(31 Mar 2015, 7:08 am)Tom wrote Update: Due to a problem with the Overhead Power Supply on Network Rail, Metro will be running a reduced service between Pelaw and South Hylton of approx 30 minutes until futher notice.

Pretty sure all the kit is owned and operated centrally by Network Rail. Wonder if they pay compensation to Nexus/DB for the problems it causes?
Signalling, points and electricity supply issues seem to be happening quite often recently.

I always thought that Nexus Rail owned the OHLE? It's at a different amount of electricity, 1,500 watts or something, so it's unsuitable for electric heavy rail trains to uses the line under their own power.

(31 Mar 2015, 7:40 am)Tommy_1581 wrote I always thought that Nexus Rail owned the OHLE? It's at a different amount of electricity, 1,500 watts or something, so it's unsuitable for electric heavy rail trains to uses the line under their own power.

Network Rail (what was Railtrack), built and oversee everything south of Pelaw. Nexus pay a lease/operating fees, which cover the cost of the construction and adaptations.
The Tyneside control centre oversee signalling (before it moves to York) and I am pretty sure, that includes ensuring the power supply is in working order.
How it all works (there will be some overlap), I have no idea.

You are right, the supply is at different levels, so heavy rail can't use the OHLE.

(31 Mar 2015, 7:50 am)Andreos1 wrote Network Rail (what was Railtrack), built and oversee everything south of Pelaw. Nexus pay a lease/operating fees, which cover the cost of the construction and adaptations.
The Tyneside control centre oversee signalling (before it moves to York) and I am pretty sure, that includes ensuring the power supply is in working order.
How it all works (there will be some overlap), I have no idea.

You are right, the supply is at different levels, so heavy rail can't use the OHLE.

Is Metro OHLE 1.5kv compared to 25kv for mainline trains?

(31 Mar 2015, 7:53 am)MrFozz wrote Is Metro OHLE 1.5kv compared to 25kv for mainline trains?

Not sure on the exact figures/voltages, but they're definitely different.

Found a link re ownership/operation of the line south of Pelaw.
It is a few years old, so there may have been some changes/revisions over the years.
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/singl...rland.html

(31 Mar 2015, 7:58 am)Andreos1 wrote Not sure on the exact figures/voltages, but they're definitely different.

Found a link re ownership/operation of the line south of Pelaw.
It is a few years old, so there may have been some changes/revisions over the years.
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/singl...rland.html

It's an interesting read, that.

(31 Mar 2015, 7:58 am)Andreos1 wrote Not sure on the exact figures/voltages, but they're definitely different.

Found a link re ownership/operation of the line south of Pelaw.
It is a few years old, so there may have been some changes/revisions over the years.
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/singl...rland.html

Good read that, thanks for sharing.

(31 Mar 2015, 7:35 am)Andreos1 wrote Pretty sure all the kit is owned and operated centrally by Network Rail. Wonder if they pay compensation to Nexus/DB for the problems it causes?
Signalling, points and electricity supply issues seem to be happening quite often recently.

It's surely got to have an associated SLA. I'd expect a handful to be honest. Usually works out that they gain service credits (or cash bonus payments) for over performance, and on the other hand lose service credits if they're failing.

I have zero confidence that they're reporting on it effectively though. When I asked the question, they couldn't even provide me with a comprehensive list of service affecting faults, as they "don't hold that info".

(31 Mar 2015, 8:23 am)Tommy_1581 wrote It's an interesting read, that.

(31 Mar 2015, 8:27 am)Michael wrote Good read that, thanks for sharing.

Interesting to see the section between South Hylton and Sunderland is leased to Network Rail.
If the link to the Leamside Line is made and the Leamside Line is re-opened, it could be stock, other than metro stock operating it.

(31 Mar 2015, 8:52 am)aureolin wrote It's surely got to have an associated SLA. I'd expect a handful to be honest. Usually works out that they gain service credits (or cash bonus payments) for over performance, and on the other hand lose service credits if they're failing.

I have zero confidence that they're reporting on it effectively though. When I asked the question, they couldn't even provide me with a comprehensive list of service affecting faults, as they "don't hold that info".

Seems strange it isn't held, particularly if £40m of public funding needs repaying. I would have thought the audit office would have been all over that.

(31 Mar 2015, 9:21 am)Andreos1 wrote Interesting to see the section between South Hylton and Sunderland is leased to Network Rail.
If the link to the Leamside Line is made and the Leamside Line is re-opened, it could be stock, other than metro stock operating it.


Seems strange it isn't held, particularly if £40m of public funding needs repaying. I would have thought the audit office would have been all over that.

Tried to gain it under FOI, and they were having none of it. It'd probably take a complaint to the Information Commissioner to extract it. I can't imagine them not having the information, given the contract is performance based.

Sunderland - South Hylton is still off due to overhead line issues. Was an announcement on 4015 when it reached Pelaw, saying that the train will be terminating at Sunderland.

Not sure if there's a replacement bus service or not, as I haven't checked their Social Media pages.

There are also issues from East Boldon onwards. Passengers were advised to get off the the Metro due 12 minutes prior and were told they could get a bus, but no specific information was given to suggest which bus to get, according to many disgruntled customers.

(31 Mar 2015, 2:47 pm)Dan wrote Sunderland - South Hylton is still off due to overhead line issues. Was an announcement on 4015 when it reached Pelaw, saying that the train will be terminating at Sunderland.

