Alex Carr, a long-serving Metro worker, has been repairing ticket machines on the network for over 40 years.

He is now set to retire after being in charge of 225 ticket machines across 60 stations on the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Alex originally started as an apprentice electrician in 1985 after he moved from the Northern Bus company

At age 60, Alex manages the Nexus Automatic Fare Collection team, where he has managed the analogue ticket machines and aided with the transition to the new digital machines and ticket gates.

He also worked to keep the machines running during the COVID-19 pandemic and worked tirelessly to ensure the machines would accept the new polymer banknotes when they were introduced.

Metro stated that Alex has been phenomenal in his role and has been a key part of the system’s success.

Alex ends his 44-year career in public transport on the 1st December

“I’m proud to have looked after these ticket machines over so many years. I’ve been a small but important cog in the wheel to ensure that the Metro keeps running.

“I know these ticket machines so well, they’re like my children. I’ve become fond of them. I know all their little quirks.

“Forty years is a long time to focus just on ticket machines, but I’ve loved it. You know that you’re playing such an important role, not only safeguarding vital ticket revenue but ensuring customers aren’t inconvenienced. Without ticket machines you don’t really have a railway.”

“It’s an emotional farewell. I’ve been part of the story of Metro, which has been great for the north east and has really revolutionised local public transport when it opened.

“When I started, we had old French-made ticket machines, which were electro-mechanical and only accepted coins. We used to look after all of the change machines too, which was also vital back then as the ticket machines didn’t accept cards or notes. After the new generation of machines came in it became much more software based, so you often fix them with a laptop instead of with a screwdriver.

“We have seen a good few challenges over the years, not least working through lockdown out on the Metro system, and making sure that we had all the ticket machines ready for the new bank notes with King Charles on.

“I’ve got a great team here who work ever so hard. I’ll miss them and I’ll miss the job, but it’s time to let someone else have a go.”

Alex Carr