Tyne and Wear’s Metro service is to feature in a new four-part ITV series following the staff, passengers and communities whose lives revolve around the UK’s second largest light railway system.
Serving Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland, the Metro was opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 1980 and carries 36 million passengers per year.
Made by Leeds based producer Wise Owl Films, Metropolis marks the first time in-depth access has been granted in the Metro’s near 40 year history.
Mark Robinson, Creative Director of Wise Owl Films, said: “This is the first time that a documentary series has been made on the Tyne and Wear Metro – and we feel privileged and excited to be making it.
“The Metro is an institution and a vital part of everyday life in the North East of England. On every train, on every journey and on every platform there are human stories for us to tell.”
Tobyn Hughes, Managing Director of Nexus which operates the Metro, said: “The Metro is owned by the people who live in the North East, and the people who run it are from the local community – it is a truly local railway.
“It is part of the unique fabric of the North East that sets it apart from the rest of the country: friendly, hardworking, and with a unique cultural identity.
“Our story is our passengers, so we are very much looking forward to sharing these through this TV documentary series.”
Tom Giles, ITV Controller of Current Affairs, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Wise Owl on a series steeped in the culture and people of the North-East – the first time this level of access has been given to a unique network, one of the region’s best-loved feats of modern engineering”