Extra Metro and bus services will be running for Olympic football matches at St James' Park
by Phil Roscoe
Additional Tyne and Wear Metro and bus services will be operating on the day's that St James' Park is staging Olympic football matches, Newcastle City Council has announced.
The council and Metro operator Nexus has organised the extra transport links after thousands of park-and-ride car park spaces were created throughout the Newcastle and Gateshead area. The services are expected to take visitors to the stadium in around 20 minutes or less.
More than 2,000 free spaces will be available near to various Metro stations including Callerton, Kingston Park, and Four Lane Ends. Trains will be running every six to 12 minutes throughout the day until Midnight.
Meanwhile two park-and-ride bus services will be running from the Metrocentre coach park in Gateshead and Great Park, north of Newcastle to St James' Park.
Director of Customer Services for Nexus, Tobyn Hughes, said:
– Tobyn Hughes, Director of Customer Services for Nexus"There will be extra Metro and bus services running to the centre of Newcastle when the games are on. Public transport is the easiest option, with some road closures in the city centre and the hassle of trying to find somewhere to park."
In total, nine men's and women's Olympic football matches will be played at St James' Park from July 26 to August 4.
Olympic football matches at St James' Park
Men
Mexico v Korea Republic - July 26, KO 2:30pm
Gabon v Switzerland - July 26, KO 5:15pm
Japan v Morocco - July 29, KO 5pm
Spain v Honduras - July 29, KO 7:45pm
Brazil v New Zealand - August 1, KO 2:30pm
Quarter-final - August 4, KO 5pm
Women
Canada v Sweden - July 31, KO 2:30pm
France v Colombia - July 31, KO 5:15pm
Quarter-final - August 3, KO 2:30pm
Alnwick athlete in 1500m final
