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Tyne and Wear Metro

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

There must be issues with driver shortages too Wink

Today, the board at Monument looked like this (I did take a photo but it won't let me upload it from my phone):
1. South Gosforth 2m
2. The Coast 15m
3. The Coast 18m
4. Airport 20m

And on the other side:
1. South Hylton 9m
2. Sout Hlyton 23m
3. South Shields 25m
4. South Hylton 42m

The first time I've seen trains terminate at South Gosforth, and that timetable has totally gone to pot.
Re: RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
(05 Nov 2014, 2:44 pm)Michael wrote Signed it
I still understand what the fascination is with having the Metro coming to Washington.

It'll obviously have a Severe affect on Local Bus Services in the Area which can only be a bad thing.
RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
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?
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RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
(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?

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?
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
(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?

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.
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RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
(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.

I'll do it for you aureolin although I am against the idea of the Metro coming to Washington.
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RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
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.
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RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
(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.

What's the problem today then?
Some trains were terminating at South Gosforth/Longbenton on Saturday too for no apparent reason. 
RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
(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. 

Fireworks on the track...... 
Ooo Friend, Bus Friend.
RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
(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.

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. 
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Re: RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
(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. 
Was plenty of staff on my train which appeared to be delayed by 21 minutes - although they seemed pretty useless! A lot of older people were complaining to these members of staff about missing trains, and the members of staff seemed clueless as to why there were delays. Oh yes, and we had some cleaners on the train too!

Was good to see staff on the Gateshead ticketing gates at about 18:00, though they buggered off by whenever I posted the message earlier.
RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
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.
RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
How the hell can one failed train cause that amount of disruption?
Surely it can't have blocked the line all of the way from Jarrow to Monument.
RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
(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.

Loved this woman's comment on facebook and not a great deal on their Twitter feed either.  GNE telling people they are accepting Metro tickets across the Metro network, and Metro still only saying Metro tickets accepted on GNE 27 only.....

"After being jolted by an emergency stop, choked by smoke, emergency evacuation, walked along the track climbed a slippery hill and climbed over a fence and now having to travel on a bus. We had better get more than a single fare in compensation."
RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
@Tom

Disruption across the entire network is more than possible if a train is on fire.

The trains at points beyond Heworth (Pelaw - Sunderland or Pelaw - Shields), possibly can't get back into Heworth, Gateshead etc).
Electricity may be switched off, depending on the nature of the fire - it could have caused issues with signalling etc.

As well as that, you have trains on the other side of the river heading towards Heworth, need to find somewhere to terminate and get turned around, so they can continue their journeys back to Airport or St James.
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
Last year or so of 'Metro Charter' posters attached. Metro, for whatever reason, don't seem to publish these on the website any more.
.pdf Metro Charter poster P1 2014 web.pdf
.pdf Metro Charter poster P2 2014 web.pdf
.pdf Metro Charter poster P3 2014 web.pdf
.pdf Metro Charter poster P4 2014 web.pdf
.pdf Metro Charter poster P5 2014 web.pdf
.pdf Metro Charter poster P6 2014 web.pdf
.pdf Metro Charter poster P7 2014web.pdf
.pdf Metro Charter poster P9 2013 Web.pdf
.pdf Metro Charter poster P10 2013 web.pdf
.pdf Metro Charter poster P11 2013 Web.pdf
.pdf Metro Charter poster P12 2014 web.pdf
.pdf Metro Charter poster P13 2014 web.pdf
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Re: RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
(08 Nov 2014, 10:12 am)Dan wrote Surely not another train up in flames!
2nd recently I think, and one back in Aug? RAIB investigation still ongoing for Aug, so I wonder if they tie the latest in with it.
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RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
(08 Nov 2014, 10:12 am)Dan wrote Surely not another train up in flames!

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.  
RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
First one of the day

Tyne and Wear Metro
17 mins ·
There are minor delays to trains running between Felling and Airport and The Coast due to a failed train. Please leave extra time for your journey.

Edit: Someone has kindly gave people a list of failures this week...

Metro excuses for this week!!!


Sunday - failed train 
Monday - leaves on the track
Tuesday - leaves on the track 
Wednesday - short of drivers
Thursday - points failed 
Friday- failed train 
Saturday - failed train...
Ooo Friend, Bus Friend.
RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
(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.

I wonder why............ Tongue 
Ooo Friend, Bus Friend.
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RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
(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.  

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...
RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
(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...

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. 
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RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
(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. 

My post was written soon after the incident occurred and the message which citaro5284 copied and pasted sounded quite serious. This was the only source of information on the public domain about the incident at the time, so I was under the impression that the incident was serious. If I have an interest in something and information is actually on the public domain, I will read it... Even then, information is skewed by the media and mightn't be 100% accurate.

Clearly, as with similar things in the past, you're trying to defend the Tyne & Wear Metro system (I'll avoid saying either Nexus or DB - wouldn't like to get it wrong! Wink) but I think you've jumped the gun slightly and might have seen the opportunity to have a bit of a debate with me without actually looking at the whole picture. As someone with an interest in the Tyne & Wear Metro system and potentially someone with access to 'inside information', it may be worth trying to post in a manner which is more informative rather than seemingly argumentative, with the intention of clearing up any 'misleading' posts in the process? Smile 

There's only so much money you can spend on refurbishing buses and trains before it becomes a wasted effort, with reliability issues still being prevalent. I rarely read Tyne & Wear Metro's Social Media pages, though I have in the past seen a comment suggesting that they'd prefer for trains to turn up instead of trains being refurbished. Subject to opinion, of course, but it does show that some customers are looking at the refurbishment of trains negatively as their presence in the active fleet could mean that their train actually turns up. If you read the Go North East section of the forum, you'll know I'm not one to assume missing trains are due to mechanical faults, though it seems (judging by Michael's post above), that 'failed trains' are the reason for delays and long waits at cold Metro stations which are mechanical faults.
I'd suggest that each and every 'failed train' won't be recorded on Tyne & Wear Metro's Social Media pages either as they're often quite slow with getting information on there in the first place, and what does appear can be inaccurate (see citaro5284's post above regarding the differences in posts between GNE and T&WM), meaning that there could be more delays than what we actually discuss on this forum.
The current system needs to work before another system is brought in to work alongside it - it seems somewhat silly in my eyes to bring in more responsibility when reliability is as poor* as it is at present.

*see this post for Nexus Annual Reports & Accounts for last three years, showing a decrease in punctuality for the past three years, which I consider to be quite poor.
RE: Tyne and Wear Metro
No one can deny the system is becoming unreliable and I'm not defending the Metro, all i'm pointing out is that I just thought your post was a bit OTT but you have your reasons for that. This just shows why Metro was desprate for this money as the system is sadly showing its age. 
There is really no difference between refurbished and unrefurbished trains regarding anything mechanical as nothing below the train is being touched so as we saw just a couple of weeks ago, a similar incident has happened to a unrefurbished unit.