Tyne Yard


Tyne Yard is a railway yard in Gateshead, England, on the East Coast Main Line, operated by DB Cargo UK. The yard is the major freight yard of the region, with the majority of rail freight movements in Tyne and Wear from around the UK passing through the yard.
The yard is about south of Newcastle upon Tyne, between Team Valley and the town of Birtley. It is visible from trains passing on the adjacent East Coast Main Line, with the yard located on the western side of the line. As of 2015, it is a major hub for the Network Rail High Output renewals programme. At least one High Output train is based here at any time. As of Oct 2016, there is a High Output Ballast Cleaner and Track Replacement System serviced and maintained in the down primaries.
The Yard has nine staging sidings, seven of which are under overhead lines, engineering sidings, carriage sidings, three departure roads, and the primaries which house the Network Rail centre and virtual quarry / spoil heap. The old signal box was demolished in 2015, the radio mast some time before this.
There is a Freightliner Train Crew Depot here which is for the signing on of Freightliner train crew based in Tyne Yard.
The yard also acts as a servicing point for railtours visiting the region, and the Smithy Lane road bridge over the northern end of the Yard is a popular location for railway photography.
The Angel of the North is visible from the yard and main line on the high ground to the East.
From 2019, the yard was used as a storage location for Class 800/801 Azumas of LNER and also of Class 802 Paragons of Hull Trains.