89-593: Gateshead Interchange is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the town of Gateshead in Tyne and Wear , England. It joined the network on 15 November 1981, following the opening of the third phase of the network, between Haymarket and Heworth . The station replaced the former British Rail station , which closed in November 1981, with the Tyne and Wear Metro station situated around 1 ⁄ 4 mi (400 m) to
178-571: A Downer Rail / CRRC joint venture, Hitachi and Stadler Rail were short-listed to build the new fleet. Stadler was awarded a contract to build and maintain 42 five-carriage light rail vehicles in January 2020, with deliveries to commence in late 2021 and all trains to be in passenger service by 2024. The new trains will feature next stop audio-visual information displays, Tube -style linear seating to increase capacity, wider doors and aisles, air conditioning, WiFi and charging points. Following
267-593: A combined authority created in 2016, twenty years after the abolition of the Cleveland county. The authority is headed by a mayor, presently William Boyle. The area had an estimated population of 567,600 in 2000. The Teesside Built-up Area (BUA) , previously the Teesside Urban Area in 2001, identified by the ONS for statistical purposes had a population of around 376,633 according to the 2011 census which
356-501: A 70 m (230 ft) stretch of dual track, to be used to carry out infrastructure training, including track, points, signalling and overhead line. The site is also used to stable and maintain a small number of vehicles. During March 2020, the government announced a £103 million scheme, known as Metro Flow , during the 2020 Budget . The project aims to increase frequency from five to six trains per hour, reduce journey times and improve service reliability. From September 2022,
445-644: A Metro up to every three minutes between Pelaw and South Gosforth , at peak times. Originally, there was also a Red Line between Heworth (later Pelaw) and Benton and a Blue Line between St James and North Shields. Additional trains ran on these lines during peak hours to increase the frequency at the busier stations. [REDACTED] Cycle lockers [REDACTED] All stations have step-free access [REDACTED] Cycle lockers [REDACTED] All stations have step-free access All stations have cycle racks or StreetPods Additional trains operate between Pelaw and Monkseaton at peak times The Metro Control Centre
534-455: A contract to run the operations side of the business on its behalf. The successful bidder was to obtain a seven-year contract commencing on 1 April 2010, with up to an additional two years depending on performance. In February 2009, four bids were shortlisted: DB Regio , MTR Corporation , Serco-Abellio , and an in-house bid from Nexus. By October 2009, the shortlist had been reduced to bids from DB Regio and Nexus. In December 2009, DB Regio
623-567: A cost of £12 million. The Tyne and Wear Metro is currently operated from a single depot, also based in Gosforth . The depot was opened in 1923 by the London and North Eastern Railway and was used to house the former Tyneside Electrics stock. The depot was inherited by Metro, prior to the system's opening in August 1980. The depot is located at the centre of the triangular fork between
712-670: A maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). The first units to be built were two prototypes, numbered 4001 and 4002, which were delivered for testing in 1975. These were followed by 88 production units, which were built between 1978 and 1981. The design of the Metrocar was based on the Stadtbahnwagen B , a German light rail vehicle developed in the early 1970s. The units were built by Metro-Cammell , Washwood Heath . The fleet has been refurbished several times and several liveries have been used. The original livery used at opening
801-534: A new fleet of 46 (originally 42) units, designed by Swiss manufacturer, Stadler . Delivery of the new rolling stock began in February 2023, with the first unit expected to enter service some time between September and November 2023, and the remainder following into 2024 or 2025. It will also see the introduction of a new signalling system, overhaul and maintenance of structures, track and overhead lines, and further station improvements. In July 2018, Nexus announced
890-673: A number of shops and services, as well as a Nexus TravelShop. Danny Lane's Opening Line installation features in the bus station, and consists of a sequence of forms in steel and glass, stretching about 90 m (300 ft) in length, 1 m (3.3 ft) in width, and up to 5 m (16 ft) in height. It is served by Arriva North East and Go North East 's local bus services, with frequent routes serving Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne , as well as County Durham , South Tyneside , Sunderland and Teesside . The bus station has 13 departure stands (lettered A–N), with an additional stand used by long-distance coach services. Each stand
