Some peak Metro services and airport trains cancelled due to shortage of staff and pandemic

Nexus, the operator of the Tyne and Wear Metro, has confirmed that some services have been cancelled or partially cancelled on Friday, August 14.

In a message to passengers on its website, Nexus confirmed that trains are running to all destinations but said: ‘certain trains and services have been cancelled or partially cancelled due to staff availability and the pandemic.’

Cancellations and partial cancellations affect a number of services throughout the day, with South Shields and Sunderland lines affected.

Services partially cancelled, include the 11.50am from South Hylton to Airport, 1.02pm from Airport to South Hylton and the 5.20pm from South Shields to St James.

Details of all the journeys affected can be found on the Nexus website.

The cancellations come in the same week that the Metro celebrated its 40th anniversary on Tuesday, August 11.

In July transport bosses confirmed that two schools of trainee drivers had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

That means that 16 new recruits who could have started work towards the end of 2020 may have lost the chance to join the Metro workforce.

The two driver training programmes were due to start in the spring but had to be axed due to lockdown restrictions.

Nexus chief operating officer Martin Kearney said that the six-month courses could not be rescheduled for a later date and warned there could be a knock-on effect for train cancellations.

Metro has faced regular problems with driver shortages recently, with many staff lured away by rival rail operators offering higher salaries.

Drivers also took strike action last year amid a bitter row over pay and changes to their contracts.

Meanwhile Nexus confirmed in July that passenger numbers are down by 70% following the easing of lockdown.

Passenger numbers on the Tyne & Wear light rail network plummeted in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

And although commuters are gradually returning to carriages and stations, there are also concerns they may never reach pre-pandemic levels.

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