Yahoo News Metro service suspended in North Tyneside after tree falls onto overhead lines hours before Bruce Springsteen gig
Metro services have been suspended on a section of the network hours before Bruce Springsteen's concert in Sunderland.
The American singer-songwriter and guitarist is set to entertain thousands of fans at the Stadium of Light tonight and as a result Metro services have been busier than usual between Newcastle and Sunderland.
But at around 4pm a section of the network was brought to a standstill after a tree fell onto the overhead lines. The incident happened around 200 metres north of Whitley Bay Metro station and no trains are running between Benton and North Shields in both directions.
Read more: Bruce Springsteen in Sunderland LIVE - Stadium of Light gig delayed as fans face travel chaos
Engineers are currently on site dealing and aim to get the tree removed as soon as possible. However, the work is expected to take at least two and a half hours.
Trains between Newcastle and Sunderland are running, but those travelling from the impacted area have been advised that Metro tickets can be used on some local bus services. Go North East services 1, 317, 353, 354 and Arriva buses 57 and 57a are accepting Metro tickets.
A spokesperson for Nexus, which operates the Metro, said: "The fallen tree, which was not located on Metro property, came down around 4pm and is about 200 metres north of Whitley Bay Metro station.
"Our engineers are on site dealing with the incident and aim to get the tree removed as soon as they possibly can. We expect this work to take at least two and a half hours. We're sorry for the disruption this has caused to customers this evening.
"Local bus services are accepting Metro tickets in the affected area. These are Go North East services 1, 317, 353, 354 and Arriva buses 57 and 57a."
The spokesperson added: "The city centre stations in Newcastle remain busy with people heading to the Bruce Springsteen concert in Sunderland. Trains are busier than usual but are running on this line.
"Keep up to date on our X page, formerly Twitter, on @My_Metro."
