Paired with the organised Metro Replacement today, the usual fun and games on the line are already in progress.

There are delays systemwide due to a technical fault. Delays of up to 30 mins between Airport and South Hylton Delays of up to 45 mins between St James and South Shields Delays of up to 30 mins between South Gosforth and Pelaw

(08 Feb 2015, 8:52 am)Dan wrote Paired with the organised Metro Replacement today, the usual fun and games on the line are already in progress.

There are delays systemwide due to a technical fault. Delays of up to 30 mins between Airport and South Hylton Delays of up to 45 mins between St James and South Shields Delays of up to 30 mins between South Gosforth and Pelaw

The amount of comments on their fb page....quite a few people not happy.  First train from one station was due at 0705 and turned up at 0800.

Also, I note on the Nexus website, that for the next 2 weekends, on both Saturday and Sunday the line is closed from Haymarket to Regent Centre.

Metro has become a joke, surprised it has any passengers left!

So far this month...
2nd February: Failed train, 25 minute delay for all services
6th February: Failed train at Felling, replacement bus service operating, all services delayed
7th February: Train removed from service, minor delays
8th February: Technical fault, 30+ minutes delay system wide.

(08 Feb 2015, 9:00 am)citaro5284 wrote The amount of comments on their fb page....quite a few people not happy.  First train from one station was due at 0705 and turned up at 0800.

Also, I note on the Nexus website, that for the next 2 weekends, on both Saturday and Sunday the line is closed from Haymarket to Regent Centre.

Yup the core is closed with Arriva running a replacement bus service. 6 minute frequency.
Wonder how many trains won't turn up South of the core because they failed to keep the right amount...

(08 Feb 2015, 10:15 am)tyresmoke wrote
Yup the core is closed with Arriva running a replacement bus service. 6 minute frequency.
Wonder how many trains won't turn up South of the core because they failed to keep the right amount...

How many vehicles will that require? And where will they get them from? 

And again...

There are delays of up to 30 mins to trains running between Jesmond and South Shields and South Hylton due to a technical fault. Please leave extra time for your journey.

Piss artists.

(08 Feb 2015, 10:11 am)Tommy_1581 wrote So far this month...
2nd February: Failed train, 25 minute delay for all services
6th February: Failed train at Felling, replacement bus service operating, all services delayed
7th February: Train removed from service, minor delays
8th February: Technical fault, 30+ minutes delay system wide.

And remember on the 6th February one, the disruption lasted from 8am until the early afternoon

(08 Feb 2015, 10:54 am)citaro5284 wrote And remember on the 6th February one, the disruption lasted from 8am until the early afternoon

Well, if the Metro network is this vulnerable to disruption, they'd might as well have all Metro tickets valid on buses that run close to the network.

To top it off they'd might as well have a bonfire tomorrow during peak times... 

(08 Feb 2015, 10:18 am)mb134 wrote How many vehicles will that require? And where will they get them from? 

Think it's around 12-13. Not sure what we'll be using as yet (!)

I've probably asked before, but out of interest, why do operators accept Metro tickets during incidents?

If I was paying for a weekly Crusader ticket, rather than choosing to use the Metro, I'd be a bit miffed if I couldn't get on the bus, due to the operator choosing to bail out the Metro again.

Maybe if operators didn't accept Metro tickets, then people would choose to switch to a more reliable bus service? Over time allowing frequency to be increased, bigger vehicles, etc.

There's also the bigger point it makes to Metro itself. If operators didn't bail them out every time, then they'd have a riot on their hands over at Metro HQ.

(08 Feb 2015, 11:07 am)tyresmoke wrote Think it's around 12-13. Not sure what we'll be using as yet (!)

Any chance of Ashington and Blyth sending vehicles? MAX replacement service anyone?

(08 Feb 2015, 11:14 am)aureolin wrote I've probably asked before, but out of interest, why do operators accept Metro tickets during incidents?

If I was paying for a weekly Crusader ticket, rather than choosing to use the Metro, I'd be a bit miffed if I couldn't get on the bus, due to the operator choosing to bail out the Metro again.

Maybe if operators didn't accept Metro tickets, then people would choose to switch to a more reliable bus service? Over time allowing frequency to be increased, bigger vehicles, etc.

There's also the bigger point it makes to Metro itself. If operators didn't bail them out every time, then they'd have a riot on their hands over at Metro HQ.

Fair point.

I think the operators will see the upside of getting the cash for running replacement services (or allowing Metro tickets to be used on their bus services) immediately, rather than looking to achieve bigger over time by not helping the Metro out at all.

(08 Feb 2015, 11:15 am)mb134 wrote Any chance of Ashington and Blyth sending vehicles? MAX replacement service anyone?

Sundays aren't a problem but the Saturdays will be...

(08 Feb 2015, 11:20 am)tyresmoke wrote Sundays aren't a problem but the Saturdays will be...

Was thinking about that like, don't think Ashington Blyth and Jesmond will have enough spare double deck vehicles to cover a PVR of 13. Could be a right mix of buses!

(They do have to be double deckers don't they?) 

(08 Feb 2015, 11:07 am)tyresmoke wrote Think it's around 12-13. Not sure what we'll be using as yet (!)

Oh Scott....I am surprised, you must have volunteered your services again to come up North?

(08 Feb 2015, 11:42 am)citaro5284 wrote Oh Scott....I am surprised, you must have volunteered your services again to come up North?

