
* Re-electrification of the network using overhead lines
* Step-free access to all stations on the network
 
==== Construction ====
The first civil engineering contracts were let in 1974, for the construction of the tunnels under the city centres<ref name=":0">Nexus, [https://www.nexus.org.uk/history/how-metro-was-built "How Metro was built"] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20110807052052/https://www.nexus.org.uk/history/how-metro-was-built archived])</ref>. The tunnels under Newcastle were mainly bored through boulder clay while the tunnels under Gateshead were mainly bored through interweaved sandstones and old coal mines<ref>Nexus, [https://www.nexus.org.uk/history/how-metro-was-built "How the Metro was built"] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20190617030406/https://www.nexus.org.uk/history/how-metro-was-built archived])</ref>.
 
By 1975, the two prototype [[Metrocar|metrocars]] ([[4001]] and [[4002]]) had been built by [[Metro-Cammell]], as had a purpose-built [[Metro test track|test centre]] on Middle Engine Lane in North Shields<ref name=":0" />. The prototypes were delivered to the test centre in May 1975<ref>Nexus ({{#dateformat:1 October 2020}}), [https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/feature-tyne-and-wear-metro-train-fleet-40 "Feature: The Tyne and Wear Metro train fleet at 40"] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20201028091110/https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/feature-tyne-and-wear-metro-train-fleet-40 archived])</ref>, where they began the testing process.

==== Opening ====
The initial Metro network was opened to the public in stages between {{#dateformat:11 August 1980}} and {{#dateformat:24 March 1984}}. The official opening train ran on {{#dateformat:7 August 1980}} from [[Haymarket]] to [[Tynemouth]], and the first revenue service took place 4 days later between the same two stations<ref>Nexus, [https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/40years "40 years of Metro"] (accessed {{#dateformat:26 August 2025}})</ref>.

The network itself officially opened on the morning of {{#dateformat:6 November 1981}}<ref>Nexus (2021), [https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/40years/royalopening "40th anniversary of Metro's Royal opening"] (accessed {{#dateformat:26 August 2025}})</ref> with a visit from the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, who both travelled on [[4020|metrocar 4020]]<ref>Nexus ({{#dateformat:20 May 2022}}), [https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/historic-metrocar-gets-royal-makeover-platinum-jubilee "Historic Metrocar gets a Royal makeover for the Platinum Jubilee"] (accessed {{#dateformat:26 August 2025}})</ref>. [[Metro's Royal opening|The Royal opening]] was part of a three-week transport festival on Tyneside designed to encourage people to try the Metro<ref name=":1">Nexus ({{#dateformat:7 November 2021}}), [https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/story-metros-royal-opening-1981 "The story of Metro's Royal opening"] (accessed {{#dateformat:26 August 2025}})</ref>. On the same day, Queen Elizabeth II also opened the [[Queen Elizabeth II bridge]], giving it its name and allowing passengers to travel onwards from [[Haymarket]] to [[Heworth]]<ref name=":1" />.