'We've already had 30 years of disruption' - your views on impending South Shields Metro misery

Weary train travellers have voiced their discontent at the announcement of nearly a year of disrupted services.
Chichester Metro station will be hit by 10 months of disruption from next month.Chichester Metro station will be hit by 10 months of disruption from next month.
Chichester Metro station will be hit by 10 months of disruption from next month.

Tyne and Wear Metro operator Nexus announced two phases of rail alterations linked to the construction of the £21m new South Shields transport interchange.

Phase one of the work will see the line between South Shields and Chichester close for more than a month in both directions from Monday, October 1, to Saturday, November 3.

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From Sunday, November 4, trains will be unable to use platform 2 at Chichester station until August next year to head towards Newcastle.

They will instead be encouraged to travel to South Shields on platform 1 before staying on the same train as it begins its return journey.

Managing director Tobyn Hughes insisted: “The long term benefit will be a brighter, better and more modern transport hub in South Shields, which we think will attract more people into the town for shopping and leisure.”.

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Darren Wilkey replied: "Really!! I doubt very much anyone chooses their shopping destination preference based on the 'transport hub' at the destination!."

Arni Rubins added: "AKA somewhere slightly cleaner to sit waiting for your delayed train."

David A Turnbull wrote: "That disruption is nothing new. They started the disruption from the day it opened."

Mal Bell added: "They have already had 30 years of disruption."

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Catherine Browne said: "God knows what time I'm going to have to leave on a morning to get the Metro from Chi."

But Rachel Mavin argued: "If the work needs completing what choice do we have?"

Replacement bus service 900 will operate during the first phase of work next month with normal rail services between Chichester and Newcastle unaffected.

Further information about the timetable changes are available at www.nexus.org.uk/metro/modernisationor by telephoning (0191) 2020747.