Metro revamp hits sudden hold-up

Jul 26 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

Setting priorities

THE Regional Funding Allocation is a direct say over how millions of pounds in central government funding is spent. When it is announced, members of the interim regional transport board will come together to set the road and rail priorities for the North East.

Instead of cash being handed over to the board, it will direct Government funding with a list of projects and the relative importance to the region.

In the first round of funding, the board was forced to rule out an upgrade of the A1 because the cost would have taken up too large a section of the funding budget.

What's involved

THE £300m Metro package that should have been announced this week is part of Nexus’s £600m Metro Re-Invigoration project.

Designed to modernise the entire system, from stations and ticket machines through to trains and tracks, the announcement forms just part of the overall package.

The first of three stages has already seen £50m made available and includes the work currently ongoing at Haymarket Metro station.

The second phase, which is now expected to receive Government support by autumn at the latest, includes £300m to refurbish more stations and the refurbishment of 90 Metrocars.

Phase three, which is included in the business plan currently before the Government, covers the introduction of new carriages and starts from 2018. This will cost at least £250m.