Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority has been briefed on the latest round of negotiations to determine the preferred bidder for the future operation of the Tyne and Wear Metro system.  The Authority has noted the outcome of the Revise and Confirm stage of the process and notes that the Tyne and Wear Leadership Group has also been briefed.

Councillor David Wood, chair of the Integrated Transport Authority, said that he is confident that the process has been fair and transparent and that finalising the concession will meet the Government’s condition for releasing massive investment in the system whilst delivering significant improvements for Metro passengers on a day-to-day basis.  The ITA notes that as a result Nexus will be able to deliver its four objectives for the Metro Reinvigoration project, these being:-

*       maintaining local ownership and control of Metro;
*       meeting the conditions to secure more than £300 million capital funding to modernise Metro plus a long-term operating subsidy;
*       achieving significant improvements in service for passengers;
*       through investment creating scores of new jobs in the supply chain and in Metro operations, while protecting the existing jobs, pensions and conditions of people who work in Metro now and during the life of the concession.