(30 Nov 2013, 11:50 pm)aureolin wrote Almost as bad as that rush hour traffic in Stanley on a Sunday morning.

I do agree though. Just another in a long list of Metro excuses. There's been football matches with that sort of crowd (50,000) for the past 13 years, and it's never been a problem. Most likely covering up that they've had to pull a train out of service.

By goodness, Stanley is like the epicentre of the earth on a Sunday morning.
Forget Percy Street on a Friday afternoon, Monument Metro 30mins after the final whistle, the queue of packed trains waiting at Hebburn on the single track towards Shields or the Tyne Bridge at any time of the day - Stanley on a Sunday morning is chaos!

Spotted a metro set heading south about 16.45 at Leeming today.
Didn't notice the fleet number.

Newly Painted Metrocar 4084 sits outside of the Inspection Shed on Road 9 at Gosforth Depot.

The new livery replacing the old 'Pop Card' (Tyne and Wear's version of London's Oyster Card) rainbow livery, is designed to have the same livery that East Coast Trains carry between London and Aberdeen along the East Coast Mainline and supports their new advertisement campaign 'Feel at Home'

To support the advertisement campaign, the Metrocar's doors are painted to look like the front doors of a house, with vinyls of blinds, laps and flowers in the windows to picture inside the house.

To view the full sized photograph, do click here.

---

While I'm at it...

Metrocar 4044 is the latest example to return from Doncaster having been refurbished, while Metrocar 4068 is the next to go.

It isn't painted. Just vynals covering the entire bodysides.

(15 Dec 2013, 1:41 am)GMitchelhill wrote It isn't painted. Just vynals covering the entire bodysides.

I thought just as much, but I copied the caption from the photo on Flickr given that he'd seen it in the flesh and I hadn't.
That said, those doors do look shiny and appear to be one shade of the colour which they are painted. As the Metrocar doors have been painted in the past (believe I read something about that?), there is potential that the photographer could be right.

4006 noted refurbished.

(14 Dec 2013, 9:00 pm)Dan wrote
Newly Painted Metrocar 4084 sits outside of the Inspection Shed on Road 9 at Gosforth Depot.

Metrocar 4038 has joined Metrocar 4084 in the special advertisement livery to support the East Coast Trains 'Feel at Home' advertisement campaign.

Both were noted today (well, now yesterday - it's 1am!) out in service for the very first time.


Photo credit to Alex Thorkildsen

Tyne and Wear Metro
There are no trains running between Jarrow and Hebburn in both directions until further notice. This is due to a vehicle hitting a Metro bridge. Go North East are accepting Metro tickets in the affected area. Bus services 27 operate between Jarrow and Hebburn. We will update you as soon as we have more information.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/mymetrotw/posts...3656436542

Tyne and Wear Metro
Seaburn is closed and trains will not be stopping at this station until further notice. This is due to a problem with the power supply. We will update you once we have more information.

Tyne and Wear Metro
There are major delays to trains running between South Gosforth and South Shields due to train shortages. Please leave extra time for your journey.

www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/nexus-outlines-metro-upgrades-next-6446022?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Next stage of modernisation scheme to start soon.

Well the gates are working well. Used the Metro both Monday and today, and I've yet to encounter a gate that's switched on. What's the point of having them if they're going to stand open?

(02 Jan 2014, 4:21 pm)aureolin wrote Well the gates are working well. Used the Metro both Monday and today, and I've yet to encounter a gate that's switched on. What's the point of having them if they're going to stand open?

I've seen them in operation at Gateshead Station twice in the entire school holidays (three weeks for me now, rather than two), and given that I'm out most days and Gateshead usually crops up at some point... Not very good!

(02 Jan 2014, 5:07 pm)Dan wrote I've seen them in operation at Gateshead Station twice in the entire school holidays (three weeks for me now, rather than two), and given that I'm out most days and Gateshead usually crops up at some point... Not very good!

was so happy when they were being used at monument

(02 Jan 2014, 5:15 pm)danpick wrote was so happy when they were being used at monument

For what they cost, I wouldn't be happy unless they were on at all times during the day - 07.00-19.00 at the very least! They should be making back some of the cash it's cost to have them installed.

