(30 Aug 2014, 9:30 am)56everyday wrote Good news!
There are delays of up to 15 mins to trains running between South Hylton and Airport due to a train being withdrawn from service.

And again.

No trains at Park Lane for 20 mins with the next one currently being at Pelaw.

(01 Sep 2014, 3:58 pm)Dan wrote And again.

No trains at Park Lane for 20 mins with the next one currently being at Pelaw.

There was two ambulances in Gateshead Interchange about a hour ago, so this might have something to do with it?

(01 Sep 2014, 4:06 pm)Tom wrote There was two ambulances in Gateshead Interchange about a hour ago, so this might have something to do with it?

The announcement said that a train was withdrawn from service.

(01 Sep 2014, 4:08 pm)Tom wrote Ah right - they did go down into the Metro Concourse, but musn't have affected the trains.

Suppose it depends what the incident was - two ambulances and a train withdrawn from service, could be something trivial or nasty.

(24 Aug 2014, 9:30 am)aureolin wrote Tyne and Wear Metro
1 hr ·
Delays systemwide due to operational problems.

Any ideas? Answers on a post card

Got an answer about this from Metro.

Good afternoon

Thank you for your email.

Please accept our sincere apologies for the delay caused to the service on Sunday 24th August which was due to lack of driver resource. Resource has been hampered greatly due to staff sickness, however, we do have additional crew in training at the moment with another group commencing in a few weeks. I appreciate this does not combat the here and now, however, you have my assurances that we are working hard to improve our train performance and customer satisfaction.

If you have any further questions please let me know.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...se-7710141

Three ticket offices face closure.
Heworth and Monument are of those three.

(03 Sep 2014, 8:22 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...se-7710141

Three ticket offices face closure.
Heworth and Monument are of those three.

I think it's annoying that they're closing the shops, yet you still can't buy Adult Network One Monthly/Annual tickets or Student Network One tickets at ticket machines or load them on to a smart card.

Surely people forking out that amount of money would be using their credit/debit card anyway, unless they're happy forking over £900-odd quid in £5 notes through the ticket machines!

(03 Sep 2014, 9:47 am)BJ10VUS wrote I think it's annoying that they're closing the shops, yet you still can't buy Adult Network One Monthly/Annual tickets or Student Network One tickets at ticket machines or load them on to a smart card.

Surely people forking out that amount of money would be using their credit/debit card anyway, unless they're happy forking over £900-odd quid in £5 notes through the ticket machines!

The Heworth/Central Station/Four Lane Ends ones are interesting.

Whenever I have seen the Central Station office, it has had very few people.in.
Granted it is the first one visitors may come across, but do Nexus want people to be seen to in a pokey little cupboard?

Where are the closest alternatives to Four Lane Ends and Heworth?

I buy a weekly ticket all zones travelticket twice a month, but need to to take time out of my day to do so - travelling to the nearest retailer (in the car), to buy the ticket.
If I don't get a chance to buy one at the weekend, for the following week, then due to the likely early start, it means I need to buy a Day Rover - incase plans change and I don't get to a shop before they close for the day.

Surely Nexus need to make buying these tickets as easy as possible?
Maybe going down the line of TfL and making them available in licenced retailers?

Tyne and Wear Metro
11 mins ·
There are no trains running between Haymarket and Gateshead Stadium in both directions until further notice. This is due to a failed train. Go North East are accepting Metro tickets in the affected area. Bus services 27 operate between Monument and Heworth. We will update you as soon as we have more information.

(03 Sep 2014, 10:51 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote The Heworth/Central Station/Four Lane Ends ones are interesting.

Whenever I have seen the Central Station office, it has had very few people.in.
Granted it is the first one visitors may come across, but do Nexus want people to be seen to in a pokey little cupboard?

Where are the closest alternatives to Four Lane Ends and Heworth?

I buy a weekly ticket all zones travelticket twice a month, but need to to take time out of my day to do so - travelling to the nearest retailer (in the car), to buy the ticket.
If I don't get a chance to buy one at the weekend, for the following week, then due to the likely early start, it means I need to buy a Day Rover - incase plans change and I don't get to a shop before they close for the day.

Surely Nexus need to make buying these tickets as easy as possible?
Maybe going down the line of TfL and making them available in licenced retailers?

