A NEW temporary Metro train depot is starting to take shape, with the first new tracks put in place.

The former landfill site in Howdon, North Tyneside, has had ballast, rails and sleepers put into place, along with drainage and site access works.

Nexus, the public body which owns and manages the Tyne and Wear Metro, is building the depot as a temporary maintenance facility for the some of the current Metro fleet while the main Metro depot in Gosforth in Newcastle is rebuilt.

The Howdon site will play a key role in the phased delivery of the new Metro fleet, which is scheduled to begin arriving at the end of 2021.

John Fenwick, director of finance and resources at Nexus said: “Our new depot site at Howdon is really starting to take shape.

“New tracks are going in and the work will start on the buildings which will be used while we transition to the new depot in Gosforth.”

Buckingham Group Contracting is building the temporary Metro depot on behalf of Nexus, and aims to have it ready for use by this summer.

Nexus has secured Government funding of £337m towards the projected £362m cost of designing and building a new train fleet and depot.

This and the ongoing maintenance of the fleet over 35 years makes the total budget about £500m.