Regeneration of areas alongside the 1500 V DC Tyne and Wear Metro system was boosted in 2002 by the new 18.5km Sunderland Direct extension for which Antagrade provided key system integration testing and commissioning services.

Prior to installation of the new substations Antagrade carried out full factory tests on all equipment to ensure that it was fully functional and design compliant. Components tested included HV and DC switchgear, AC & DC protection systems, transformers, rectifiers, battery chargers and the inter-tripping systems. This approach successfully minimised post-installation testing and significantly reduced overall commissioning time.

Antagrade developed the commissioning and energisation sequences for the new substations, and overhead lines and the proving strategies before coordinating the essential planning for the integration of the extension with the existing operational Metro system. This work included the provision of engineering skills for carrying out the section proving tests of all the new and modified overhead line, followed by close up and remote short-circuit testing on all new substations with full data monitoring, collection and verification.

As part of the overall package Antagrade also installed the additional traction negative bonding on the new extension.