Travellers have been warned to find alternative means of transport this morning after bosses at the Tyne and Wear Metro warned of further service disruptions because of the scorching weather.
Services yesterday (July 18) were suspended between Haymarket, Regent Centre and St James in both directions due to the extreme heat and the closure of the major line. Trains continued to run from Haymarket to South Shields and South Hylton and Airport to Regent Centre but with temperatures approaching 40C predicted for later today, bosses have warned that they will carry out safety inspection prior to this morning's service to decide whether it will be possible to run the service from Airport to South Hylton and Regent Centre to South Shields.
It added that the service around the Coast would remain suspended, with tickets again being accepted on local bus services operated by Arriva, Go North East and Stagecoach.
Read more: Travel chaos in North East as major Metro route is suspended due to damage following 'extreme heat'
"The extreme heat means that customers can expect disruption throughout Tuesday and are advised to consider alternative methods of transport," Tyne and Wear Metro said in a statement. "The safety of our network, customers and colleagues must be the priority.
"There will be a safety inspection prior to the start of service in the morning as to whether we can run the service from Airport to South Hylton & Regent Centre to South Shields. The service around the Coast will remain suspended. Ticket acceptance will continue."
In a later tweet, a spokesperson for the Metro said: "The service remains suspended around the Coast. We await the outcome of the safety inspection for whether we can run from the Airport to South Hylton and Regent Centre to South Shields. Ticket acceptance will continue tomorrow. Thank you for you patience today. Good night!"
At 4.36am this morning, Metro confirmed services will remain suspended from on the Haymarket to St James line via the Coast, and Haymarket to Regent Centre. Its said this was "following the result of a safety inspection on the overhead line the service".
At 4.43am, Metro tweeted to say that "it will not be operating to the usual timetable today," due to the issues with the overhead line.
"There will be a 15 min service Airport to Regent Centre, Haymarket to South Shields and Haymarket to South Hylton. Please allow extra time to make your journey."
At 5.35am, Metro announced there would no 'peak service trains' between Pelaw and Monkseaton.
The news comes as the line between St James and Tynemouth is closed to allow a major programme of modernisation work and will not reopen until July 30. Metro tickets and passes are being accepted on the following buses: All Arriva services between Haymarket, Regent Centre and the coast; Go North East services 1, 19, 309 and 310; Stagecoach services 12, 22, 39, 40, 62, 63 and 317.
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