Editing Newcastle upon Tyne (section)

===Metro===
{{Main|Tyne and Wear Metro}}

[[File:Tyne & Wear Metro diagram.png|thumb|Map of the Tyne and Wear Metro]]
The city is served by the [[Tyne and Wear Metro]], a system of suburban and underground railways covering much of Newcastle and the surrounding [[metropolitan boroughs]]. It was opened in five phases between 1980 and 1984, and was Britain's first urban light rail transit system.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of public transport |publisher=nexus.org.uk |url=http://www.nexus.org.uk/wps/wcm/connect/Nexus/Nexus/Press+office/Transport+history/ |access-date=14 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225849/http://www.nexus.org.uk/wps/wcm/connect/Nexus/Nexus/Press%2Boffice/Transport%2Bhistory/ |archive-date=26 September 2007 }}</ref> The network was developed from a combination of existing and newly built tracks and stations, with deep-level tunnels constructed through Central Newcastle.<ref>{{cite web | title=Newcastle-upon-Tyne | publisher=urbanrail.net | url=http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/new/newcstle.htm | access-date=14 January 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118230522/http://www.urbanrail.net/eu/new/newcstle.htm | archive-date=18 January 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Tyne and Wear Metro | publisher=thetrams.co.uk | url=http://www.thetrams.co.uk/tyneandwear/ | access-date=14 January 2008}}</ref> A [[Queen Elizabeth II Metro Bridge|bridge]] was built across the Tyne, between Newcastle and Gateshead, and opened by [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] in 1981.<ref>{{cite web | title=SINE Project, Structure Details for Queen Elizabeth II Bridge | publisher=Newcastle University | url=http://sine.ncl.ac.uk/view_structure_information.asp?struct_id=964 | access-date=14 January 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515144420/http://sine.ncl.ac.uk/view_structure_information.asp?struct_id=964 | archive-date=15 May 2011 }}</ref> Extensions to the network were opened in 1991 and 2002.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tyne and Wear Metro |publisher=nexus.org.uk |url=http://www.nexus.org.uk/wps/wcm/connect/Nexus/Nexus/Press+office/Media+briefing+notes/Nexus+-+Tyne+and+Wear+Metro |access-date=14 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929091637/http://www.nexus.org.uk/wps/wcm/connect/Nexus/Nexus/Press%2Boffice/Media%2Bbriefing%2Bnotes/Nexus%2B-%2BTyne%2Band%2BWear%2BMetro |archive-date=29 September 2007 }}</ref> It is operated directly by [[Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive|Nexus]], carrying over 37&nbsp;million passengers a year.<ref>{{cite web | title=Getting Around | publisher=newcastlegateshead.com | url=http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/147/Getting_Around.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061123234635/http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/147/Getting_Around.html | archive-date=23 November 2006 | access-date=14 January 2008 }}</ref> In 2004, the company [[Marconi Company|Marconi]] designed and constructed the mobile radio system to the underground Metro system.<ref name="Metromobileradio1">{{cite web
 |title       = Mobile Coverage to Newcastle Metro System
 |quote       = Marconi undertook the negotiation, feasibility, design and construct of the mobile radio system to the underground parts of the Newcastle Metro.
 |publisher   = paul-walton.co.uk
 |url         = http://paul-walton.co.uk/projects.aspx
 |access-date  = 28 February 2011
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110824032316/http://paul-walton.co.uk/projects.aspx
 |archive-date = 24 August 2011
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> The Metro system was the first in the UK to have mobile phone antennae installed in the tunnels.<ref name="Metromobileradio2">{{Cite news
 | title = Mobile sounds of the underground
 | quote = it would be the first time complete coverage had been provided to a UK underground system.
 |publisher=BBC
 | date = 17 February 2004
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3495413.stm
 | access-date = 28 February 2011}}</ref>

The Metro consists of two lines. The Green line begins at [[Newcastle Airport Metro station|Newcastle Airport]], goes through Central Newcastle and into the [[City of Sunderland]], terminating at [[South Hylton Metro station|South Hylton]]. The yellow line starts at [[St James Metro station|St James]], runs north of the river alongside [[Byker]] towards [[Whitley Bay]], before returning to Central Newcastle, then connecting to [[Gateshead Interchange]] before finally terminating at [[South Shields Metro station|South Shields]].

The system is currently undergoing a period of refurbishment and modernisation, entitled '[[Tyne and Wear Metro#Current developments|Metro: All Change]].' The programme has replaced all ticket machines and introduced ticket gates at the busiest stations – part of the transition to smart ticketing. All Metro trains are being completely replaced<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/newmetrotrains|title=New Metro Trains|access-date=3 April 2025}}</ref> and most stations are undergoing improvement works (or in some cases complete reconstruction, for example [[North Shields Metro station|North Shields]]). In addition; tracks, signalling and overhead wires are also being overhauled.<ref name="Metro2014-2">{{cite web| title = Metro: all change| publisher = nexus.org.uk |year = 2014 | url = http://www.nexus.org.uk/our-major-projects/metro-all-change | access-date = 27 November 2014}}</ref> Longer-term plans include further extensions to the system. Proposed routes include to Newcastle's west end, to the [[Cobalt Business Park]] in North Tyneside, to the Metrocentre in Gateshead and to additional locations in Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland. Several of the proposed routes would require trams as opposed to the current light rail trains.<ref name="Metro2014-1">{{cite web | last = Lognonne | first = Ruth | title = Government agrees to talks on Tyne and Wear Metro expansion | publisher = thejournal.co.uk | date = 9 May 2014 | url = http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/government-agrees-talks-tyne-wear-7097956 | access-date = 27 November 2014 | archive-date = 29 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141129001056/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/government-agrees-talks-tyne-wear-7097956 }}</ref>