979-463: A number of underground salt cavities that are impervious to gas and liquids. Consequently, these cavities are now used to store both industrial gases and liquids by companies which are members of the Northeast of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC). Today Venator Materials is based close to Greatham, operating one of the world's largest chemical plants for titanium dioxide manufacturing. It
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#17327908142101068-493: A population of 8,282 down 7% from the 2001 figure of 8,921. If this definition is taken into consideration, with the addition of the Eaglescliffe area and Marske, Teesside would have a population of approximately 492,954 people. The nearby Hartlepool built-up area is sometimes grouped with the area, due to it previously being in Cleveland county. The Hartlepool area has an urban population of 88,855 an increase of 3% from
1157-515: A small iron foundry and rolling mill using iron stone from Durham and the Yorkshire coast, with the new discovery prompting them to build Teesside's first blast furnace in 1851. Many more iron works followed, such as those built in the region by Losh, Wilson and Bell (see Sir Issac Lowthian Bell ) who in 1853 were operating 5 furnaces in the region. The success of John Vaughan and Henry Bolckow's first blast furnace meant that by 1873 Middlesbrough
1246-515: A unit moving under its own power for the first time, prior to beginning full trials. The first of the new fleet arrived at the Metro depot on 28 February 2023. As of 2024, three of these first nine units delivered had completed their daytime testing and the focus was moving to driver training. Nexus stated that it expects to have the first units in service by the end of 2024, but again no specific date has been given. In addition to passenger trains,
1335-608: Is a built-up area around the River Tees in North East England , split between County Durham and North Yorkshire . The area contains the towns of Middlesbrough , Stockton-on-Tees , Billingham , Redcar , Thornaby-on-Tees , and Ingleby Barwick . Teesside's economy was once dominated by heavy manufacturing until deindustrialisation in the latter half of the 20th century . Chemical production continues to contribute significantly to Teesside's economy. Before
1424-402: Is a brilliant white pigment used in paints, Polo mints , cosmetics, UV sunscreens, plastics, golf balls, the white part of a traffic cone and sports field line markings. In 1860 William James established an alkali company at Cargo Fleet and in 1869 Samuel Sadler also set up a factory nearby. Sadler's works produced synthetic aniline and alzarin dyestuffs and distilled tar. The introduction of
1513-404: Is available at all stations across the Tyne and Wear Metro network, with a lift providing step-free access to platforms at Gateshead. The station is equipped with ticket machines, seating, next train information displays, timetable posters, and an emergency help point. Ticket machines are able to accept payment with credit and debit card (including contactless payment ), notes and coins. The station
1602-410: Is based at Gosforth , in a building alongside the station at South Gosforth . It is responsible for operating the network's signalling and electrical supply, as well as being used to communicate with train drivers and other staff using two-way radio equipment. The original equipment at the control centre was replaced in 2007, with a new computerised signalling control system installed in August 2018 at
1691-401: Is fitted with automatic ticket barriers, which were installed at 13 stations across the network during the early 2010s, as well as smartcard validators, which feature at all stations. There is no dedicated car parking available at the station, however there are a number of pay and display car parks operated by Gateshead Council located nearby. A taxi rank is located on Walker Terrace. There
1780-475: Is fitted with seating, next bus information displays, and timetable posters. Tyne and Wear Metro The Tyne and Wear Metro is an overground and underground light rail rapid transit system serving Newcastle upon Tyne , Gateshead , North Tyneside , South Tyneside , and the City of Sunderland (together forming Tyne and Wear ). It has been described as the "first modern light rail system in
1869-473: Is located above the Tyne and Wear Metro station. It originally opened on 15 November 1981, and upon opening, was operated by Northern General – despite being designed in the house style of the Tyne and Wear PTE. The original bus station was demolished and re-built in the early 2000s, to a design by Jefferson Sheard Architects . It was officially re-opened on 29 March 2004, by the then Secretary of State for Transport , Alistair Darling . The building houses
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#17327908142101958-581: Is the provision for cycle parking, with four cycle lockers, five cycle racks and five cycle pods available for use. A large bus interchange is located on the upper level, providing frequent connections across the region. As of April 2021, the station is served by up to ten trains per hour on weekdays and Saturday, and up to eight trains per hour during the evening and on Sunday. Additional services operate between Pelaw and Benton , Monkseaton , Regent Centre or South Gosforth at peak times. Rolling stock used: Class 599 Metrocar Gateshead Interchange