(02 Jan 2014, 5:51 pm)aureolin wrote For what they cost, I wouldn't be happy unless they were on at all times during the day - 07.00-19.00 at the very least! They should be making back some of the cash it's cost to have them installed.

Of course it should ease the amount of inspectors required on the Metros too... They should be on the Metros in areas where there are no ticket validators.
I've still seen the inspectors getting on/off at Gateshead. What's the point in that, when you should have two or three people upstairs at the ticket validators?

(02 Jan 2014, 5:57 pm)Dan wrote Of course it should ease the amount of inspectors required on the Metros too... They should be on the Metros in areas where there are no ticket validators.
I've still seen the inspectors getting on/off at Gateshead. What's the point in that, when you should have two or three people upstairs at the ticket validators?

German efficiency obviously went a miss with DB Tyne and Wear.

Trains are currently running to a one minute frequency because of signal failure at Gateshead. Lovely.

EDIT: And now we have a driver who has gone AWOL.

(06 Jan 2014, 8:22 am)Dan wrote Trains are currently running to a one minute frequency because of signal failure at Gateshead. Lovely.

EDIT: And now we have a driver who has gone AWOL.

Lmao, First day after the holidays when most people go back to work/college and the system is back logged, due to failed signals and the prices just gone up!

Disruption cleared.

The signal affected was the one before you head into Gateshead station heading towards South Shields/South Hylton direction. Stuck on a red light so as far as I'm aware the driver had to override the signal magnet on the train and beep his/her horn and proceed slowly towards the station.

As it happens although was not reported, this happened to the same signal a month or so previously and all the tunnel lights from the QEII bridge to Gateshead was switched on, this was not the case when I went past this morning though.

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/landmark-ticket-sales-metro-after-6474194?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Ticket sales up on metro in lead up to Christmas.

There was a time, this would have got me all excited in anticipation...
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/petition-launched-bring-tyne-wear-6479256

(08 Jan 2014, 2:07 pm)andreos1 wrote There was a time, this would have got me all excited in anticipation...
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/petition-launched-bring-tyne-wear-6479256

*Yawn*... What happened to Sharon Hodgeson's petition? Last I seen it was recorded on Hansard, but nowt since... Perhaps someone in her constituency could email her and query it?

(08 Jan 2014, 3:15 pm)aureolin wrote *Yawn*... What happened to Sharon Hodgeson's petition? Last I seen it was recorded on Hansard, but nowt since... Perhaps someone in her constituency could email her and query it?

I'd absolutely hate so see the metro going to Washington... And, they can't even provide a half-decent service with what they've got now, so imagine the problems if they extend the metro service to Washington...

The Topic of Extending the T&W Metro has begun again I see, Spotted the Link to the Petition on my Facebook Feed.

http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/de...OgSGGtoAWJ&utm_campaign=share_button_action_box&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition

From a Personal point of View, Despite living in Washington I am not going to sign the Petition for the Extension of the Metro. I feel this would be bad for the Area. I don't think Washington needs the Metro, I think the Metro needs Washington, Thing is we have an Excellent Bus Service to Areas served by the Metro, Up to Every 10 Minutes on the 2A/2C to Sunderland, Every 10 Minutes on the 4 to Heworth and the same on the X1, Plus the fact it would cost Millions to put in the Extra Infrastructure, then that will lead to a Rise in Bus Fares etc, So really who is going to Benefit from it, I think it is a Waste of Time and Money, Look at the Extension to Sunderland, How well used is that, Few Times I have used the Metro To/From Sunderland its been Quiet with exception of Matchdays.

