Railway bridge at Newcastle, 1993.

Queen Elizabeth II railway bridge over the Tyne at Newcastle, 1993. This bridge was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1981. It is used to carry Metro trains over the river. The Newcastle Metro service began in 1980, to relieve congestion in the centre of the city. The network now stretches to North and South Shields, Jarrow and Gateshead. More recent tram and light railway systems, like the Tyne and Wear Metro incorporate street operation with running on former suburban railway lines.