Toon night-out

An old friend whom I'd not seen for around ten years phoned to say that he'd be visiting another acquaintance and perhaps we could get together for a meal and some drinks. As I live on the outskirts of Durham and they would be in Sunderland, it seemed natural to agree on a Toon (Newcastle) night out. We agreed to meet in the bar of Newcastle Station's hotel bar at 7.30. I had a couple of ways I might get there. I could catch the bus into Durham and then get the train north. But I had vague recollections of another bus, the X25, that wound its way through a number of villages - including mine - to Gateshead interchange. Once there, I could hop onto the metro (underground system) train, only a single stop away from Newcastle Central rail station. I checked the bus timetable, found that it should work, and set off at the right time equipped with a good book - the bus journey takes the best part of an hour. Once arrived at Gateshead, I went down the escalator to the underground train platform. I could hear a train approaching, but couldn't see any direction signs. I decided to take a chance and jump on it. Alas, instead of emerging into daylight on the metro bridge above the River Tyne, the train was going the wrong way, towards Gateshead stadium and Sunderland. No problem. I got off at Gateshead Stadium. Immediately as I left that train, I could see another approaching and going in the Newcastle direction. Good timing. I got on that train and sat down. Opposite were my two friends.