A documentary about life on the Metro and how the network coped with some of the biggest events of the year is set to be screened next week.
The Metro: A Rail Life Story was filmed last summer as the Metro approached its 40th birthday and was the first time cameras were given an in-depth behind-the-scenes look across the system.
The four-part ITV series, produced by Wise Owl Films, will show how staff dealt with events including the Great North Run and the Spice Girls reunion concert in Sunderland.
A spokesperson said: "As the series reveals, it's a service that is often under fire and stretched to its limits as, ahead of a new fleet being delivered, it currently operates with trains that are as old as the Metro itself.
"This series follows the highs and lows of the summer and provides a vivid insight into the daily trials and tribulations for staff.
"In the first episode, it’s the start of the summer and the Metro staff brace themselves for one of the busiest days of the year.
"The Spice Girls are in town as part of their comeback world tour, meaning 50,000 fans from far and wide will be descending on Sunderland, putting additional pressure on the Metro’s already stretched resources."
Drama unfolds across the day as head of operations Wayne Dixon spots a potential problem with an overhead line.
There's also an anxious call to the Metro control room - two Spice Girl fans have lost their tickets and it looks like they won’t be getting to the concert of a lifetime.
The Metro is 48 miles long, with passengers making 37 million journeys a year around Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside.
With 60 stations, the network serves 100,000 passengers a day and its trains travel 10,000 miles daily.
Tobyn Hughes, managing director of Nexus, said: "We're all really looking forward to seeing the Tyne and Wear Metro showcased on national television.
"Our story is our passengers and our staff, so we were keen to share this through a documentary series as Metro gets ready to mark its 40th anniversary."
The first episode will air on ITV at 7.30pm on Tuesday, January 14.
