Getting Around Newcastle
Newcastle offers visitors multiple transport options to explore the city and surrounding region. Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive, known as Nexus, oversees the public transport network and can provide guidance on planning your journeys.
The Tyne and Wear Metro
The backbone of Newcastle's public transport is the Tyne and Wear Metro, a light rail network connecting Newcastle city centre with surrounding areas including North and South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland, and Newcastle Airport. The Metro is one of only two urban rail networks in the United Kingdom outside London.
The network consists of two lines that intersect in the city centre:
- The Green Line runs from South Hylton and Sunderland through Newcastle City Centre to Regent Centre and Newcastle Airport
- The Yellow Line runs from South Shields through Newcastle City Centre to Whitley Bay, Wallsend and St. James
During the day on weekdays and Saturdays, each line runs every 12 minutes. Evening and Sunday services operate every 15 minutes. Between Pelaw and South Gosforth—the central section where both lines overlap—this creates a combined service every six minutes during peak times.
National Rail Services
Newcastle Central Station is a major hub on the East Coast Main Line, offering long-distance rail connections across the country. Several operators run services from here:
- London North Eastern Railway (LNER) provides high-speed services to London King's Cross and Edinburgh Waverley, with trains departing multiple times per hour in both directions. Some services extend to Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Stirling.
- CrossCountry operates hourly services north to Edinburgh and Glasgow, and south towards the Midlands, South East and South Coast, with select daily services to Cardiff and Penzance.
- Northern runs regional services across the North East
- TransPennine Express and Lumo also serve the station
Additional rail stations in the area include Sunderland, MetroCentre, Dunston, Blaydon, Heworth, Manors, and Northumberland Park.
Buses
Tyne and Wear is served by several city and regional bus lines that complement the Metro and rail network, providing coverage across the metropolitan area and to destinations beyond.
Ferries
The Shields Ferry operates in Tyne and Wear, offering an alternative way to travel across the water.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis and ride-hailing services operate in Newcastle and can be useful for shorter journeys or when travelling outside peak public transport hours.
Walking
Newcastle city centre is compact and walkable, making it easy to explore on foot. The Metro connects the centre with outlying attractions, so you can walk locally and use transit for longer distances.
Getting from Newcastle Airport to the City
Newcastle Airport is directly connected to the city by the Tyne and Wear Metro's Green Line, with a dedicated airport station. This is the most straightforward option for reaching the city centre from the airport.