Tyne and Wear Metro
Tyne and Wear Metro
Whilst there are the issues with track, electricity supply problems, failed trains and the heat, it wasn't that long ago that the metro was 'off' on a regular basis due to cable thefts etc.
The comment about the new trains is interesting - are the failed trains the ones that have been refurbished or are they the trains still to be worked on?
Is it coincidence that this has all happened since the part privatisation of the system?
Either way, to have so many problems in such a short space of time, is a disaster. It also goes to show how restricted and fragmented our public transport network is, however much it is lauded.
Would Glasgow or London come to a standstill due to a failed train or problems with electricity supply? It probably wouldn't, due to the various alternatives passengers have in those cities - something we don't have.
I'm trying (honestly) to not get political about this - but by having the limited bus service which runs alongside the metro, Nexus are so reliant on having to get the 900 up and running.
Would the issues faced by passengers or the stories we have heard about alternative sources of transport be as bad if we had QCS?
In London, if a section of the Picaddilly line goes down, whilst there being the inevitable disruption and upset, an alternative is always available in a very short space of time.
Bus drivers are made aware more or less straight away, with underground bosses not needing to follow a procedure which involves ringing around the various operators, trying to communicate with managers, who then need to relay to it to the depots, who then need to relay it to the drivers - whilst at the same time trying to arrange a 900 to cover the affected area.
