Copied this from my post on Sort out the Metro:
I was at Monument for about an hour at about 1700. So, here's my review of today's delays.
I boarded a Pelaw-bound train at West Jesmond, the train then got held at a red signal outside of Jesmond (the driver apologised), and we were away shortly afterwards. There was an unusually large crowd at the northbound platform at Jesmond. The southbound platforms were just full of the usual passengers who didn't wish to board the Pelaw train. The train paused for a few minutes at Jesmond.
On arrival at Haymarket, the screens were showing "South Shields" as the train currently sat there, I could hear Metro staff shouting for passengers to stand back from the edge of the platform, the driver also made an announcement to the passengers. Yet again, the train was being held for a few minutes.
On arrival at Monument, I left the train to try and head back north to catch a bus at Regent Centre, as there wouldn't be much of my day left if the train would keep going on like that! An announcement was made about a failed train in the Gateshead area and how there were delays of 20 minutes, a female inspector was running back and forwards from the north and south platforms and I overheard her say to another passenger "no trains through platform 2". A few more southbound trains passed through, and then a train with no lights on or electronic displays passed through northbound. Another announcement was made saying that there was a broken down train at Haymarket. Another northbound train came in and everyone was de-trained. That train sat for a few minutes before presumably going to push the failed train to the depot.
An Airport train then arrived, most passengers on the platform boarded that, a few rude gits even pushed past me and other passengers stood in the doorway where there was no room. I was getting very uncomfortable with some people boarding standing where the doors would close on them (common sense?!) breathing down my neck.
The Metro woman then said to a passenger that this train wouldn't be going anywhere, 20 minutes after the train had already been standing there. A few people left the train at this point.
About 35 minutes in to the train being sat at the station, an announcement was made about all services being suspended in both directions and that tickets were being accepted on certain Arriva bus routes.
When I passed Regent Centre on the way home, a large number of people boarded buses there. Presumably the Metros were off there too heading into town.
