North East transport body to procure legal advisors for £430m Metro Go signalling project

The contract will be for an initial seven years, with an option to extend for up to a further three years.

The work will involve, amongst other associated workstreams, a project to plan, procure, design, construct, commission and safely operate a new signalling system for the Tyne and Wear Metro Network.

Nexus said: “Subject to approval of the Outline Business Case (OBC) by Government in due course in respect of funding for Metro Go, the legal retainer is expected to encompass the advice required to prepare the content of the OBC and then implement the agreed strategies within it during the procurement and delivery phases. The exact scope of work during the contract term will be subject to the timely progress of the project.

“The legal advisors will be required to have strong levels of experience across the rail sector (and/or the transport sector more generally) and ideally have recent experience of advising on signalling renewal and/or other major infrastructure technology renewal projects.”

Nexus said Metro Go is the project name for one of its biggest projects to date in terms of size and scale.

It added that whilst it has already invested in a new rolling-stock fleet of class 555 units, to ensure that the Metro units can operate efficiently, it is essential that a new signalling system is designed and implemented across the Metro Network.

Nexus said: “The signalling system is an essential and safety critical component of the Metro Network that must align and interface with all trains and other existing infrastructure on the Metro Network. Understanding these interfaces will be critical to ensuring the success of Metro Go and of ensuring that impacts on operational service are minimised during delivery phases.

“Nexus requires legal advisors who understand these interfaces and who will pre-emptively assist in managing the associated legal/commercial risks throughout the Metro Go project.”

It added that it expects to see a senior technology lawyer included as part of the proposed delivery team as well as a willingness by its appointed advisors to attend key meetings in person (i.e. in Newcastle and other locations across Tyne and Wear) throughout the Metro Go project.

“The legal advisors will, as part of a cross-disciplinary project team, interface directly with Nexus' internal legal team representatives and other third-party consultant advisors, as required.”

The current project estimate for Metro Go is around £430m with the introduction of the new signalling system expected to be operational from 2030.

The legal advice contract is expected to run from 4 March 2026 to 3 March 2033, with a possible extension to 3 March 2036.

The estimated publication date of the tender notice is 24 November 2025.