2047-442: Is up 3% on the 2001 figure of 365,323, and had the following subdivisions: Eaglescliffe (north) and Yarm (south) are counted as a separate Yarm urban area, separated by a narrow gap, which had a population of 19,184 according to the 2011 census; up 5% from the 2001 figure of 18,335. Infilling development may join the two urban areas together. Marske-by-the-Sea is another separate Urban Area nearly contiguous with Redcar with
2136-679: The County of Cleveland in addition to Whitby and Stokesley . The County of Cleveland was created in 1974. It was smaller and included a county and four borough councils than the Redcliffe-Maud report's single council. The name was also changed from Teesside to Cleveland as the report's area South of the River Tees corresponded to the Langbaurgh Wapentake, which had the alternative name of Cleveland . Cleveland Police
2225-665: The Newcastle and North Shields Railway , which opened in 1839. During 1904, in response to tramway competition which was taking away passengers, the North Eastern Railway started electrifying parts of their local railway network north of the River Tyne with a 600 V DC third-rail system, forming one of the earliest suburban electric networks, known as the Tyneside Electrics . In 1938,
2314-488: The North Tyneside routes, in 1967. This was widely viewed as a backward step, as the diesel trains were slower than the electric trains they replaced. During the early 1970s, the poor local transport system was identified as one of the main factors holding back the region's economy, and in 1971 a study was commissioned by the recently created Tyneside Passenger Transport Authority (now known as Nexus) into how
2403-523: The Solvay Process to make alkali in 1872 made nearby Tyneside alkali industry uneconomical but helped Teesside industry which was invigorated by the discovery of further salt deposits at Port Clarence near Seal Sands by Bell Brothers in 1874. The chemical industry was established at Billingham in 1918 by the Government for the production of synthetic ammonia , with its intended use being
2492-567: The deregulation of the buses during the late 1980s. Multiple extensions to the original network were promptly worked upon; the first of these, from Bank Foot to Newcastle Airport , was opened during November 1991. A second extension, from Pelaw to Sunderland and South Hylton , was completed in March 2002. By 2013, the network comprised a total of 60 stations (these being a mixture of underground and above-ground stations) across two lines, covering 77.5 km (48.2 mi) of track. While
2581-674: The 2001 figure of 86,085 and this can be referred to as the Teesside & Hartlepool Urban Area . Teesside industry is dominated by the commodity and integrated chemical producers in the North East of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC). These companies are based on three large chemical sites at Wilton , Billingham and Seal Sands . These companies make products such as petrochemicals , commodity chemicals , fertilizers and polymers . Salt extraction for human consumption and had taken place at Seal Sands since Roman times through
2670-536: The Maintenance and Renewals Skills Centre at South Shields . Since the Tyne and Wear Metro opened in 1980, it has operated using the same rolling stock. The fleet comprises a total of 87 (formerly 90, until March 2017) articulated units, known as Metrocars, which are numbered 4001–4090. The Metrocars are represented on TOPS, as the Class 599. When in service, Metrocars are normally coupled together in pairs and have
2759-446: The Metro has largely been operated by Nexus directly, for a period between 2010 and 2017, the Metro was operated under a concession by DB Regio instead; upon the expiry of the contract, it returned to being operated by Nexus. Various improvements are underway as of March 2024. During 2016, Nexus launched a programme to replace its existing rolling stock , which dates back to the 1980s, with new Class 555 articulated light rail trains;
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2848-410: The Metro schedule. Several purpose-built transport interchanges, such as Four Lane Ends , Heworth and Regent Centre were built for this purpose. Integration was short-lived, and lasted until the deregulation of bus services, in 1986. It is, however, still possible to purchase Transfare tickets, to combine a journey made using multiple modes of transport in Tyne and Wear. During November 1991,
2937-537: The Metro, contracted out operations and train maintenance as part of a deal with the government, to secure modernisation investment and operating subsidy for the system between 2010 and 2021. Nexus continued to set fares, frequency of services and operating hours. Opponents would suggest that this arrangement was privatisation by the back door, though some services had already been contracted out, such as cleaning of stations and ticket inspections. During November 2008, Nexus invited potential bidders to declare an interest in
