The Tyne and Wear Metro line through South Tyneside is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
The line has carried 200 million Metro customers since it opened in March 1984, helping people get to work, education and leisure activities.
Nexus, the public body which operates Metro, said the route from Heworth to South Shields was a key part of Metro’s story, one that has transformed connectivity in the borough.
Nexus has marked this latest Metro landmark with a special birthday cake cutting ceremony at South Shields Interchange – which included handing out free cupcakes for Metro customers.
Cllr Audrey Huntley, Deputy Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “The Metro is an integral part of everyday life for so many people in the borough and beyond, connecting them to jobs, study and leisure amenities, not to mention helping to showcase our tourism offer to millions of visitors.
“Sustainable travel is key if we are to achieve our carbon neutral goals, so as we collectively work towards a low carbon future the Metro will remain part of the fabric of our communities for decades to come.”
Cathy Massarella, the Managing Director of Nexus, said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating the 40th anniversary of our Metro line in South Tyneside. It’s been transformative for the borough over the last four decades.
“We’ve seen an amazing 200 million journeys on the line since it opened in 1984. It’s part of everyday life for the people of South Tyneside, has boosted the local economy, and has helped to underpin the success of the Great North Run, which finishes in South Shields.
“It was a fantastic achievement to bring the Metro to South Tyneside and we are already looking ahead to an exciting future as we get ready to welcome first new Metro trains in customer service this year.
“When the Metro system first opened in 1980 the plans were already in place to extend the route beyond Heworth, widening the network’s connectivity, which in turn has helped to cut congestion on local roads.”
Alan Metcalfe, Chair of South Tyneside Chamber of Commerce, said: “Metro has been vital for businesses in South Tyneside over the last 40 years, opening up access to more talent over the region, particularly from Newcastle and Sunderland.
“The final piece in the jigsaw was the recent completion of the £100m Metro Flow project to dual three key sections of the line, which is vital for the economy and infrastructure of the borough. It is vital for our carbon footprint that we have more passengers travelling by a regular, economical and reliable service.
“I would like to congratulate Nexus on this significant milestone, and here’s to the next 40 years.”
The Metro line into South Tyneside was the final piece of the Metro construction project, which saw the system opened in phases from August 1980.
Formerly part the old Tyneside Electric Network the line was taken over by Nexus and was converted to fit Metro trains, with a mix of new stations and some old ones transformed into Metro stations.
The first train with customers on board ran through from Heworth to South Shields in March 1984. Civic dignitaries attended a ribbon cutting event at South Shields Metro station to mark the opening.
The line had a further Metro station added at Simonside in 2008, and South Shields Metro station on King Street closed in 2019 to make way for the town’s new transport interchange.
Nexus brought Metro to Gateshead in 1981, to South Shields in 1984, to Newcastle Airport in 1991, and to Sunderland in 2002.
