I had no idea what lay in store for me on this trip to the North-East. My first trip on the Tyne and Wear Metro and I’ve got to say, it did not disappoint!
I’m going to show you how to do it too. What kind if ticket you need, how much it costa, how to buy it and I’ll take you on a day out all around the area, sampling as much as I can INCLUDING a national rail service AND a ferry!
In the evening, we’ll make a quick visit to the seaside at Whitley Bay where I’ll look back on the day and summarise my experience.
Hope you enjoy this video. If you’re new to the channel and enjoyed this video, I would really appreciate a like and subscribe. And don’t forget, I read all your comments and try to reply to as many as I can – it’s really appreciated.
Thanks for watching,
Mark
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📖Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
02:02 – Buying a Ticket
04:08 – Airport to Monument (Metro)
09:52 – Monument to Sunderland (Metro)
12:20 – Sunderland to Blaydon (Train)
16:24 – Blaydon to Newcastle (Bus)
19:30 – Newcastle Central to South Shields (Metro)
20:43 – South Shields to North Shields (Ferry)
25:26 – North Shields to St James to Whitley Bay (Metro)
29:52 – Summary
49 Comments
If I knew you were stranded in Blaydon I would have popped down and said hello, I just live behind the church, St Cuthbert's that you showed in the video. The buses aren't usually that bad but it only takes a few issues in Newcastle or the Metrocentre to disrupt the timetable especially on limited timetable that runs on a Sunday. Although it was nice to see Blaydon in your video there is not much in Blaydon to interest the visitor. The church dates from 1845 and that's about it. I totally agree with the previous comment that suggested you should have jumped off the train a stop earlier at the Metrocentre . Again not a lot to interest the visitor. When it first opened the shopping centre was the biggest in Europe. Metrocentre does boast a lot more buses so you may have had less of a wait to get back to Newcastle.
we just say Gosfath here not forth
I'm in Blaydon
you can get to Whitby from Blaydon
1:03… last time I walked along here was to catch a 6 am flight in Jan 2023… it was freeeezing!
I found the ticket machines pretty slow and not that intuitive. The Go Northeast app on the other hand, is a lot more user friendly, and it offers more tickets as well! There's the Tyne & Wear Day Rover, for example, that is 80p cheaper and works just as well on the entire Metro network and the ferry. I thought the new Sunderland station hall looked strangely unfinished… there's almost nothing in there!
Newcastle Castle. Reminds me of Battersea Power Station Station 😂
Electric railway services from Newcastle to the coast started in 1904 and were progressively electrified until 1938 I think. All on the third-rail. By the mid-sixties "electricity was out" as far as transport in and around Newcastle was concerned. Between 1963 and 1967 the electric suburban system was converted to diesel multiple-unit trains and the once-extensive trolleybus system was finally knocked on the head in 1966.
A little over twenty years later it was "all change" and I remember using the Metro in its embryo stage in about 1980 when instead of getting a bus all the way from Gallowgate Bus Station in Newcastle City Centre to The Galleries in Washington New Town (where I had friends) it was possible to take the brand new Metro as far as Heworth and change there onto a bus.
Your journey was fascinating and interesting (as usual). And what magnificent weather you had for your trip!
You encountered the scourge of north east public transport that is Go North East. They’ve got such a monopoly in most areas of Gateshead, like Blaydon, but are so badly run since Covid that it’s pointless relying on them. They’ve gone from being the founding company of the go ahead group to the unloved step child
Glad you enjoyed the trip. The metro, when it works, is a marvel of 20th century urban planning
I laughed when you mentioned people getting shouted at for filming.
A couple of years ago, I made a few videos on the Metro system and during one of my earlier ones, the driver changed at South Gosforth, near the Metro offices. He noticed me filming, from his little cab, opened his door and said I wasn't allowed to film .
“Why” I asked, “I've seen plenty of folk taking pictures or filming”
“That’s the rules .. if you don’t like them, then get off the train”
Anyway I got out at the next station, Regent Centre and heard over the tannoy 'FILMING IS NOT ALLOWED ON THE METRO SYSTEM' .. the driver had obviously told somebody else. I returned to the previous station, walked 20m to the Metro HQ and asked for a permit to film. Within about 10 minutes I was kindly given permission, on a typed A4 letter by a very understanding and helpful customer services member.
I got the next train and finished my filming. In hindsight, I should have waited to see that same driver again, but at that moment, never thought about that.
I always got a permit to film for my next journeys, but was never asked for it … obviously just one jobsworth driver, full of his own importance.
B&M, my former Employer there
Excellent video – nice to hear positive things about our region from visitors like yourself.
As far as I know, the whole system is in metric rather than the National Rail imperial measurements.
Some of my favourite things about the metro that you didn't cover include:
Wallsend station having bilingual signage, in English and in Latin – for the Roman soldiers visiting the fort at the end of Hadrian's Wall!
The views from the concrete viaduct over the Ouseburn between Manors and Byker.
The interesting junction & track layout where the Green & Yellow lines diverge and the Green line joins onto the National Rail line, around Heworth & Pelaw.
The rest of the Yellow loop from South Gosforth to Whitley Bay is worth traveling on too.
Tynemouth Station & Weekend Market – well worth a wander through if you're there in the daytime. The town is lovely as are the beaches. I also like walking along the pier if it's open, and along the north bank of the Tyne towards the fish quay passing under the gaze of the Collingwood Monument (he was Nelson's second in command and led the attack at the battle of Trafalgar.)