3026-401: The River Tees then become known as "The Steel River" leaving its old nickname "Ironopolis" behind. In 1881 Hugh Reid (Liberal politician) described how "The iron of Eston has diffused itself all over the world. it furnishes the railways of the world; it runs by neapolitan and papal dungeons; it startles the bandit in his haunt in cicilia; it crosses over the plains of Africa; it stretches over
3115-627: The River Tyne, and the 815 m (2,674 ft) Byker Viaduct across the Ouseburn Valley , between Byker and Manors . Construction work began in October 1974. This involved the construction of the new infrastructure, re-electrifying the routes with overhead line equipment, the upgrading or relocation of existing stations, and the construction of several new stations, some of which were underground. Major civil engineering works on
3204-401: The Tyne and Wear Metro also operates three battery-electric locomotives (numbered BL1–BL3), which were manufactured by Hunslet in 1988. The company also operates a Plasser and Theurer ballast tamper and 15 wagons, which are used for maintenance and repair work. The Tyne and Wear Metro is publicly owned, receiving funding from council tax payers and government. Nexus , which owns and manages
3293-483: The Tyne and Wear Metro was extended to Newcastle Airport at a cost of £12 million. The new section of track, covering a distance of around 2.2 miles (3.5 km), continued along the alignment of the former Ponteland Railway , with two stations constructed at Callerton Parkway and Airport . In March 2002, a £100 million extension, covering 11.5 miles (18.5 km), was opened from Pelaw to Sunderland and South Hylton . The extension used part of
3382-481: The Tyne and Wear Metro, with up to £350 million to be spent on the Metro: All Change programme, over the course of the following eleven years. A further £230 million would support running and maintenance costs, over the following nine years. As a result, between 2010 and 2017, the Metro was operated under contract by DB Regio . Teesside Teesside ( / ˈ t iː s aɪ d / )
3471-685: The United Kingdom to be designed to be fully accessible to passengers with disabilities, with step-free access available at all stations across the network. Originally, the Tyne and Wear Metro was intended to be opened in stages between 1979 and 1981. The first stages of the original network (between Haymarket and Tynemouth ) opened in August 1980, with the final stage (between Heworth and South Shields ) opening in March 1984. Extensions to Newcastle Airport and Sunderland opened in 1991 and 2002 respectively. The opening dates of services and stations are as follows: The Sunderland branch of
3560-508: The United Kingdom". The system is currently both owned and operated by the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (Nexus), thus is fully under public ownership and operation. The Metro was originally conceived of during the early 1970s, incorporating much of the earlier infrastructure formerly used by the Tyneside Electrics suburban network, with some elements dating back as far as 1834. Construction work began in 1974,
3649-469: The announcement of the £103 million Metro Flow project, in March 2020, four additional Stadler units have been funded, bringing the total number of units on order from 42 to 46. During September 2020, the Metro Futures website was launched, allowing the public to give their view on several elements of the new Metro fleet. In December 2021, Nexus revealed that the Metro fleet had entered
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3738-591: The area was smaller, then excluding towns such as Hartlepool, Ingleby Barwick and Yarm , the latter two being in the Stokesley Rural District until Cleveland was created. The Teesside name is still used as a synonym for Tees Valley with most signage and local business retaining the name. The Royal Commission , proposed in the Redcliffe-Maud Report , a large unitary authority called Teesside. It would have covered what came to be
3827-509: The arrival of new rolling stock towards the end of 2021, a new depot was constructed near Howdon , in North Tyneside . The site is used as a temporary stabling and maintenance facility for up to 10 Metrocars, whilst the current depot at South Gosforth is being reconfigured. The temporary depot at Howdon opened in August 2020. A further vehicle stabling and maintenance facility is also scheduled to open in South Tyneside , as part of
3916-477: The beginning of work to construct the new Maintenance and Renewals Skills Centre, at Mile End Road in South Shields . Construction began in August 2018 and was opened in November 2020. The £8.4 million project saw the construction of a three-storey training centre, with classrooms, a mock control room, driver training simulator, covered tracks and inspection pits, and a mock Metro station, as well as
