The plan, by system operator Nexus, would see a rise of 2.3 million passengers.

Nexus is describing it as the most ambitious passenger plan in the Metro's history.

The plan - called Project 39 Million - involves an investment of �7m of CCTV cameras to help passengers feel safer.

Fare dodgers

They also promise to provide better information for customers and an improved timetable.

Nexus will also launch a new strategy to combat fare dodgers, who account for millions of unrecorded journeys each year.

In March the Metro operators said they believed that the Sunderland extension was starting to get more passengers on board.

The �100m Wearside extension failed to meet expected passenger numbers when it opened in 2002.

Twelve new stations were added on the nine-mile extension line, which runs from the existing Pelaw Station in South Tyneside.