The Stephenson Railway Museum is a lovely little museum in North Tyneside – entry is free although you have to pay to ride on the heritage railway – it's the former metro test track along route of one of the many old waggonways. Check opening days/times carefully though – it's closed in November, and only open for special events in the winter – summer opening is usually at weekends with the odd day during the week at busy times like school holidays.
Fantastic video I don't know why the KPH Speed limits could be something to do with Trams.
got my first Tattoo in Whitley Bay on the bank holiday monday, 31st of May1976, great video of my area, thanks
and, the last time I was on the Metro with my then girlfriend was on an August Bank Holiday there was a huge fight on the platform, not been on it since 2002
Instead of the train back to Blaydon from Sunderland, another option to consider might have been a bus from Sunderland along the coast to South Shields and the ferry over to North Shields and then the metro to take in Tynemouth, Cullercoats and Whitley Bay … perhaps using the train from Newcastle later in the day to go for something to eat at the metro centre or Blaydon
The first half dozen or so out of 46 trains have arrived and are currently undergoing testing around the network without passengers. Unfortunately there will be no drivers view seats.
I do love visiting Newcastle as there is always something interesting to see. Next time you are in the City a walk across The Town Moor is very interesting and I walked all the way to The Angel of the North though some of it was on the main road out of the city. The Metro does very well for what was a cheap option back in 1980 and I agree the price is excellent. I have not taken the ferry yet, maybe next time. Looking forward to your trip to Amsterdam, I have taken that ferry several times including during the back end of Storm Ciara in Feb 2020 which was fun. Hope you enjoy the trip.
A great video! You managed to do so much. I was surprised by how few passengers there were – some of the stations were deserted. I wonder what the locals do on a Sunday
You’ll have to come back next year as the new metro trains will be in use
Great video as ever, and it looks like one of the best day rover tickets you can buy too.
Great video
The seat out of use at the front was a hangover from covid i believe. The drivers wanted their distance despite being in an enclosed cab.
Class video mark, can’t beat Newcastle for a good time
Subscriber to your channel. I live 2 miles from Blaydon and use the trains to Sunderland for the football every home game. I use the metro only when the trains have issues as the train is far faster. The 10 bus service from Hexham/Ryton/Blaydon to Newcastle is actually really good. It runs every 20 mins and I use that to get back home from Blaydon. Its a very good service these days. You tried it on Great North Run day which is probably the worst ever time to do it. There would have been thousands using the metro to get back from South Shields after the run and buses all all over the area get delayed due to the run and the congestion in central Newcastle and they re allocate metros and buses to deal with that. Try it on another day.
The late night metro from Whitley Bay to Newcastle is an interesting experience !!!
What is coming up in next week video
Mate your off your head lol but hey the wife and i love your stuff even tho your a big kid at heart lol how about you try pubilc trans sport in manchester
Nice vid
The front seat out of use sticker no longer applies as it was a measure implemented during covid to allow the driver to access the cab while social distancing. There are a few trains where the stickers haven't been removed yet but as you saw, there was no issue with you sitting there. Obviously if the driver requests you to vacate the area for any reason then you would
Got your money worth out of a sub 7 quid ticket lol Totally agree far superior to driving I'd never be off it if i lived locally 👍
The front seat aren’t out of use them signs are from covid when they were blocked off due to thr cab being there
We are in the UK for nearly 3 weeks at the end of month(annual visit). Newcastle area is actually on our list for 2 nights. Great video as usual
You seem to have missed Wallsend, which as far as I know is the only station in England where the signage is in two languages: English and Latin.
Hi have you tried network daytripper it's £8,20 in the west Midlands all the buses trains and metro in the west Midlands
I think you can only get the ticket on the bus
I'm confused.. You showed the driver changing ends, but then you sat at the front of the train. Where was the driver?
Good to see youve experinced the authentic North East public transport experience…..Go North East ruining your day trip
Tynemouth would have been better for both food and sea.
Bro lying he is in London
I've done the Metro/Bus/Ferry trip a couple of times and enjoyed it. It's great value as you can spend the day on all services. My son and I sit right at the front to film the Metro journey, although they are introducing new Metro trains that don't have this seating. A real shame. If I'd known you were heading up to my neck of the woods, I would have popped up to meet you. Hope you're well. Andy.
It's ok, Blaydon is a let down for most visitors 😂
£6.80 is great value though for getting around the north-east, thanks for showcasing how accessible the place is
The speeds are in kilometres because the metro uses a different signalling system to the conventional National Rail trains. It's a version of the system used in Germany & Austria which uses kilometres for It's speeds. It's called InduSi if anyone wants to do any further reading
Beautiful video, thanks 😊 Lucky with the weather that. Hope you enjoyed that day 😊
Never thought I'd see you at Blaydon bus station in a million years!! I grew up nearby and that was my local McDonalds. I love the Metro but it needs to be expanded to the west side of Gateshead and Newcastle, as well as to Durham. We're getting the Northumberland line which is being integrated into the Metro zonal system later this year which takes you to Blyth and Ashington.
Hi i wass in newcastle from the 31st of August for 6 nights ur unfortunately the airport to wallsend was bus replacment so im going to have to do another trip next year i did manage to get the front seat on almost every one
If I am in Newcastle, I spend a day riding on the Metro, brilliant service.
Good job Mark. Another really interesting video. I'm going to give Newcastle a visit I think.
Make the most of the old tram cars mate you can't look out of the front window in the new cars that are coming
I believe the train crossing was broken for absolutely hours. The busses had to use the bridge bypass