Couldn't agree more! It's a faff on if, for example, you currently live in Longbenton, or Felling, and you'd previously walk to Heworth or Four Lane Ends and now you can't. Even more annoying if you live further away from a TravelShop - very inconvenient!

Tyne and Wear Metro
6 mins ·
Service has now resumed and trains are running between Heworth and Pelaw in both directions but are subject to delays of up to 25 mins. This was due to a failed train. Please leave extra time for your journey.

Glad i rarely use the metro!

(10 Sep 2014, 8:53 am)Michael wrote Tyne and Wear Metro
6 mins ·
Service has now resumed and trains are running between Heworth and Pelaw in both directions but are subject to delays of up to 25 mins. This was due to a failed train. Please leave extra time for your journey.

Glad i rarely use the metro!

Certainly not a perfect system by any means but Tyne & Wear will be lost without it and that is a fact!

(10 Sep 2014, 4:16 pm)Bus_User wrote Certainly not a perfect system by any means but Tyne & Wear will be lost without it and that is a fact!

I can honestly say I wouldn't be. I paid the levy when living in Washington, but had nothing but broken commitments when it came to getting the system. When I worked in Newcastle I used the bus. 30 mins as oppose to the same (but more expensive) to travel by 194/Metro.

(10 Sep 2014, 8:32 pm)aureolin wrote I can honestly say I wouldn't be. I paid the levy when living in Washington, but had nothing but broken commitments when it came to getting the system. When I worked in Newcastle I used the bus. 30 mins as oppose to the same (but more expensive) to travel by 194/Metro.

As someone who lives on the Tyne and Wear Metro line, I can't say I'd be 'lost' without it either.

Buses run earlier and later than the first and last Metros (at least from Sunderland to Stadium of Light, when travelling to Gateshead or Newcastle); as such, I can't say that the Metro is better in that respect.

I'd suggest that if the Metro system was not around, services such as the X3 would be more successful as they wouldn't be directly competing with a service which could deliver a similar journey within half the time.

For me, the Metro is nothing more than a convenience to provide faster journey times between Point A and Point B.

(10 Sep 2014, 8:52 pm)Dan wrote As someone who lives on the Tyne and Wear Metro line, I can't say I'd be 'lost' without it either.

Buses run earlier and later than the first and last Metros (at least from Sunderland to Stadium of Light, when travelling to Gateshead or Newcastle); as such, I can't say that the Metro is better in that respect.

I'd suggest that if the Metro system was not around, services such as the X3 would be more successful as they wouldn't be directly competing with a service which could deliver a similar journey within half the time.

For me, the Metro is nothing more than a convenience to provide faster journey times between Point A and Point B.

Thats the point, the Metro when reliable can deliver you from A to B far quicker than the bus can in virtually all circumstances hence the route you suggested above struggled for passenger numbers(although tbh don't think GNE helped themselves but that is another topic). To use the route above, if there was no metro journey, the journey times by bus will no doubt increase in particular during peak times with heavier loadings and more traffic on the roads so for a lot of passengers no metro means a greater inconvenience than without it, despite its faults it has.

Northern may benefit with increased passengers numbers but exactly how many can use them with Sunderland and Heworth being the only stops and its hardly frequent and nor do they have enough stock to even think about coping with extra demand.

The bus industry will benefit more but with much increased traffic on the roads, then no doubt buses will get delayed thus journey times will take much longer(and that is before you count in they will take longer to start off with) and who will enjoy getting squashed on a busy single Decker.

So in that respect, I am glad the Metro is getting invested rather than letting it decline and eventually fail as Nexus puts it and whilst the moaners on FB won't realise it, if there was no Metro, people in general will honestly find getting from and to work a lot more difficult indeed.

(10 Sep 2014, 8:32 pm)aureolin wrote I can honestly say I wouldn't be. I paid the levy when living in Washington, but had nothing but broken commitments when it came to getting the system. When I worked in Newcastle I used the bus. 30 mins as oppose to the same (but more expensive) to travel by 194/Metro.

