(17 May 2016, 10:58 pm)Bus_User wrote I can see why you say that but at the end of the day, The system is getting modernised and hopefully the funding to replace the current stock will be subject to approval, it all comes in cycles surely, in the 80's the region could boast with an ever expanding light rail transport system but now obviously its need investing, especially the trains. Patience is unfortunately required and one must remember, new does not always mean better.
Of course one could argue, perhaps the current fleet should of been replaced before any extension towards Sunderland? However the Sunderland extension took place and this in turn is an factor in terms of current fleet reliability in respect more trains are being used which are travelling more mileage than they would of done without the extension.
New trains was never going to come with the Sunderland extension, the whole project cost quite a lot of money in the first place and there was no chance the government would of poured more money into it when at the time of the extension, the current fleet would of been just around 20 years old.
I have been racking my brains, looking online and trying to remember the whole ins and outs of the modernisation scheme.
Wasn't the funding bid for new stock turned down in the late 2000's? Or only a certain amount given to Nexus, which gave them the choice of new stock OR the station, track, signalling etc renewals.
I seem to recall funding being allocated for stock refurb and the modernisation scheme, with top ups being made if certain conditions were met - such as franchising the system out.
When it was franchised to DB, an additional pot of money was released by the government.