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However, the Passenger Transport Authority, which itself had put the case to keep Metro as an integrated railway, now intends to invite private-sector bids to operate passenger services and maintain infrastructure.
Tyne and Wear Metro was the best performing rail operator in the UK last year, according to Office of Rail Regulation figures, running 95.57 per cent of trains on time in 2007/08, ahead of all privately operated franchises.
RMT is campaigning for the Metro to remain in public hands rather than follow the disastrous example of privatisation that has afflicted the national rail service and other local networks.
