It's not exactly a detail you would notice at a glance, but once you know, you can't unsee it: the Tyne and Wear Metro tunnels are a decidedly different shape in Gateshead to how they look in Newcastle. Let's find out why.
Finally something on the Metro - I follow a great many transit/public transport RU-vidrs and it's like a massive blindspot for all them. The only bad thing about it, is that it goes to Sunderland! I don't think I've been on the Metro since the 90s when I used to visit my dad's family. I've been up the A1 more times than I can count!
Circular tunnels are also arches, one at the top and one at the bottom. The need to do stabilisation work before constructing the tunnel lining is the main reason.
Because of different ground conditions. It also helps explain why Gateshead station is more voluminous than the underground stations north of the Tyne.
It used to be possible to sit on the front seats and thousands of people must have done that (I've done that numerous times) and yet I don't know anyone who has noticed this (I certainly have not). Really interesting stuff. Unfortunately, with the proposed new trains, even looking out towards the front will become impossible.
Unfortunately (as I found when taking footage for this video), even when you're sitting at the front of the train the bright interior carriage lighting makes it very hard to see the tunnels ahead - I hadn't noticed until I happened to look past the platform at Gateshead.