4005-472: The branch to Airport and the northern leg of the North Tyneside Loop . It is situated between stations at Longbenton , South Gosforth and Regent Centre ; it is used for stabling, cleaning, maintenance and repair of the fleet. It can be accessed by trains from either east or west and there is also a depot-avoiding line running from east to west, which is not used in public service. Prior to
4094-590: The county of Cleveland was created, the area (including Stockton-on-Tees) existed as a part of the North Riding of Yorkshire, due to most land being south of the Tees. Teesside was created due to Stockton-on-Tees being linked heavily with Thornaby (which had amalgamated with South Stockton/Mandale to form the Borough of Thornaby), Middlesbrough and Redcar by industry. Compared to the modern Teesside conurbation,
4183-433: The day (Monday to Saturday), and up to every 15 minutes during the evening and on Sunday. This allows for a combined frequency of up to every six minutes (Monday to Saturday), and up to every seven to eight minutes during the evening and on Sunday, between Pelaw and South Gosforth . Additional trains run during morning and evening peak hours (Monday to Friday) between Pelaw and Regent Centre or Monkseaton . This provides
4272-561: The discovery of a rich seam of iron ore to the south of the region gradually drew iron and steel manufacture towards Teesside. In 1850 iron ore was discovered in the Cleveland Hills near Eston to the south of Middlesbrough and Iron gradually replaced coal as the lifeblood of Eston. The ore was discovered by geologist John Marley and first used by John Vaughan, the principal ironmaster of Middlesbrough who along with his German business partner Henry Bolckow had already established
4361-586: The existing Durham Coast Line , with the line being adapted to allow a shared service between Metro and rail services – therefore becoming the first system in the United Kingdom to implement a form of the Karlsruhe model . Between Pelaw and Sunderland , intermediate stations at Brockley Whins , East Boldon and Seaburn were re-built, with a further three being purpose-built for the network, at Fellgate , Stadium of Light and St. Peter's . Between Sunderland and South Hylton , around 3 miles (4.8 km) of
4450-477: The existing Metro network, including links to Cramlington , Doxford Park , Killingworth , Metrocentre , Seaham , Team Valley and Washington . In addition to this, plans would see the introduction of street-running trams, river buses across the Tyne , and cable cars , linking 29 key corridors. The project has since been abandoned, with plans reworked and developed into the Metro: All Change programme. The first phase of Metro's All Change programme saw
4539-515: The final assembly phase at Stadler's factory in Switzerland and that the manufacturer is in the process of fitting the main interior components of the first of the new trains. The works include the installation of wheels, seats, equipment cases, piping, wiring, flooring, windows and other internal furnishings. During September 2022, Nexus released a video taken at Stadler's test track in Erlen of
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#17327908142104628-468: The first of these are expected to enter service by the end of 2024. Under the Metro Flow scheme, announced in March 2020, works costing £103 million are to increase the service frequency from five to six trains per hour, reduce journey times and improve reliability levels. The present system uses much former railway infrastructure, mostly constructed between 1834 and 1882, one of the oldest parts being
4717-482: The former Penshaw-Sunderland line , which closed to passenger traffic in May 1964, was used as the alignment of the route. Five purpose-built stations at Park Lane , University , Millfield , Pallion and South Hylton were constructed for the network. During 2002, Nexus unveiled an ambitious 15-year plan for transport in Tyne and Wear, named Project Orpheus . The project, valued at £1.5 billion, aimed to extend
4806-406: The goal of the refurbishment programme being to extend the service life of the fleet until 2025 prior to the delivery of new rolling stock. Each Metrocar was stripped down to its frame and built back up again, with the addition of improved disabled access and new door control systems, with renewed interiors, seating and lighting. A new black, grey and yellow livery was also adopted. Refurbishment work
4895-437: The initial system – these being the North Tyneside Loop and Newcastle to South Shields branch (both of which were formerly part of the Tyneside Electrics network), and a short stretch of the freight-only Ponteland Railway between South Gosforth and Bank Foot , which had not seen any passenger traffic since 1929. The converted railway lines were to be connected by around 6 mi (10 km) of new infrastructure, which
4984-436: The line south of the River Tyne between Newcastle and South Shields was also electrified. Under British Rail in the 1960s, the decision was made to de-electrify the Tyneside Electrics network and convert it to diesel operation, owing to falling passenger numbers and the cost of renewing end-of-life electrical infrastructure and rolling stock. The Newcastle to South Shields line was de-electrified in 1963, followed by