(08 Jan 2014, 6:39 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote The Topic of Extending the T&W Metro has begun again I see, Spotted the Link to the Petition on my Facebook Feed.

http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/de...OgSGGtoAWJ&utm_campaign=share_button_action_box&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition

From a Personal point of View, Despite living in Washington I am not going to sign the Petition for the Extension of the Metro. I feel this would be bad for the Area. I don't think Washington needs the Metro, I think the Metro needs Washington, Thing is we have an Excellent Bus Service to Areas served by the Metro, Up to Every 10 Minutes on the 2A/2C to Sunderland, Every 10 Minutes on the 4 to Heworth and the same on the X1, Plus the fact it would cost Millions to put in the Extra Infrastructure, then that will lead to a Rise in Bus Fares etc, So really who is going to Benefit from it, I think it is a Waste of Time and Money, Look at the Extension to Sunderland, How well used is that, Few Times I have used the Metro To/From Sunderland its been Quiet with exception of Matchdays.

I'd disagree entirely.

The early morning runs from Newcastle into Sunderland often quiet, but in the other direction they're often quite full. Sundays are days where I find the Metros to and from Sunderland are incredibly quiet. Throughout the day, pretty stable loadings and you're often made to stand (depending on where you get on) - now that my local is Stadium of Light as opposed to University, Millfield or Park Lane, I find I often have to stand.

Obviously have nothing on the Newcastle - Pelaw section of the route, it goes without saying...

Once you pass the Uni to South Hylton, that's where it gets pointless and pretty much unused, but I'd actually say this is common of all the Metro network termini. Even (although less so) Newcastle Airport.

(08 Jan 2014, 3:15 pm)aureolin wrote *Yawn*... What happened to Sharon Hodgeson's petition? Last I seen it was recorded on Hansard, but nowt since... Perhaps someone in her constituency could email her and query it?

She seems to have gone quiet recently, as has Bridget's bus campaign.

Mr Malarkey is in Sharon Hodgsons constituency...

(08 Jan 2014, 6:39 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote The Topic of Extending the T&W Metro has begun again I see, Spotted the Link to the Petition on my Facebook Feed.

http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/de...OgSGGtoAWJ&utm_campaign=share_button_action_box&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition

From a Personal point of View, Despite living in Washington I am not going to sign the Petition for the Extension of the Metro. I feel this would be bad for the Area. I don't think Washington needs the Metro, I think the Metro needs Washington, Thing is we have an Excellent Bus Service to Areas served by the Metro, Up to Every 10 Minutes on the 2A/2C to Sunderland, Every 10 Minutes on the 4 to Heworth and the same on the X1, Plus the fact it would cost Millions to put in the Extra Infrastructure, then that will lead to a Rise in Bus Fares etc, So really who is going to Benefit from it, I think it is a Waste of Time and Money, Look at the Extension to Sunderland, How well used is that, Few Times I have used the Metro To/From Sunderland its been Quiet with exception of Matchdays.

I'm surprised at someone living in Washington not signing the petition if asked to mind. You (or your folks) are already paying for it in the form of an ITA levy via Council Tax. Why pay for something and not fight for it...?

I'd highly doubt the millions in extra infrastructure would lead to a rise in bus fares. It's completely illogical for a business to respond to competition by upping their fares. If someone opened a News Agents next door to another, you wouldn't see the original business respond by upping the price of chocolate bars by 20p would you? Regardless, the millions would only ever come from a government grant. So it'd be in addition to the current ITA budgets.

Reopening of the leamside line, for mixed purpose rather than just Metro, makes perfect sense. The obvious extension of the T&W Metro system, then you have the benefit of additional capacity on the already congested ECML, not to mention the potential of Nissan using rail freight.

P.s: signed.

(08 Jan 2014, 6:59 pm)Dan wrote I'd disagree entirely.

The early morning runs from Newcastle into Sunderland often quiet, but in the other direction they're often quite full. Sundays are days where I find the Metros to and from Sunderland are incredibly quiet. Throughout the day, pretty stable loadings and you're often made to stand (depending on where you get on) - now that my local is Stadium of Light as opposed to University, Millfield or Park Lane, I find I often have to stand.

Obviously have nothing on the Newcastle - Pelaw section of the route, it goes without saying...

Once you pass the Uni to South Hylton, that's where it gets pointless and pretty much unused, but I'd actually say this is common of all the Metro network termini. Even (although less so) Newcastle Airport.

I agree, the only termini that is well used is South Shields.

How many people use it beyond Monument heading to St. James? Very few.