Tyne & Wear Metro users warned of 'most challenging period'

Metro's current fleet of trains has been operating since the early 1980s

Metro passengers in Tyne and Wear have been warned to brace themselves for what could be the worst period of disruption in the network's history.

Transport bosses say they are facing a massive challenge to keep increasingly decrepit trains running ahead of the introduction of a new fleet.

Existing trains have been running for 43 years despite only having a 30-year shelf life.

Latest figures show just 70% of Metro services arrived on time.

Operator Nexus defines on time as being within a window of 30 seconds earlier than scheduled or three minutes late.

The figures cover mid-September to mid-October and approach the low of 67.7% punctuality recorded earlier this year.

That saw Swiss firm Stadler - which is responsible for maintaining the current carriages as well as building the long-awaited new fleet - given a remedial notice.

'Chalk and cheese'

Nexus's interim managing director Cathy Massarella told councillors further issues had been caused by the opening of a new depot designed for the incoming fleet rather than current trains, as well as the vast amount of testing and driver training work being done.

Commuters have also faced problems due to power cable damage, with a reduced service running to Sunderland this week as a result.

Ms Massarella said the publicly owned body was "going into the most challenging period of performance that the Metro has ever known".

She told a North East Joint Transport Committee scrutiny meeting: "We know even when you get these [new] trains coming in service, which we hope will start in the first quarter of next year, it isn't going to be solved overnight.

"There is an awful lot of activity going on, but it will be a challenge and I don't think we can shy away from that statement."

She likened the difficulties in managing the transition to swapping a 1970s Ford Escort for a modern Lamborghini, saying: "This is going from using spanners and traditional methods of maintaining things to using a digital process. It really is chalk and cheese."

Cathy Massarella said a new fleet of trains would not solve issues immediately

Earlier this year, Nexus cut the rush-hour timetable in an effort to offer a more reliable service.

Ms Massarella confirmed another timetable change was being looked at, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Newcastle Liberal Democrat councillor Thom Campion warned "more and more residents" were using cars "because they just cannot rely on the Metro".

He added: "At a time when we need to be getting people out of their cars, there is definitely work to be done here."