5073-499: The majority of this activity being centred on the building of new tunnels and bridges that linked with several preexisting conventional railway lines that were converted. In parallel, a purpose-built fleet of Metrocars was procured. The initial portion of the Tyne and Wear Metro was opened during August 1980, although construction of the original network was not completed until March 1984. Early on, Metro operations were integrated with local bus services , although this practice ended with
5162-519: The manufacture of munitions during the Great War . The 700 acre Grange Farm at Billingham was chosen for the site. However, by the time the plant opened the war was over and its manufacturing techniques outdated. It was taken over by Brunner Mond in 1920 and manufactured synthetic ammonia and fertilisers. Brunner Mond merged with other large scale chemical manufacturers in 1926 to form Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). Teesside's first chemical works
5251-537: The members of the Northeast of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC), and plastics and polymers continue to be manufactured there by Lotte Chemicals( PET ), SABIC ( HDPE ), Victrex ( PEEK ) and Lucite International ( Perspex ). Nylon 66 manufacture ceased on Teesside in 2008 with the Invista manufacturing unit closed. Coke ovens used in chemical production at Billingham were replaced in 1962 by plants using
5340-456: The modernisation of a further 45 stations, including the re-building of the station at North Shields , which was completed in September 2012, as well as the installation of new communications system, and the overhaul and maintenance of structures such as bridges, tunnels, track and overhead power lines. The third phase of Metro's All Change programme began in 2019, with the procurement of
5429-547: The mouth of the Tees estuary and the subsequent discovery of ironstone in the Cleveland Hills which attracted iron companies to the area. The British Steel Collection archives the company records of iron and steel companies such as Bolckow & Vaughan , Bell Brothers , Cochrane & Co. Ltd. , Dorman, Long & Co. Ltd. , South Durham Steel & Iron Co. Ltd. , Cargo Fleet Iron Company and Skinningrove Iron Co. Ltd. With records of associated institutions such as
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#17327908142105518-571: The network were also introduced, as part of the first phase of the All Change programme. The first phase of the programme also saw the completion of a new station at Simonside , in March 2008, as well as the refurbishment and modernisation of Haymarket , in 2009. An upgrade of platforms at Sunderland , and the refurbishment and modernisation of several other stations was also undertaken during this phase. Lifts and escalators were replaced at several stations, between 2009 and 2016. Phase 1 of
5607-587: The network, which runs over National Rail infrastructure, is policed by British Transport Police . The rest of the network is policed by Northumbria Police . When the Tyne and Wear Metro first opened, it was intended to form part of an integrated public transport system, with the local bus network reconfigured to act as 'feeder' services for the Metro. The Metro was intended to cover trunk journeys, while buses were re-designed towards shorter, local trips, to bring passengers to and from Metro stations, using unified ticketing , and with their timetable integrated with
5696-404: The plains of India. it has crept out of the Cleveland Hills where it has slept since Roman days, and now like a strong and invincible serpent, coils itself around the world" By 1929 the great depression began to effect Britain and the famous name of Bolckow-Vaughan merged with neighbour Dorman-Long & Co. who then became Britain's biggest iron and steel maker and employed 33,000 people. In 1954
5785-533: The plant operating today. The British Steel Collection, now housed at Teesside University , contains the records of over forty iron and steel companies based in the Teesside area of the North East of England and covers the period c. 1840 –1970. The history of Teesside and its rapid growth during the 19th century is directly linked to the expansion of the railways from Darlington and Stockton towards
5874-563: The post-war boom saw Dorman-Long build a state of the art steelworks at Lackenby and then new blast furnaces at Clay Lane. 1967 saw Dorman-Long become part of the nationalized British Steel Corporation as production boomed in Britain and in 1979 the largest blast furnace in Europe was erected at BSC's new Redcar plant. This plant which was subsequently acquired and operated by Corus, Tata Steel and then Sahaviriya Steel Industries (SSI) who are still
5963-542: The programme also involved the overhaul of infrastructure, including communications, track and overhead power lines, structures and embankments. Phase 2 of the All Change programme saw the £20 million refurbishment of 86 Tyne and Wear Metrocars (originally all 90 Metrocars were due to be refurbished). Each Metrocar was stripped down to its frame and built back up again, with the addition of improved disabled access, new door control systems, and renewed interiors, seating and lighting. A new cadmium yellow and black livery
