Plaque honours Tyne and Wear Metro pioneer

2 hours ago

News image — Prof Ridley's daughter, wife and three grandchildren joined Tobyn Hughes director of transport at the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority [left] and former director general of Nexus Mike Parker at the unveiling

Nexus [From left to right] Toby Hughes with short dark hear, wearing spectacles, a dark suit, light shirt and tie; a middle-aged woman with fair hair, wearing a light grey coat and colourful scarf; an elderly woman with grey hair wearing a dark jacket and a blue and white scarf; a young woman with dark hair wearing a pink and red striped jumper under a grey and white checked coat; a young man with dark hair, wearing a dark suit jacket; a young woman with long brown hair, wearing a grey jacket; and an elderly man with grey hair and spectacles, wearing a grey checked coat, white shirt and red tie. The group is split on either side of a pillar, with a silver plaque underneath the wording "Nexus" above a floral display. — Prof Ridley's daughter, wife and three grandchildren joined Tobyn Hughes director of transport at the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority [left] and former director general of Nexus Mike Parker at the unveiling

A plaque has been unveiled to commemorate a pioneer who played a pivotal role in turning the Tyne and Wear Metro from an idea into a reality.

Professor Tony Ridley, who died in March at the age of 92, was director general of the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive, now known as Nexus, from 1968 to 1975, and oversaw the planning process, the award of funding, and the first year of construction work.

Nexus said without his leadership, skill and determination the light rail system may never have come to fruition.

Members of his family joined transport officials at an unveiling ceremony at Central Metro Station on Friday.

Ridley, who was originally from Sunderland, went on to become the first managing director of the Hong Kong Metro system, and then manage the London Underground.

He later became President of the Institution of Civil Engineers and an Emeritus Professor at Imperial College London.

'Decaying rail lines'

Cathy Massarella, managing director of Nexus, said: "He paved the way for a system that revolutionised local public transport in North East England.

"Tony and his team came up with the idea of taking decaying rail lines and linking them using city centre tunnels and a bridge over the River Tyne.

"His work as director general cannot be overstated.

"He famously quipped that we'd 'never get away with building a Metro system,' but thanks to his skill and determination that is exactly what did happen."