A RAIL link owner has revealed plans for an £8m skills academy.

Nexus, which oversees the Tyne and Wear Metro, says the centre would train more than 1,000 workers.

Bosses say it would also tutor contractors as they seek to kick-start a £400m upgrade of the rail system, which is used by 40 million passengers a year.

The plans come after Nexus revealed it will scrap operator DB Regio’s contract and look after the network itself from April 2017.

Raymond Johnstone, Nexus’ director of rail and infrastructure, said the training base, known as the Metro Maintenance and Renewals Skills Centre, would be built in South Shields, South Tyneside, on the site of the town’s original railway station.

He said: “This would allow us to raise the standard of training we offer to staff, contractors and industry partners.

“The South Shields site offers an excellent location on the existing Metro network and the centre would complement the major regeneration of the town.”

Mr Johnstone said Nexus wants to speak to local people before seeking planning permission, adding £7m backing for the scheme could come from the Local Growth Fund.

He added: “We are inviting people to talk about our plans and how the facility would be built and used before we seek outline permission.”

Nexus, which owns and manages the Metro as a public body, will oversee the network from April next year when its DB Regio deal ends.

Bosses expect to appoint a new operator for 2019 onwards, which they hope will be able to use a new train fleet worth in excess of £400m.

Staff working for DB Regio are expected to be transferred across to Nexus under Tupe regulations on April 1 2017.

In a document previously seen by The Northern Echo, Tobyn Hughes, Nexus’ managing director, said: “As the guardians of the system, we have some exciting plans.

“Although we have the right to extend the current contract, both Nexus and DB Regio are dissatisfied with its structure.

“Managing Metro for a limited period from 2017 to 2019 will allow us to prepare for the significant change that will come with investment of more than £400m in a new train fleet in the coming years (and) the letting of a new operating contract in 2019.”

A drop-in session about the skills centre is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 29, from 2.30pm until 6.30pm at South Shields Library.