Audience figure revealed for first episode of new ITV documentary series about Tyne and Wear Metro service

The documentary series offers people a chance to go behind the scenes at one of Britain’s busiest transport networks following the highs and lows of the summer of 2019. The series provides an insight into the dilemmas staff deal with on a daily basis.

The first episode of The Metro: A Rail Life Story screened on ITV at 7.30pm on Tuesday, January 14. Overnight figures show that 2.6 million people tuned in to watch the programme that showed Metro staff dealing with huge crowds travelling to the Spice Girls concert at the Stadium of Light.

Nexus, the public body that owns and manages Tyne and Wear Metro, gave unprecedented access to film crews over the summer.

Customer Services Director at Nexus, Huw Lewis, said: “We’re delighted with such impressive viewing figures for the first episode. We’re really proud of the region that we serve and the part that Metro plays in everyday life, and it’s fantastic that people across Britain saw what we have to offer.

“To get 2.6 million people tuning in to watch a TV programme about the Tyne and Wear Metro is absolutely fantastic.

“We are already excited about the second episode next week, where viewers will get to see even more of the work that goes on behind the scenes to keep the Metro system running.

“It’s a privilege for us to showcase and share this unique transport system in our wonderful and vibrant region with a wider television audience as we prepare to mark Metro’s 40th anniversary.”

Cameras show around 1,100 Metro staff dealing with the biggest evens of the year, including the Great North Run and the Spice Girls re-union concert in Sunderland.

ITV revealed that the second episode will focus on tens of thousands of Newcastle United fans passing through the Metro for a home game on the first day of the new football season.

Episode 2 of Metro: A Rail Life Story will air on ITV on Tuesday, January 21 at 7.30pm.