A KEY junction on the Tyne and Wear Metro will be replaced this weekend, causing a 54-hour line closure.

Nexus, which owns and manages the Metro, will replace a set of points in the tunnel between the St James and Monument stations in Newcastle.

As a result, there will be no Metro services between St James and Walkergate this weekend. A replacement bus service, number 900, will run instead.

There will also be maintenance work carried out on Byker viaduct.

The works are part of an 11-year, £350m modernisation programme that began in 2010 and is currently at the half-way stage, with more than £200m having been invested.

Raymond Johnstone, Nexus’ director of rail and infrastructure, said: “We’ve packed as much work in as possible this weekend while the line is closed between Walkergate and St James.

“This is a very important track junction and has to be replaced now.

“Passengers won’t see any of this work happening but I can assure them that it’s vital to ensure we have new tracks for the benefit of Metro’s long-term future.”