Tyne and Wear Metro
Tyne and Wear Metro
(05 Jan 2016, 5:32 pm)Adrian Only 26% think that Metro is good enough, according to that poll.
It seems that almost everybody, bar Nexus and DB, think that the Metro is an absolute joke. Only three days have I attempted to use it whilst I've been on leave over Christmas, and on each occasion there's been an issue. I feel sorry for the regular commuters.
I do wish that Nexus had kept their own discussion forum open, as some of the comments on there these days would be comical. Hopefully they'll just read through this thread instead.
(05 Jan 2016, 5:32 pm)Adrian Only 26% think that Metro is good enough, according to that poll.
It seems that almost everybody, bar Nexus and DB, think that the Metro is an absolute joke. Only three days have I attempted to use it whilst I've been on leave over Christmas, and on each occasion there's been an issue. I feel sorry for the regular commuters.
I do wish that Nexus had kept their own discussion forum open, as some of the comments on there these days would be comical. Hopefully they'll just read through this thread instead.
Just twelve minutes after 'Disruption cleared' was posted on their Facebook page, Metro are now reporting systemwide delays due to a points failure at Jesmond.
Looks like the first one out of Sunderland today is 25 minutes late.
Getting to the point where I feel I cannot rely on the system enough without checking Social Media and Real Time Trains prior to travelling (and it's embarrassing that a third party source has to be used to check real time information due to the lack of an 'official' app - but that's another point of discussion!)
We recently discussed Social Media seemingly being used as the choice of preference to advise customers of upcoming diversions to bus services on another area of the forum - it seems to be the only method of communication used by Metro! What about the customers who don't have access to Social Media?
(07 Jan 2016, 6:07 am)Dan Just twelve minutes after 'Disruption cleared' was posted on their Facebook page, Metro are now reporting systemwide delays due to a points failure at Jesmond.
Looks like the first one out of Sunderland today is 25 minutes late.
Getting to the point where I feel I cannot rely on the system enough without checking Social Media and Real Time Trains prior to travelling (and it's embarrassing that a third party source has to be used to check real time information due to the lack of an 'official' app - but that's another point of discussion!)
We recently discussed Social Media seemingly being used as the choice of preference to advise customers of upcoming diversions to bus services on another area of the forum - it seems to be the only method of communication used by Metro! What about the customers who don't have access to Social Media?
(07 Jan 2016, 6:07 am)Dan Just twelve minutes after 'Disruption cleared' was posted on their Facebook page, Metro are now reporting systemwide delays due to a points failure at Jesmond.
Looks like the first one out of Sunderland today is 25 minutes late.
Getting to the point where I feel I cannot rely on the system enough without checking Social Media and Real Time Trains prior to travelling (and it's embarrassing that a third party source has to be used to check real time information due to the lack of an 'official' app - but that's another point of discussion!)
We recently discussed Social Media seemingly being used as the choice of preference to advise customers of upcoming diversions to bus services on another area of the forum - it seems to be the only method of communication used by Metro! What about the customers who don't have access to Social Media?
On a train towards Sunderland now - only 5 late.
There are at least 2 trains with drivers under instruction on the notwork today.
(12 Jan 2016, 7:21 am)Michael There are no trains running between Pelaw and Brockley Whins in both directions, this is due to a problem with the power supply. go north east accepting metro tickets 27 5 x88 We will update you once we have more information.
(12 Jan 2016, 8:10 am)Michael Yup... glad i'm not using it as much now...
(12 Jan 2016, 8:12 am)Dan Aye - alright for some!
I passed my car test last month, so as soon as I can afford to buy a decent car, I'm ditching the Metro.
I pity those who have to pay money to use the system.
(12 Jan 2016, 8:12 am)Dan Aye - alright for some!
I passed my car test last month, so as soon as I can afford to buy a decent car, I'm ditching the Metro.
I pity those who have to pay money to use the system.
