Tyne and Wear Metro apologises after fault disrupts trains

Transport bosses have apologised after a signalling fault caused widespread disruption on the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Trains between North Shields and Wallsend were unable to run for two hours, while services across the network were hit by delays.

Metro operator Nexus said the fault had been identified in the Percy Main area, which had also affected its depot in Howdon.

"We apologise for the disruption and inconvenience," a spokesperson said.

Passengers were told to use local bus services, and a taxi shuttle between North Shields and Wallsend from about 06:00 BST.

The line was reopened just after 08:00 BST but with delays of up to 20 minutes.

The Nexus spokesperson said: "When signals go off on a section of the Metro system then we are not able to run trains in that area until they come back on.

"Our signalling engineers were deployed to the area to locate the fault."

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