6052-621: The project will see three sections of single line between Pelaw and Bede converted to dual use, with an existing freight-only line electrified, and re-designed to operate using a similar system to the shared line between Pelaw and Sunderland . As part of the project, four additional Stadler units have been funded, bringing the total number of units on order from 42 to 46. The Tyne and Wear Metro network consists of two lines: Services commence between 05:00 and 06:00 (between 06:00 and 07:00 on Sunday), with frequent trains running until around midnight. Each line runs up to every 12 minutes during
6141-415: The south west of the former. The design of the station is very different from the underground stations in central Newcastle, due to the different rock structure south of the River Tyne . The running tunnels are square, rather than circular in cross-section, with the station excavated as a box. Keith Grant's Night and Day artworks were commissioned for the station in the early 1980s, at opposite ends of
6230-428: The start of a £25 million project to install new ticket machines at all 60 stations across the network. Unlike the former ticket machines, which only accepted payment with coins, the new machines are able to accept payment with credit and debit card (with an upgrade to accept contactless payment in 2013), notes and coins. Automated ticket barriers (at 13 stations), and smart card validators at all stations across
6319-399: The station at platform level. The artwork consists of two mosaic mountain peaks, set against the backdrop of a day and night sky. Upon leaving the station (trains towards Newcastle), a second art installation is visible in the tunnel. Elizabeth Wright's Space Travel was commissioned in 2005, and showcases a series of 115 images which read like a short animated film strip. Step-free access
6408-479: The steam naphtha process, which enabled use of crude oil as feedstock for a process known as cracking. This proved to be a much cheaper way to produce ethylene , aromatics , petroleum derivatives and other chemicals such as ammonia . From 1964 to 1969 four large oil refineries were erected at the mouth of the Tees, two by Phillips Petroleum and one each by ICI and Shell. Their main purpose was to supply Billingham's chemical industry. A 138-mile (222 km) pipeline
6497-552: The surface included two bridges, the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and the Byker Viaduct . By 1984, the final cost of the project was £265 million (equivalent to £855 million in 2023). The Tyne and Wear Metro was the first railway in the United Kingdom to operate using the metric system , with all speeds and distances stated in metric units only. It was also the first transport system in
6586-401: The transport system could be improved. This study recommended reviving the badly run-down former Tyneside Electrics network by converting it into an electrified rapid transit system, which would include a new underground section to better serve the busy central areas of Newcastle and Gateshead , as it was felt that the existing rail network didn't serve these areas adequately. This new system
6675-542: The use of panning. This continued throughout the 20th century and left caverns which are now used as liquid/gas storage facilities for the process industry. In 1859, rock salt deposits were discovered in Middlesbrough by Henry Bolckow and Vaughan while boring for water. This led to heavy chemical industry moving to the area. Salt works were established at Haverton Hill in 1882 by the Bell Brothers. It
6764-614: Was cadmium yellow and white, in accordance with the colours used by the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive at the time. A mid-life refurbishment of the fleet, carried out in-house, took place between 1995 and 2000; a new livery was adopted consisting of red, green or blue bodies, with yellow front and rear ends, and triangles containing the Metro logo on the doors. A £20 million refurbishment of 86 Metrocars (originally all 90 were due to be refurbished) began in June 2010, with
6853-415: Was also adopted. Work commenced in June 2010, at Wabtec at Doncaster Works , and was completed five months ahead of schedule, in August 2015. The first Metrocar to receive refurbishment was 4041, the unit being named after former Gateshead Councillor and MP, Harry Cowans , in honour of his work in the 1970s, to help to secure the construction of the network. The second phase of the programme also saw
6942-409: Was built both to separate the Metro from the existing rail network, and also to create the new underground routes under Newcastle and Gateshead. Around 4 mi (6 km) of the new infrastructure was in tunnels , whilst the remainder was either at ground level or elevated. The elevated sections included the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge , a new 350 m (1,150 ft) bridge carrying the Metro across
