(01 Nov 2014, 11:07 pm)aureolin wrote There have been issues with points at Sunderland since the start of the Season.

(05 Nov 2014, 2:32 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Yet another Petition to extend the T&W Metro to Washington using the old Leamside Line.

http://www.sharonhodgson.org/washington_metro_petition?recruiter_id=21925

(05 Nov 2014, 2:44 pm)Michael wrote Signed it

(05 Nov 2014, 3:44 pm)aureolin wrote Signature goal is less than 500? The last one had over 1500, and that didn't make much difference.

Rather than the constant fannying around with petitions, does someone in Sharon's constituency fancy writing to her? Ask her for commitment from the shadow transport secretary, that should Labour enter government in 2015, they will guarantee this extension's funding?

(05 Nov 2014, 6:29 pm)Andreos1 wrote As far as I am aware (or can deduce) - there is only Malarkey and Washingtonian who live in her patch.

Unless you pretend you are back there?

(05 Nov 2014, 6:47 pm)aureolin wrote Yup that's what I mean. No good me writing to her, as she doesn't have to reply. If Adam or Ian were willing to write to her, I'd be more than happy to write the actual letter for them to send.

(05 Nov 2014, 7:24 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote I'll do it for you aureolin although I am against the idea of the Metro coming to Washington.

(05 Nov 2014, 7:26 pm)aureolin wrote I'll PM you.

(05 Nov 2014, 7:48 pm)Dan wrote The one which is 'due' is in fact currently terminating at Park Lane, according to the other boards at Heworth etc...

The previous South Shields one had departed just before I took the photo.

Usual fun and games tonight then! This low rail adhesion doesn't seem to be an issue, either... The trains I have been on today have managed the Brockley Whins/Fellgate section fine.

(05 Nov 2014, 8:03 pm)Tom wrote What's the problem today then?
Some trains were terminating at South Gosforth/Longbenton on Saturday too for no apparent reason. 

(05 Nov 2014, 7:48 pm)Dan wrote The one which is 'due' is in fact currently terminating at Park Lane, according to the other boards at Heworth etc...

The previous South Shields one had departed just before I took the photo.

Usual fun and games tonight then! This low rail adhesion doesn't seem to be an issue, either... The trains I have been on today have managed the Brockley Whins/Fellgate section fine.

(05 Nov 2014, 11:21 pm)Bus_User wrote Trains to South Hylton were disrupted this afternoon because of  an ambulance attending at Fellgate, I must of got caught in the back log of trains as it was quite a slow progression between Pelaw and East Boldon before things picked up somewhat. 

Was on the system this evening also and there did seem a lack of peak trains, staff shortage or fleet shortage or another reason I am not sure. 

(08 Nov 2014, 9:47 am)citaro5284 wrote Problems on Metro this morning in the Heworth area due to a train fire.  GNE are now accepting Metro Tickets on ALL services operating close to ALL Metro Stations throughout the day until further notice.

(08 Nov 2014, 10:12 am)Dan wrote Surely not another train up in flames!

(08 Nov 2014, 10:12 am)Dan wrote Surely not another train up in flames!

(08 Nov 2014, 9:47 pm)aureolin wrote Last year or so of 'Metro Charter' posters attached. Metro, for whatever reason, don't seem to publish these on the website any more.

(09 Nov 2014, 12:57 am)Bus_User wrote You should work in the media, talk about exaggeration! Going by the reports, if this train was on fire then i am doubtful passengers would remain on the train for 20 mins. 

Seems similar to the last incident where smoke was reported to enter the interior but does not fully mean there was a fire... could be a brake overheating issue or something like that. Either way, can't cover the cracks that its another reliability issue though.  

(09 Nov 2014, 10:43 am)Dan wrote I was going by the only 'report' I read: the one citaro5284 copied and pasted to this forum. If customers are being 'choked by smoke' it sounds quite serious indeed, and if this is a recurring issue (which seems to be the case), then I'd suggest that this reiterates the doubts I had about refurbishing old stock again opposed to buying new trains.  I wasn't aware that passengers remained on the train in question for 20 minutes as I was only going by the 'report' I read on this forum - how could exaggeration be what I had in mind, if this is the case?

Regardless of what the specific issue may be, smoke is considered to be a fire in the eyes of a normal customer. If smoke bellows into the interior of a train, that is going to be an unforgettable life experience. A train I was on in the summer of 2013 came to an emergency stop in one of the tunnels at Gateshead and someone thought it would be a good idea to smoke weed whilst we waited; as if the journey wasn't bad enough to start with due to being overcrowded with many people heading to the Evolution festival on Newcastle Quayside, the lack of 'fresh air' in the train once it had been lighted made things ten times worse. Looking back, I don't think I was in any danger at all, though at the time I was very scared indeed and, like many others, I was stood on chairs trying to get air through the windows.

There are reliability issues, and there are issues which make people lose faith in the system. The same would apply to buses catching fire too, though thankfully recent examples haven't been major and everyone has been evacuated at first signs of a light on the dash suggesting something was wrong, and nobody has had to endure being 'choked by smoke' or anything similar...

(09 Nov 2014, 11:52 am)Bus_User wrote Your words was "surely not another train up in flames" which clearly suggests a serious fire on the train where infact if there was any fire it would be underneath the train and any smoke will more than likely to be a white smoke than any thick black smoke and the photo in the EC would seemingly suggest that. And no person would stay on the train if the train was up in flames and there was thick black smoke heading into the passenger saloon. Maybe you should of read more than just a single report? I also have to question why the passengers were all trying to get fresh air from open windows and heading down the train to avoid the smoke instead of using the Emergency exits, maybe they were instructed from the driver not to do so, I doubt we will never know. 

Not doubting this is a serious incident and the sight of smoke will be a scary experience even if there was no actual fire but I just think your choice of words is quite misleading really.

As for new trains then it was always the plan to refurbish the trains again as opposed to buying new stock but only Nexus have got themselves to blame. If they were more interesting in buying new stock instead of blabbering on about the now infamous Project Orpheus(which is to create street tram running along with the metro) then we may of had new trains by now. As it is though, new trains seems a long way off and a bit of a fantasy. You also have to bear in mind, unlike buses, years of planning has to take place before new stock even get built.