(12 Jan 2016, 7:21 am)Michael There are no trains running between Pelaw and Brockley Whins in both directions, this is due to a problem with the power supply. go north east accepting metro tickets 27 5 x88 We will update you once we have more information.
(12 Jan 2016, 7:21 am)Michael There are no trains running between Pelaw and Brockley Whins in both directions, this is due to a problem with the power supply. go north east accepting metro tickets 27 5 x88 We will update you once we have more information.
(12 Jan 2016, 12:16 pm)BusLoverMum It's knackered, innit?
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...g-10720600
(12 Jan 2016, 12:16 pm)BusLoverMum It's knackered, innit?
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...g-10720600
Typical lack of apathy we've come to expect from Metro and Nexus. The people they're apologising to are their customers, not network rail's. It's up to them to manage their 3rd party relationships, and they really need to stop passing it off.
Nexus inability to manage suppliers in a system that they own, is frankly embarrassing.
I don't think its Network Rails fault that the Overhead Wires round Brockely Whins is failing 24-7, There fault lies with the Overhead Equipment NEXUS chose for the section from Pelaw to South Hylton.
The overhead catenary I believe is Manufactured somewhere in Continental Europe and is not used on any other light or Heavy rail system in the UK ( Making it hard to source quick replacement parts ) and no knowledge of the Type of Gantrys used which just about says it all, add that to the fact there was no provision for future Electrification to 25KV AC for main line through running and that the project was Poundland quality ( Like all NEXUS Projects ) Also the only section of the whole network that's Unprofitable is Pelaw to South Hylton.
The Metrocars ( Class 994s ) are derived from the Stadtbahnwagen B which is a street tram in German which are only meant to serve stops every few hundred meters not 2 and a half Miles ( Between Fellgate and Pelaw. Pelaw to South Hylton is a Tram Train service served using only Tram style trains and so means there tottaly inappropriate to run the service for any amount of years never mind 13 Years. Until Common Sense prevails and the 994s get kicked out early with New Dual Voltage TRAM-TRAIN style Metrocars suited to this service and the Luaghable Infrastructure in place gets replaced by 25KV AC to allow Durham Coast electrification only then will this service work.
Or preferably just Electrify the line and run it as a Northern service using EMUs
(12 Jan 2016, 7:34 am)Dan What an absolute farce.
(12 Jan 2016, 7:34 am)Dan What an absolute farce.
(13 Jan 2016, 12:33 am)Bus_User How is it an farce Dan? What can you do when the OHL failed? There must be a reason why its always seems to be between Pelaw and Brockley where it fails yet elsewhere on the Sunderland line, it seems fine so surely it can't be the design of the OHL like someone suggested?
It needs to be investigated because it is too often and I like to think Nexus are involved in it and not just leaving it to NR.
I also hope if you do finally get a car you leave plenty of time for your journey to work as your likely to encounter delays when driving along the A194...
(13 Jan 2016, 12:33 am)Bus_User How is it an farce Dan? What can you do when the OHL failed? There must be a reason why its always seems to be between Pelaw and Brockley where it fails yet elsewhere on the Sunderland line, it seems fine so surely it can't be the design of the OHL like someone suggested?
It needs to be investigated because it is too often and I like to think Nexus are involved in it and not just leaving it to NR.
I also hope if you do finally get a car you leave plenty of time for your journey to work as your likely to encounter delays when driving along the A194...
(13 Jan 2016, 12:33 am)Bus_User How is it an farce Dan? What can you do when the OHL failed? There must be a reason why its always seems to be between Pelaw and Brockley where it fails yet elsewhere on the Sunderland line, it seems fine so surely it can't be the design of the OHL like someone suggested?
It needs to be investigated because it is too often and I like to think Nexus are involved in it and not just leaving it to NR.
I also hope if you do finally get a car you leave plenty of time for your journey to work as your likely to encounter delays when driving along the A194...
