The Tyne and Wear Public Transport Users Group has welcomed the proposal by Nexus to take direct control of the Metro.
The current contract with DB Regio comes to an end next year, which would end the split between a private company operating the trains and the public body, Nexus.
Vicki Gilbert, Chair of Tyne and Wear Public Transport Users Group, said: “We are pleased that the problems especially delays, causing frustration, anger and stress, and making passengers late for work, appointments and commitments with family and friends, are at last being taken in hand by Nexus and trust our elected representatives will agree this plan.
“We congratulate Nexus, who are the executive of the Tyne and Wear Councils, for taking the decision to end the DB Regio contract in 2017 instead of renewing it for 2 years as they might have done.
“Nexus propose to take the Metro back in house – into full public ownership and operation on all our behalf.
“This hopefully will return the Metro back to the wonderful, much-admired light rail system that was so reliable under Nexus management in the past.
“Passengers are demanding urgent investment by government in the Metro to replace the outdated metro carriages.
“The trains are so old they break down frequently and this is now a major cause of delays. We need new trains as soon as possible.
“We will press Nexus to bring back cheaper early evening fares, family tickets and more staff to monitor anti social behaviour, with the savings that will be made from the in house operation and by the lack of need to create profit to service the private DB contract.”
The passenger group have said that the North East Combined Authority “must vote to approve the proposal for the Tyne and Wear Metro to be publicly run from 2017.”