THE RMT rail union says the Tyne and Wear Metro should be taken into public ownership and that its operator German firm Deutsche Bahn (DB) should not be allowed to run the Northern Rail franchise.

Nick Forbes, the leader of Newcastle City Council, said the firm would be closely monitored after repeated poor performance and suggested it could be stripped early of its contract.

Now the RMT says that DB’s failures on the Metro should make it inappropriate to run the Northern Rail franchise.

DB’s subsidiary Arriva is due to take over the route from April after it was awarded the franchise by the Government last year.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “Just a matter of weeks after Deutsche Bahn were awarded the Northern Rail franchise here we have a senior regional politician demanding that they be kicked off the Metro due to poor performance.

“Both services should be placed in public hands, run as public services in the public interest instead of being milked for profits to subsidise transport across Germany.”

Sharon Kelly, managing director at DB Regio Tyne and Wear, said: “Metro is the fastest growing light rail operator outside London, with passenger numbers on Metro topping 40 million in 2015 – up 13 per cent over the last two years and at their highest since 2011.

“We remain committed to delivering the contract, which is due to end on 31st March, 2017, and offering the best possible service to our customers until the contract comes to an end.”