7031-494: Was built in 1968 for the transport of ethylene and linked chemical works on Teesside with chemical plants at Runcorn. Today, ConocoPhillips operate oil refinery sites while Ensus Energy and Harvest Energy have biorefineries, the latter two produce biodiesel and bioethanol as transport fuels. SABIC operate the ethylene cracker at Wilton. Before 1846 Walbottle, Elswick, Birtley, Ridsdale, Hareshaw, Wylam, Consett, Stanhope, Crookhall, Tow-Law and Witton Park all had iron works but
7120-528: Was completed five months ahead of schedule in August 2015. During 2016, Nexus unveiled plans to secure funding of £550 million for a replacement fleet, with a target for them to be in service by the early 2020s. In November 2017, the Chancellor of the Exchequer , Philip Hammond , announced that the government would contribute £337 million towards the new fleet. The proposed new fleet
7209-536: Was established the following year to make oil and petrol from creosote and coal by a process called hydrogenation . In 1946 another large chemical works opened on Teesside at Wilton , on the south side of the River Tees . Further lands were purchased by ICI in 1962 at Seal Sands, where land had been reclaimed from the sea, becoming the third large-scale chemical manufacturing site on Teesside. Today all three Teesside chemical sites at Billingham, Wilton, and Seal Sands remain in use for large-scale chemical manufacture by
7298-633: Was intended to be the core of a new integrated transport network, with buses acting as feeders to purpose-built transport interchanges. The plans were approved by the Tyneside Metropolitan Railway Act 1973 (c. xxxii), which was passed by Parliament in July. Around 70% of the funding for the scheme came from a central government grant, with the remainder coming from local sources. Three railway lines, totalling 26 miles (42 km) were to be converted into Metro lines as part of
7387-545: Was named as the preferred bidder, with the contract for operating the system signed in February 2010, and the handover of the service taking place in April 2010. One of DB Regio's first initiatives was the Metro Dig It programme, and involved the re-painting of stations and deep-cleaning of stations and trains. In February 2010, the government confirmed it would award Nexus up to £580 million to modernise and operate
7476-491: Was planned to have dual-voltage capability, able to operate on the Metro's existing 1,500 V DC electrification system as well as the 25 kV 50 Hz AC used on the Network Rail network, to allow for expansion of Metro service. However Nexus decided not to include a dual-voltage design, prioritising use of rechargable battery technology instead. In September 2018, Bombardier , CAF ,
7565-427: Was producing 2 million tonnes of pig iron a year. Iron was in big demand in Britain in the late 19th century, particularly for the rapid expansion of the railways. More and more blast furnaces were opened in the vicinity of Middlesbrough to meet this demand such that by the end of the century Teesside was producing about a third of the nation's iron output. Middlesbrough, which became known by its nickname " Ironopolis ",
7654-470: Was retained, along with other institutions covering the four boroughs. Each borough became a unitary authority with the county council abolished in 1996. In 1998 the neighbouring Borough of Darlington gained unitary authority status. Tees Valley was initially a statistical sub-region of North East England across the four former Cleveland boroughs and the Borough of Darlington. This name and area carried over to an enterprise partnership formed in 2011 and
7743-426: Was the first firm to begin large scale salt production in the area, this required some workers in from Cheshire. Salt-making interests of the Bell Brothers were bought by Brunner Mond & Co of Cheshire in 1890. Brunner Mond became a giant of the area's chemical-making in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During the 20th century, salt extraction on the Tees's north bank (by aqueous hydraulic means) resulted in
7832-435: Was visited in 1862 by then prime minister William Ewart Gladstone who said "This remarkable place, the youngest child of England's enterprise, is an infant, but if an infant, an infant Hercules" By the 1870s steel, a much stronger and more resilient metal, was in big demand and Middlesbrough had to compete with Sheffield as the major producer. In 1875 Bolckow and Vaughan opened the first Bessemer Steel plant in Middlesbrough and
7921-493: Was when Robert Wilson produced sulphuric acid and fertilisers at Urlay Nook near Egglescliffe in 1833. In 1928, anhydrite was mined from below Billingham for making sulphuric acid , a component for detergent and fertilizer manufacturing. Ammonia and fertiliser works are operated by CF Fertilisers. Billingham's plastic manufacturing began in 1934. This was one of the earliest sites in the world where large-scale manufacture of these materials took place. Another chemical plant
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