Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Isn't some of the Metrocar seating already longitudinal? I half recall a layout a bit like the DLR?
I know it's a proof of concept, but I'd definitely like to be travelling around Tyneside at 200km/h!
(Whilst simultaneously being stationary at Central)
New Metro trains WILL have Tube-style seating after decision by transport bosses
NECA's transport committee has voted to press ahead with plans for 'linear' - despite opposition from Sunderland City Council
By
Katie Dickinson
- 14:17, 30 NOV 2017
- Updated12:01, 1 DEC 2017
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Nexus staff react to Budget announcement
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The new fleet of Metro trains WILL have London Underground-style seating after a decision by the region’s transport bosses.
The North East Combined Authority’s (NECA) transport committee has voted to press ahead with plans for “linear” seating on the new carriages - despite opposition from Sunderland City Council .
Nexus had proposed Tube-style seating, saying it would give passengers more standing space at peak times, prevent people putting their feet up on the seats and make the trains more accessible for elderly and disabled customers.
And on Thursday the NECA committee officially backed the plans after voting down a proposal from the Wearside authority for a “hybrid” seating layout instead.
Coun Henry Trueman, representing Sunderland council, said: “People have been saying things like: ‘we like looking out of the window, we would feel uncomfortable sitting opposite people, children would be climbing on the seating to look out of the window’.
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Nexus managing director and rail minister on Metro deal
“Changing the recommendation to a hybrid layout that maximises the availability of seating would at least say to the manufacturers that they could come up with another design.”
But Tobyn Hughes, managing director of Nexus, said the current Metros did have a hybrid seating layout, which led to “a number of issues for passengers”.
He said: “The longitudinal seating would provide additional capacity for people to stand during rush hour. That’s not to say people like standing, but at the minute there are people during busy periods who are unable to board the first one or two trains that come past, because there isn’t space for them to stand.
“The current design encourages people to bunch around the doors rather than flow through the carriage.
“People also feel there is insufficient space for luggage, buggies and wheelchairs.”
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Mr Hughes said that until the designs from manufacturers are submitted it is impossible to say whether the number of seats will decrease or stay the same.
He added: “Another bugbear for passengers with the current layout is that seats are wasted when people sit in the aisle seats instead of the window.
“There is also a problem with people putting their feet on the seats opposite, which not only wastes a seat but creates an issue of cleanliness for the next person sitting there and gives an impression of antisocial behaviour.”
Nexus says it has consulted with passengers and transport experts on three separate occasions and have found a clear consensus for Tube-style linear seating on the new trains.
The committee voted to endorse Nexus’ intention to specify linear seating in the fleet specification.
The process of tendering for manufacturers can now begin in line with a target of having new trains on the tracks by 2021.
What is the average travel time on the Tyne and Wear Metro as in how long on average does each passenger spend on the train? Given that the longest possible journey is South Shields to St James' Park which is 82 min although it's unlikely anyone would do that regularly given the detour required.
I can't see it being very long in which case London Underground style seating makes sense somewhat.
Isn't some of the Metrocar seating already longitudinal? I half recall a layout a bit like the DLR?
Here's my best stab at it.What is the average travel time on the Tyne and Wear Metro as in how long on average does each passenger spend on the train?
South Hylton or South Shields to Newcastle is a fair trip, and there will no doubt be people who travel through the city centre for one reason or another, for example to the airport or coast. An all-longitudinal layout seems to be erring towards maximising room to board, which seems to imply reduced frequencies. A part longitudinal part transverse setup would seem more appropriate to me, providing a compromise to suit the varying journey lengths.
The Chronicle are reporting they priced themselves out by adding a huge Brexit financial clause to the contract. Which would further imply the work was to be done in Italy, as if it was built in England using British parts Brexit wouldn't matter.
Even if you source all components from the UK, the manufacturers of those components would need to source all their materials from within the UK. Assuming there are parts of the train that contain materials like rubber then this is impossible.Would it even be possible to build EMUs with 100 per cent British parts?
Assuming that the answer is no, the cost of UK-built trains would be affected by price rises on parts imported from the EU and other countries with which the EU has preferential trade agreements, including Japan.
That second livery doesn't look to be compliant with the requirement for contrasting door colours? None of them are great, but of the three the third is the least bad. A slightly brighter colour below the windows and solid white doors and it would be better imo.https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/new-metro-trains-colour-scheme-17659623
The 3 options for the colour scheme revealed.
Thames Trains did something similar on their Turbos - albeit under a previous set of regulations. Have the rules changed that much?That second livery doesn't look to be compliant with the requirement for contrasting door colours?
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/new-metro-trains-colour-scheme-17659623
The 3 options for the colour scheme revealed.
I agree. Option 3 takes inspiration from the original PTE livery and so links with the Metro's heritage.Growing up in the days of yellow buses I liked the original yellow Metros. The third option is the least bad of the three. The first is insipid and the second looks depressingy grey even on a bright sunny day.
Wasn’t it Newcastle City Transport yellow in the 60s before the PTE was even thought of...I agree. Option 3 takes inspiration from the original PTE livery and so links with the Metro's heritage.
Yes, but the PTE livery added blue lining which was the South Shields colour.Wasn’t it Newcastle City Transport yellow in the 60s before the PTE was even thought of...
Well yes, but I think at the time it was still seen as a Newcastle based yellow takeover bid...Yes, but the PTE livery added blue lining which was the South Shields colour.
Probably so, and it was originally just Tyneside but Sunderland didn't get a colour when it became Tyne and Wear.Well yes, but I think at the time it was still seen as a Newcastle based yellow takeover bid...
I agree. Option 3 takes inspiration from the original PTE livery and so links with the Metro's heritage.
Thats what I thought when I first saw it, it looks far too similar to Merseyrail's livery.Er, isn't it Merseyrail livery, near enough?
Reminds me of the Connex Networker livery.Once again, i couldn't help myself
View attachment 73374
a) They want the new trains to be special to advertise better and get more people on the networkWhat on earth is wrong with keeping the current livery?
Once again, i couldn't help myself
View attachment 73374
a) They want the new trains to be special to advertise better and get more people on the network
b) The old livery is a bit boring in my opinion, it is just black and yellow doors with a logo and a stripe on the front of yellow
c) Doesn't black show dirt?
The original livery was mainly yellow and white with black only used for text. So actually I'd say of the three, #1 is the closest to the Metro "heritage".Metro's colour scheme has always been black and yellow as is visible on signage, station refurbishments have gone black/white with splashes of yellow.