It's not just Washington that pays the levy; huge swathes of Newcastle and Gateshead are also without access to the Metro network. This, I feel, is often overlooked.

can anyone tell me if theyve seen any trains going off to doncaster,i know 4021,4043 and 4087 are down there and 1 other(suspected to be 4014),ive asked on a different forum but no reply,any help would be appreciated
kind regards
Tez

A driver has told me that Nexus has ran out of money and that they are now spray painting the trains. I'm not sure if this is true or not, any of you guys know?

(17 Sep 2014, 11:43 am)Lm2606 wrote A driver has told me that Nexus has ran out of money and that they are now spray painting the trains. I'm not sure if this is true or not, any of you guys know?

Im sure that thats just a rumour. I dont think they would be stupid enough to present their trains painted in spray paint. Id be embarrased!

Wasn't very amused with Carriage 4030 on my Journey from Chichester to Gateshead Metro this Afternoon, How that Carriage in is even fit for use is beyond me, it was worse than sitting on a Dennis Dart SPD when going at Speed for the Long Stretches between a few of the Stations, Rattled like crazy in the Centre Section (Turning Circle Bit), The Fire Extinguishers were Bouncing about also, surprised the Glass didn't shatter, and the Roof Support was also shaking, Part of the Carriage was also Cordoned off my a Yellow "Driver Under Instruction" Tarpin thingy, so you couldn't sit in the first few Seats behind the Drivers Cab either.

Was on the metro a few days ago and some drunk was sitting in the middle of the train wearing a tiara a drinking a bottle of vodka and then lit a cigarette a started smoking only for an elderly gentleman to jump up and grab it out of his hand then another young lad came and pushed him off the train at Shiremoor after he'd threatened the elderly man

Any idea what the 'police incident' was between Heworth and Pelaw earlier, causing systemwide delays?

An old woman, who was rather inebriated, informed me that there was no trains for three hours...but I don't know how true that was, given that she didn't have a clue where she was.

(27 Sep 2014, 6:20 pm)Dan wrote Any idea what the 'police incident' was between Heworth and Pelaw earlier, causing systemwide delays?

An old woman, who was rather inebriated, informed me that there was no trains for three hours...but I don't know how true that was, given that she didn't have a clue where she was.

It's true. Around about 5.30ish I think.

I had got the 21 from High Level Bridge to Gateshead, as nothing was coming out, and had planned to get the Metro from there. Metro comes in, people get on, and we don't go anywhere.

Driver tannoys a couple of times to say he's on a red signal, but we'll be moving shortly. Then he tannoys to say it's terminating at Gateshead Stadium and turning back, due to an ongoing police incident between Pelaw and Heworth.

Metro staff were as helpful as can be. Only seen one, and that was on my way out. Was standing next to the bike racks pissing about with his phone.

Heard apparently a drunken man fell down an embankment infront of an approching Metro near Heworth and that there was quite a few emergency service vehicles at Heworth. 

http://whatculture.com/offbeat/20-proble...-metro.php

Poor performance on the Metro network this evening...

I missed the 9 in North Shields and it was about 20 minutes for the next one so the quicker journey would be to use the Metro to Newcastle, then to Stadium of Light... What a mistake that was!

The Metro appeared to be running 10 minutes late (the one I was going to be getting, due in 2 mins, was in fact due in 6), and this Metro was creeping along the track all the way to Byker due to 'low rail adhesion'. We got chucked off at Byker, and were told to get on the next one as that one was being withdrawn at Manors.

I expected it to be very much like my experience a few weeks back where I had to wait for about 15 mins at Pelaw...but no... next Metro was due in 2 minutes! The one after that was due a minute later - the one we all got on didn't seem to be suffering from leaves on the line though..!

Remind me to just wait an extra 20 mins in the freezing cold for the 9 in future....

(14 Oct 2014, 5:40 pm)Dan wrote Poor performance on the Metro network this evening...

I missed the 9 in North Shields and it was about 20 minutes for the next one so the quicker journey would be to use the Metro to Newcastle, then to Stadium of Light... What a mistake that was!

The Metro appeared to be running 10 minutes late (the one I was going to be getting, due in 2 mins, was in fact due in 6), and this Metro was creeping along the track all the way to Byker due to 'low rail adhesion'. We got chucked off at Byker, and were told to get on the next one as that one was being withdrawn at Manors.

