Great North Run 2025 travel: Full Metro and bus advice from Nexus for the race weekend
Hotels have been booked, training plans are nearing completion and we are now less than one month away from the 2025 Great North Run.
The iconic route from Newcastle to South Shields remains in place this year and Nexus, the body which operates the Tyne and Wear Metro has announced its plans for the huge weekend.
This is to ensure the transport system and general North East can still run smoothly throughout the event, which takes place on Sunday, September 7 this year.
How to get to the Great North Run start line
Anyone with a place in the race should head to Exhibition Park and the Town Moor near the city centre. This is around a 15 minute walk from Haymarket which can be reached on the Metro and various bus routes across the region.
Haymarket bus station is also very close to the start line.
Shuttle bus services will also be running to Haymarket and Barras Bridge from South Shields, allowing anyone staying near the finish to get into Newcastle easily.
Nexus has warned that Metro trains, buses and traffic will be extremely busy and are suggesting runners should leave plenty of time to get to the race start.
I want to watch the Great North Run, where and how should I travel?
Nexus recommends anyone wanting to see loved ones during their run should select one spot along the route and wait there, rather than hopping along the route as all trains will be very busy.
Anyone heading to the race finish can take the metro to South Shields and walk to the finish area from there. This may take up to half an hour on race day.
Regular shuttle buses between Haymarket and South Shields will also continue throughout the day. The Shields Ferry will also operate extra crossings between North Shields and South Shields and will start at 7:45am.
These metros and shuttle buses can also be used to return to Newcastle following the race.
How to leave South Shields on Great North Run raceday
Once again, Nexus are warning anyone hoping to use their system that buses, trains and the ferry will be very busy following the race.
There will be a metro train from South Shields Metro Station every seven and a half minutes while shuttle buses will also continue to run.
The Shields Ferry will run additional services until around 6pm.
How to get a Metro day ticket for the Great North Run
Day tickets will be available to buy on ticket machines throughout the system on race day, while Great North Run travel wristbands are now available to buy online.
These wristbands are on sale until Friday, August 29 and cover travel on the Shields Ferry, buses in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and County Durham and on Northern trains between Sunderland and Newcastle.
A New digital ticket will also be available on Go North East and Stagecoach apps. This will cost £6.50 - the same price as other day tickets. This is the only non-physical option.
Paper tickets across all these systems will also be available from Metro station ticket machines as well as buses across Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Northumberland.
When will Metro stations be closed on Great North Run day?
In order to ensure the safe movement of traffic and crowd control, some stations on the Metro system will be temporarily closed.
Haymarket will be exit only between 8am and 10:40am. Anyone wanting to enter the station should use Jesmond.
Jesmond will be closed from 10:30am until the early afternoon. Anyone wanting to use the station should use Haymarket or Monument in the city centre.
Manors will be closed from 10:30am until the early afternoon. Anyone wanting to use the station should use Haymarket.
At the other end of the race in South Tyneside, Chichester will be closed from 1pm until the early evening. Anyone wanting to use the station should use South Shields.
Nexus has warned these times may vary based on requirements across the system.