The TYNE AND WEAR METRO 1995
----------------------------

This simulation depicts the Tyne and Wear Metro, a self- contained LRT
network located in Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead in the North East of
England, as running at the present time.

Much of the system follows the route of the original North Tyneside
electrified network of 1904 (The first electrified non-underground line in
Britain), with a new section of 6.4 km of twin deep-level tubes running under
the city of Newcastle, over the River Tyne by a new bridge, then under
Gateshead to rejoin the former British Rail South Tyneside alignment
(electrified 1938) to Tyne Dock, where a new alignment is followed to
Chichester and South Shields. Part of the former Ponteland branch has also
been incorporated, running initially to Bank Foot, then later to Newcastle
Airport.

British Rail replaced the Electric Trains with Diesel Multiple Units in 1962
(South Tyneside) and 1967. (North Tyneside) 

The present Metro was opened in stages from 1980 to 1984, with the Newcastle
Airport extension being opened in late 1992.

Future extension from Pelaw to Sunderland and South Hylton is now under
active consultation and expected to be completed in 1999. Provision for this
extension has been included in the simulation.

British Rail lines in the area of the simulation have also been depicted,
but are not populated with trains in this version. A nice little exercise for
any of you who like improving other folk's work.

Trains on the Metro system consist exclusively of two-car articulated units,
coupled in pairs, built by Metro Cammell, and running under a 1.5kV DC
overhead supply.

The scheduling was very tricky to implement, but is as accurate as I can make
it given the constraints of BAHN340. I understand that the system timetable,
which has operated since 1993, is to be revised shortly.

Particular thanks go to Andrew Capes MCIT for his guided tour of the system -
Andrew was involved at the planning stage of the Metro, and was latterly a
public transport coordinator with Durham County Council.

References:
-----------
Electric Trains in Britain, Basil K. Cooper, Ian Allan, 1979
Eastern and Anglia Region Quail Map
TWM Timetable

Comments and suggestions welcomed. This ZIP archive may be freely distributed
provided all the files supplied are present and that they remain unaltered.

Have fun!

If you place this archive on another network, please let me know by email.

 Iain Logan,
 2, Frances Street,
 LANGHOLM
 Dumfriesshire
 Scotland

 +44 13873 81046
 iainlogan@enterprise.net
 <http://homepages.enterprise.net/iainlogan/>

 Version 1, Feb 1996 (modified 26 January 1999 and again, April 2007): notes
revised Apr 2006 and April 2007
