(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.