(13 Jan 2016, 12:33 am)Bus_User How is it an farce Dan? What can you do when the OHL failed? There must be a reason why its always seems to be between Pelaw and Brockley where it fails yet elsewhere on the Sunderland line, it seems fine so surely it can't be the design of the OHL like someone suggested?
It needs to be investigated because it is too often and I like to think Nexus are involved in it and not just leaving it to NR.
I also hope if you do finally get a car you leave plenty of time for your journey to work as your likely to encounter delays when driving along the A194...
(13 Jan 2016, 7:02 am)Dan The fact that, yet again, the overhead line has failed on this section of the system. When is the penny going to drop that this is a recurring issue, which needs to be investigated (by all parties), so as to avoid further disruption to customers?
My 35-minute morning commute took two hours yesterday, and that was with using normal public services which were delayed for various reasons (but the one relevant to this thread is the fact that Metro customers were attempting to board with their Metro tickets which weren't being accepted on buses between Sunderland, Heworth, Gateshead and Newcastle).
The buses accepting tickets yesterday morning during the disruption (88 and 27) would have a journey time between Brockley Whins and Heworth of 30 minutes - this does not take into consideration connection times, nor does it take into consideration that buses could go past out of service due to being fully-loaded (an oh too common occurrence when there's issues with the Metro!) Paired with the normal journey times on the Metro, between Park Lane and Brockley Whins then Heworth and Central Station as an example, you're looking at least double the normal journey time. In reality it's going to take a lot more time than that!
Communication on Social Media leaves a lot to be desired, and it seems like (yet again), the utmost priority is to address that it is a Network Rail issue, rather than explaining the issue to customers, advising of alternative travel arrangements, and, most importantly, apologising. They were expecting to have everything back up and running today, but it took them until 06:00am to advise that Metros were still off? Taking into account the increased journey times (as given above), that sort of short notice is not acceptable.
I'm just thankful that I put three days annual leave in for the rest of this week, as the chaos continues today... As for my travel arrangements when I'm driving - it'll be Wessington Way and A1 to Team Valley. The traffic isn't half as bad on this route compared to the Felling Bypass after 8am/5pm. Either way, it wouldn't take me two hours to get to work, like it did yesterday...
(13 Jan 2016, 7:02 am)Dan The fact that, yet again, the overhead line has failed on this section of the system. When is the penny going to drop that this is a recurring issue, which needs to be investigated (by all parties), so as to avoid further disruption to customers?
My 35-minute morning commute took two hours yesterday, and that was with using normal public services which were delayed for various reasons (but the one relevant to this thread is the fact that Metro customers were attempting to board with their Metro tickets which weren't being accepted on buses between Sunderland, Heworth, Gateshead and Newcastle).
The buses accepting tickets yesterday morning during the disruption (88 and 27) would have a journey time between Brockley Whins and Heworth of 30 minutes - this does not take into consideration connection times, nor does it take into consideration that buses could go past out of service due to being fully-loaded (an oh too common occurrence when there's issues with the Metro!) Paired with the normal journey times on the Metro, between Park Lane and Brockley Whins then Heworth and Central Station as an example, you're looking at least double the normal journey time. In reality it's going to take a lot more time than that!
Communication on Social Media leaves a lot to be desired, and it seems like (yet again), the utmost priority is to address that it is a Network Rail issue, rather than explaining the issue to customers, advising of alternative travel arrangements, and, most importantly, apologising. They were expecting to have everything back up and running today, but it took them until 06:00am to advise that Metros were still off? Taking into account the increased journey times (as given above), that sort of short notice is not acceptable.
I'm just thankful that I put three days annual leave in for the rest of this week, as the chaos continues today... As for my travel arrangements when I'm driving - it'll be Wessington Way and A1 to Team Valley. The traffic isn't half as bad on this route compared to the Felling Bypass after 8am/5pm. Either way, it wouldn't take me two hours to get to work, like it did yesterday...