I expected it to be very much like my experience a few weeks back where I had to wait for about 15 mins at Pelaw...but no... next Metro was due in 2 minutes! The one after that was due a minute later - the one we all got on didn't seem to be suffering from leaves on the line though..!

Remind me to just wait an extra 20 mins in the freezing cold for the 9 in future....

I was on the exact train as yourself(i got on at wallsend) and it did involved a brand new refurbished set(4043) so i wonder if that had anything to do it? The weather was a bit drizzly which no doubt did not help matters mind. 

Why would you describe it as 'poor' though? What would you of done differently? The train was terminating at Manors and then heading back to South Shields so the train was regulated so there was less delays heading back towards the coast. 

As far as I can see, it was the correct decision to keep any delays down and imo was not 'poor' at all. 

(14 Oct 2014, 6:51 pm)Bus_User wrote I was on the exact train as yourself(i got on at wallsend) and it did involved a brand new refurbished set(4043) so i wonder if that had anything to do it? The weather was a bit drizzly which no doubt did not help matters mind. 

Why would you describe it as 'poor' though? What would you of done differently? The train was terminating at Manors and then heading back to South Shields so the train was regulated so there was less delays heading back towards the coast. 

As far as I can see, it was the correct decision to keep any delays down and imo was not 'poor' at all. 

The fact that on a 12-15 minute frequency, three were bunched up together and platforms on the opposite side of the line had quite a substantial amount of passengers due to the no-show of two or three trains?
If that's not poor, I don't know what is...

Without looking I do not know the comparable journey times, but I note the same set which had departed North Shields on Platform 1 towards Newcastle/South Shields actually got there at the same time as I did, using the train from Platform 2 (which is supposedly a shorter journey time).
The rain would surely affect all trains and not just one - and given there was no issues with 'low rail adhesion' on the train we got passed on to at Manors, or on the train I got towards South Hylton...

I wasn't referring to the decision to withdraw the train as 'poor'; after all, it's the only way a train can make up time (which will forever be a reason why I prefer travelling on the road opposed to by track). The situation in general is a rather poor performance though - but then again, it's also the typical fun and games to be had on the Tyne & Wear Metro network.

(14 Oct 2014, 6:55 pm)Dan wrote The fact that on a 12-15 minute frequency, three were bunched up together and platforms on the opposite side of the line had quite a substantial amount of passengers due to the no-show of two or three trains?
If that's not poor, I don't know what is...

Without looking I do not know the comparable journey times, but I note the same set which had departed North Shields on Platform 1 towards Newcastle/South Shields actually got there at the same time as I did, using the train from Platform 2 (which is supposedly a shorter journey time).
The rain would surely affect all trains and not just one - and given there was no issues with 'low rail adhesion' on the train we got passed on to at Manors, or on the train I got towards South Hylton...

I wasn't referring to the decision to withdraw the train as 'poor'; after all, it's the only way a train can make up time (which will forever be a reason why I prefer travelling on the road opposed to by track). The situation in general is a rather poor performance though - but then again, it's also the typical fun and games to be had on the Tyne & Wear Metro network.

Well I can't talk whether there was trains missing on the other side too much but being a bit of a train enthusiast, I noted newly refurbished 4043 was on train 124 so i decided to try and catch it after its journey around the coast and I was on train 121 heading to the coast from St James,  which was on time, whether the trains before that were delayed/missing then unless you are 100% sure there was 2-3 trains missing then you can hardly justify your wording "poor" for that. 

So onto the set with the poor rail adhesion, my speculation(and it is that) was that with set 4043 being just recently refurbished and with nothing below the sole bar(e.g wheels) apparently being touched, I suspect they could be a bit worn and more suspectable to wheel spinning. The other train which we got on after was an extra peak train to St James(train 151 i think) and the other one would of been the usual South Shields to St James'. I'm not saying the delay is acceptable but what else could be done here. 

This is one reason why I don't add any bus/train companies on fb because of all the constant moaning about situations which is not totally controllable or just plain petty. 

I would understand your complaint and your word of "poor" more if it was a train failure or fault rather than something that is sadly hard to deal with anyways. 

Tyne and Wear Metro
Just now ·
There are no trains running between St James and Monument in both directions, this is due to a fire alarm activation. We will update you once we have more information.

Tickets not being accepted on buses..?