Got asked by Jesmond's depot manager so, well, why not
Two weekends and one of them is my long weekend! Must be mad...

(08 Feb 2015, 12:03 pm)tyresmoke wrote Got asked by Jesmond's depot manager so, well, why not  
Two weekends and one of them is my long weekend! Must be mad...

How does that work, since it is only weekends, you are working for a different depot and if they were suppose to be your rest days, has your home depot got to change your rest day pattern for you to remain legal?

Just I would not be keen as the Detailer to have to give you a day off so you can work at another depot?

(08 Feb 2015, 12:11 pm)citaro5284 wrote How does that work, since it is only weekends, you are working for a different depot and if they were suppose to be your rest days, has your home depot got to change your rest day pattern for you to remain legal?

Just I would not be keen as the Detailer to have to give you a day off so you can work at another depot?

This weekend coming I'd be working both Saturday & Sunday anyway, weekend after I'm just working a rest day of each week as I'm technically off Fri/Sat & Sun/Mon (our weeks run Sun-Sat)

(08 Feb 2015, 12:17 pm)tyresmoke wrote This weekend coming I'd be working both Saturday & Sunday anyway, weekend after I'm just working a rest day of each week as I'm technically off Fri/Sat & Sun/Mon (our weeks run Sun-Sat)

Ah ok, of course you could say that was worse for the guy who has to cover the shifts at Stockton, he now has 2 extra shifts to cover on a weekend and going back to the discussion a while back, trying to get drivers in to work their rest days is a nightmare to start with.

I guess as long as in any two consecutive weeks (Monday to Sunday) as per domestic driving rules (irrespective of when your weeks run), you have at least one period of 24 hours off duty, then you are legal.

Dont know if many have seen the PSV375, but this gives you all the rules on drivers hours - both EU and Domestic (link below)

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...europe.pdf

(08 Feb 2015, 12:25 pm)citaro5284 wrote Ah ok, of course you could say that was worse for the guy who has to cover the shifts at Stockton, he now has 2 extra shifts to cover on a weekend and going back to the discussion a while back, trying to get drivers in to work their rest days is a nightmare to start with.

I guess as long as in any two consecutive weeks (Monday to Sunday) as per domestic driving rules (irrespective of when your weeks run), you have at least one period of 24 hours off duty, then you are legal.

Dont know if many have seen the PSV375, but this gives you all the rules on drivers hours - both EU and Domestic (link below)

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...europe.pdf

Yup although we are almost back up to full strength at Stockton now so covering shifts is less of an issue, there a lot of people who will work rest days at our depot which always helps. We had a driver on loan to Darlington yesterday too.

Yeah there are people known to work every day with a 24 hour rest period in between to ensure they're legal to work every rest day possible! Not my cup of tea but there'll always be one or two who cane the overtime. I'm quite happy working my 5 days - although when special events come up like this I am always willing to go and help out of course

How do driver loans work? Is it purely voluntary or is it contractual that the company can 'require' drivers to work from other locations?

(08 Feb 2015, 12:40 pm)aureolin wrote How do driver loans work? Is it purely voluntary or is it contractual that the company can 'require' drivers to work from other locations?

I would think its voluntary.

I don't think when GNE did the cricket shuttles for the Ashes in 2013, any of the drivers were chosen randomly, I'm positive there was a sheet they had to put their name down at their own call.

(08 Feb 2015, 12:40 pm)aureolin wrote How do driver loans work? Is it purely voluntary or is it contractual that the company can 'require' drivers to work from other locations?

Can be required to work at other locations contractually, however it is usually voluntary. Last year 8 of us went from Stockton to Jesmond for 4 weeks, Darlo sent about 4 or 5 and Durham sent some too.

Tyne and Wear Metro
7 mins ·
There are delays of up to 30 mins to trains running between Regent Centre and South Hylton due to a train being withdrawn from service. Please leave extra time for your journey.

Is this the same one as this morning?

(08 Feb 2015, 2:32 pm)Michael wrote Tyne and Wear Metro
7 mins ·
There are delays of up to 30 mins to trains running between Regent Centre and South Hylton due to a train being withdrawn from service. Please leave extra time for your journey.

Is this the same one as this morning?

Bloody hope not. They'll have plenty spare in the depot so it'd be disappointing if theyve had the same one missing all day.

Train cancelled at Sunderland

(07 Feb 2015, 8:00 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote What they need to do is, either buy new vehicles or replace Metro with a busway. 

Metro is becoming old, the modernisation of Metro has gone tits up. I remember seeing some infrastructure being held together with an iPod charger.

Just a few points from me, im sure there will be more others would like to add to this list.

1.) It would cost a lot of money for starters.
2.) Entire Metro Infrastructure would have to be removed in stages across the Network.
3.) Pelaw to Sunderland will be a Major Issue due to Regional Rail Services using the same stretch of line as the Metro.
4.) Stations would have to be remodernised to improve passenger accessibility.
5.) How would go about replacing (90 Trains which can carry 180 Passengers I think) on a combined Every 7/8 Minute Frequency, I think youd find you would have to have a Bus every 2/3 Minutes and have at least 270 Buses to cope with Passenger Demand, only Bonus from this is faster Journey Times if said Bus can go over 50mph.

Ashington's offerings yesterday...

2 drivers
7519 & 7520

There are delays of up to 25 mins between South Hylton and Airport , up to 15 mins between South Shields and St James, this is due to a failed train.

Posted at 17:20.