Not sure if there's a replacement bus service or not, as I haven't checked their Social Media pages.

There are also issues from East Boldon onwards. Passengers were advised to get off the the Metro due 12 minutes prior and were told they could get a bus, but no specific information was given to suggest which bus to get, according to many disgruntled customers.

There was a Metro Replacement bus between Sunderland and South Hylton earlier, which has since been extended to East Boldon. Looks like I was lucky today by managing to actually get to/from the Stadium of Light! 

Lmao... it gets better:

There are minor delays to trains running between Pelaw and Airport due to a problem with the power supply. Please leave extra time for your journey.


Least service has resumed between Sunderland and South Hylton 


Service has now resumed and trains are running between Sunderland and South Hylton in both directions but are subject to delays of up to 30 mins. This was due to a problem with the power supply. Please leave extra time for your journey.

(31 Mar 2015, 4:38 pm)Metro Daily Delays: Catch a bus it\ll be quicker wrote Service has now resumed and trains are running between Sunderland and South Hylton in both directions but are subject to delays of up to 30 mins. This was due to a problem with the power supply. Please leave extra time for your journey.

Isn't that the frequency of the Metro now anyway?

Quite a useless time to resume service too, everyone is home (or on their way home  ) by now.

(31 Mar 2015, 5:02 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Isn't that the frequency of the Metro now anyway?

Quite a useless time to resume service too, everyone is home (or on their way home  ) by now.

No, it's every 15 minutes from about 1800 onwards from South Hylton to Pelaw.

I think the only time it's a 30 minute frequency is the first few trains on a Sunday morning.

4034's Next Stop Announcements are not working. The display reads: "NEXUS METRO A lk"

Do the Metrocars take less power from the overhead power lines when they go at a slower speed? They usually fly from Seaburn to East Boldon but 4034 is going incredibly slow.

Direct trains for Derby Day - http://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/direct...erby-match

How frequently are Metros washed?

I noticed before Easter that a number of Metrocars passing through Gateshead on an evening were looking incredibly dirty, though assumed it was due to the time of day.

However, I'm on 4090 at the moment and it seems to have got doors which are more black than white at the 'B' section on the driver side. I went to Paris last week and it was my ride to Central Station and it was the same then, too. Probably worth mentioning that the Next Stop Announcements aren't yet working either.

There are also Metros terminating short at Park Lane/Sunderland this morning due to delays.

(08 Apr 2015, 6:06 am)Dan wrote How frequently are Metros washed?

I noticed before Easter that a number of Metrocars passing through Gateshead on an evening were looking incredibly dirty, though assumed it was due to the time of day.

However, I'm on 4090 at the moment and it seems to have got doors which are more black than white at the 'B' section on the driver side. I went to Paris last week and it was my ride to Central Station and it was the same then, too. Probably worth mentioning that the Next Stop Announcements aren't yet working either.

There are also Metros terminating short at Park Lane/Sunderland this morning due to delays.

I never noticed dirty Metrocars yesterday, and I must have seen all of them as I did all lines. A couple don't have NSAs working yet, but all the ones that I was on (inc. 4002) had the NSAs working.

There's a "Metrowash" at South Gosforth, but if 3kph speed limit is to go by, we are still in the 1980s 

When I was at Park Lane yesterday, only the next due Metro to Airport was shown on the board, also when I arrived at Northumberland Park on the morning, the Metro that I missed that was heading to South Shields displayed "Monkseaton" on the destys.

There are no trains running between Jarrow and South Shields due to a bridge strike at Bede. Go North East accepting Metro tickets on 5,27,88 buses.

(13 Apr 2015, 10:28 am)Tom wrote There are no trains running between Jarrow and South Shields due to a bridge strike at Bede. Go North East accepting Metro tickets on 5,27,88 buses.

Just being cleared according to them, delays are still expected 

(13 Apr 2015, 10:30 am)Michael wrote Just being cleared according to them, delays are still expected 

When are delays never expected on the metro

Metro Rail Replacement buses will be running between Monument and Heworth on the weekends of 2/3 May and 9/10 May to allow track upgrade on the QE2 Bridge.

(15 Apr 2015, 7:43 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote Metro Rail Replacement buses will be running between Monument and Heworth on the weekends of 2/3 May and 9/10 May to allow track upgrade on the QE2 Bridge.

Just seen something about this on Look North Breakfast News

Seem's we haven't had a breakdown/train withdrawn for a couple of days.... :O

(15 Apr 2015, 8:10 am)Michael wrote Seem's we haven't had a breakdown/train withdrawn for a couple of days.... :O

Famous Last Words...

I hope you have not doomed Metro

(15 Apr 2015, 8:11 am)MrFozz wrote Famous Last Words...

I hope you have not doomed Metro

I hope............... not, 

(17 Apr 2015, 12:24 pm)Adam wrote Something's up at Monument. Station apparently closed and fire engine's present according to the person I've just overheard. Can anyone shed any light?

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...ve-9065859

994037(A)'s front left door opened before the train stopped. Talk about delays, this is serious!

(17 Apr 2015, 1:08 pm)Adam wrote If only I waited another 30 mins or so before getting my lunch. I would have been able to investigate there and then

Had a neb when I was passing through last night. Couldn't see any sign of water/fire damage at all.