PASSENGERS on the Tyne and Wear Metro face disruption this summer after a 23-day line closure was confirmed.

The line will be closed between Hadrian Road and North Shields in North Tyneside after the Olympic Games come to an end.

The closure is to allow upgrades to take place as part of the £385m scheme to secure the network’s future.

Earlier modernisation work will close the same stretch of track for four consecutive full weekends, including two when thousands of fans will be making their way to St James’ Park for Newcastle United home games.

The disruption will start with an all-day closure on Sunday, February 26.

Passengers will also need to make alternative arrangements on March 3 and 4, March 10 and 11, March 17 and 18 and March 24 and 25.

The Tyne-Wear derby with Sunderland kicks off at noon on March 4 with Norwich City the visitors to St James’ Park on March 17.

Ken Mackay, director of rail and infrastructure for Nexus, said everything would be done to keep disruption to a minimum.

He explained that alternative routes will be advertised and bus replacement services will run.

Mr Mackay said: “This is going to be another busy year of modernisation work on the Metro system. This starts with the upgrade of bridges and embankments in North Tyneside that are more than 150 years old. Weekend line closures will be necessary throughout the year and we are also planning a 23-day major line closure in late summer after the Olympics has finished.

“We will do all we can to minimise the disruption for passengers and, when we do close lines, a frequent replacement bus service will run.”

Nexus has confirmed it will trial midweek evening line closures to reduce the amount of disruption on weekends.

The midweek closures will take place over four nights between March 12 and 15 from Northumberland Park to West Monkseaton, and from March 19 and 22 between Longbenton and Benton.

Mr Mackay said additional modern ticket machines that accept notes and card payments would be introduced later this year as part of the modernisation programme. Refurbished trains will come into service as well.

He said: “We’ll also be replacing large sections of Metro track and other infrastructure.”

The dates of the 23-day line closure will be confirmed shortly. Track between Byker and Tynemouth was closed for a similar length of time last year between March 12 and April 3.