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Mine shaft collapse halts Metro Mine shaft collapse halts Metro
(about 6 hours later)
Major disruption has been caused to the Tyne and Wear Metro system after an old mine shaft collapsed near a station.Major disruption has been caused to the Tyne and Wear Metro system after an old mine shaft collapsed near a station.
The hole appeared close to the track at Northumberland Park station, in North Tyneside, on Wednesday evening. A train driver spotted the hole near the track at Northumberland Park, North Tyneside, on Wednesday evening.
Trains have been suspended in both directions between Benton and Shiremoor as engineers work to secure the site. All services have been suspended on a 2.5 mile (4km) stretch of track between Benton and Shiremoor.
The suspension is expected to be in place until Friday and replacement bus services are in operation between Four Lane Ends and Shiremoor.The suspension is expected to be in place until Friday and replacement bus services are in operation between Four Lane Ends and Shiremoor.
A Nexus spokesman said: "Structural engineers were on site as soon as we became aware of the problem. Engineers are trying to establish the extent of the damage, according to Tyne and Wear Metro operator Nexus.
"It looks as though this situation will almost certainly last into Friday." Speaking on Thursday morning, spokesman Huw Lewis said: "We know it's about six-feet wide and it's right beside the Metro line. At the moment, we don't know how deep it goes or how far it runs from the opening.
"Engineers brought in from the Midlands overnight are exploring, so that so we can find out what's needed to put things right."
Mick Carbro, director of Metro, added: "I want to apologise to passengers for the disruption they are suffering, but we have to close this stretch of line while we investigate the subsidence and make the track completely safe.
"My staff are concentrating on two things - making sure we get Metro back to normal as soon as possible, and providing the best possible alternative travel in the meantime."