A major milestone in the £100m upgrade of the Tyne and Wear Metro has been reached, as the first batch of overhead power line equipment—designed and manufactured entirely in the East Midlands—was dispatched last week.
East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward visited rail electrification specialists Furrer+Frey in Beeston, Nottingham, to sign off the initial shipment of 4,500 components. Made from recycled aluminium, the kit will form part of a new overhead power line system set to revitalise 100 kilometres of Metro infrastructure across Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland.
The equipment was developed and assembled by Furrer+Frey, using aluminium processed in Derbyshire and steel fabricated in Nottingham. The use of recycled materials has cut carbon emissions during manufacturing by 75% compared to imported alternatives. Over the life of the five-year project, this could save the equivalent emissions of a family car driving 1.2 million miles—five times the distance from Earth to the Moon.
“This will protect local jobs and power millions of clean, electric journeys for decades to come,” said Mayor Ward. “This is just one example of the East Midlands leading the way on transport solutions nationally.”
In total, the East Midlands will produce around 45,000 components for the Metro’s new overhead power lines. Furrer+Frey is also training engineers at Metro operator Nexus to install and maintain the new system, which powers trains running up to 18 hours a day.
“This first Made in Midlands delivery is more than just a milestone—it’s a model for how rail can be delivered smarter,” said Noel Dolphin, Head of UK Projects at Furrer+Frey. “Building locally means lower carbon, lower cost and more skilled jobs.”
The overhead line renewal is part of a wider modernisation programme for the Tyne and Wear Metro, including the introduction of a new fleet of trains. The improvements are expected to reduce delays, cut maintenance costs and provide a more reliable service for passengers across the North East.
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