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Tyne & Wear Metro Fleet Replacement: Awarded to Stadler
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danbarjon
Member
My guess is 5 including the new ones delivered but someone might correct me.
ModernRailways
Established Member
- Joined
- 21 Apr 2011
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- 2,117
Correct, 5 units have now been delivered.
northeast10
Member
Anybody know the shunting procedure that was done last night? Judging by the photos on Facebook looks they were split on the inline near bill quay bridge and south drive crossing? Must have been a-bit back and forwards getting the barrier wagons off. I’m presuming there’s special procedures in place with numerous vehicles in one section?New delivery path tonight to Pelaw
Realtime Trains | 7Q56 2137 York Holgate Siding (Gbrf) to Pelaw Goods Loops | 15/12/2023
Real-time train running information for 7Q56 2137 departure from York Holgate Siding (Gbrf) to Pelaw Goods Loops on 15/12/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Suspect tonight’s test run down to South Hylton may not run as a result.
Update 01:14, 16/12/2023:
555013 and 555015 have arrived at Pelaw. 555003 is taking them onwards to Gosforth. All remaining deliveries will be dragged by an already delivered 555, no more 4 unit Metrocar formations.
As 555003 is collecting the new deliveries, tonight’s simulated service test run to South Hylton has been cancelled.
DanNCL
Established Member
Unsure on the signalling but the shunting process looks something like this:
1. Delivery arrives from the Durham Coast. Formation is 2x powercars + 3x barriers + 2x 555s + 3x barriers.
2. Powercars detach leaving front (Hebburn end) barrier wagons in situ and run round via Hebburn.
3. Powercars attach to rear (Pelaw end) to remove the rear barrier wagons then shunt out of the way.
4. Units from Gosforth arrive and attach to the new arrivals at the Pelaw end. Remaining barriers uncoupled but remain in situ.
5. New arrivals leave for Gosforth
6. Powercars shunt back onto the remaining barrier wagons.
7. Powercars and barrier wagons leave for York.
The movement from Pelaw to Gosforth consisted of 555003 and 555005 powering at the front with the two new arrivals dead at the rear. They moved in one long consist, quite possibly the longest to run on the Metro network being equivalent in length to eight Metrocars.
The whole process took just under four hours. The working from York arrived at approx 00:30, the 555s were on the move to Gosforth by 03:45 and the powercars+barrier wagons had left by 04:25
41 to go? If I am saying this right? It’s progress at least but I had thought they had more than that, hopefully into next year it picks up pace at least!
DanNCL
Established Member
At least 11 more are complete in Switzerland, simply waiting for space to become available for them at Gosforth before they're delivered.
I had in my mind that some were out by Byker but that’s a National Rail depot for TPE/LNER/Northern (think when they had the ITV programme couple years back that’s where I thought the depot was, as you say Gosforth! lol)
Cost! It’s Northern’s depot and they will charge for storage.
There’s no link to get from Heaton depot onto metro infrastructure.
Northern operate Neville Hill, don’t own the infrastructure and still have to charge other companies for use of the depot. Same will apply at Heaton.
But just down the line in Pelaw there is (where the transfer of new rolling stock to metro infrastructure has been taking place). And I’m sure there is a link at Longbenton from the ECML but I may have that wrong.
You are assuming the costs would be prohibitive vs the benefit of having the fleet closer to home. My point is: the infrastructure, Northern and the Tyne and Wear Metro are all publicly owned. Therefore it’s a safe assumption that any costs could be worked out to not be a barrier.
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gbell
Member
If trains are being delivered, does that suggest they have passed testing or at least close to passing?
The testing of the new trains versus the specification of the order is now mostly complete. This happened mostly at the factory and a test track in Europe. An extensive testing program and Drive training is now taking place with the new fleet on the actual network across our region. Nexus said this involved many thousands of hours and specific items they need to check against. They are tracking slightly behind the original plan for this… Which means we will not see a new train in passenger service until next year.
ExRes
Established Member
One thing to bear in mind, who is actually responsible for the units before delivery? If Stadler are responsible then there will be no cost except to them, if T&W are paying then it would be the cost between having them delivered to somewhere in the UK against storage abroad at Stadler facilities
Pelaw can’t be used as the HSTs don’t have enough clearance u def the OHLE in this area, hence the use of theHebburn area instead. There is no link at Longbenton. There used to be one at Benton but that was removed many years ago.
testing is progressing well, but no driver training has yet begun.
Driver training must have begun for some metro drivers to be doing tests
And pelaw can be used. The network rail infrastructure with metro OHL has HSTs and AZUMAS using that.
Few places on Cheswick Drive where you can catch a glimpse between the houses
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The original plan was to use Pelaw refuge but it was discovered that the clearance from the OLE was too low for the HSTs in this area…. I’m not an expert in these things, but this came from the team who are doing the moves, it’s gen. Hence why they had to use Hebburn.Driver training must have begun for some metro drivers to be doing tests
And pelaw can be used. The network rail infrastructure with metro OHL has HSTs and AZUMAS using that.
Few places on Cheswick Drive where you can catch a glimpse between the houses
“Metro futures specialists” indeed have had some training but no Traincrew instructors or anyone else has had the formal conversion training yet including the Specialists who are doing the testing (they aren’t evenat the top of the list for conversion training). To be signed off as competent to drive in passenger service, the specialists will go thorough the same training as everyone else, probably at the same time.
most drivers haven’t even set foot on the train as of yet.
DanNCL
Established Member
Hypothetically they could be but Stadler have chosen to store them in Switzerland instead, likely as it's cheaper and more convenient.
Public control of Northern makes no difference. It still functions as a private company.
It’s cheaper for Stadler to store units on a site they already have long term usage of than it is for them to pay a third party. The site in question is the yard at St Margrethen station, a yard predominantly used for cross border freight between the Swiss (SBB) and Austrian (ÖBB) rail networks. It's immediately adjacent to the Stadler plant and Stadler have a long term arrangement for use of this yard.
Some units are within the boundaries of the plant itself, some completed units aren't however as the plant has very little outside storage space, most of what's built there comes straight off the production line and out onto the Swiss/Austrian rail networks (the site is in Switzerland but the track layout is such that it's easier to access the plant from Austria than it is from the rest of Switzerland.)
Testing was split between the Metro network with 555003 and Velim in the Czech Republic with 001 and 002. 002 also spent a period on the Rigibahn in Switzerland for static testing. That testing phase is complete and the two units at Velim have returned to Switzerland.
Stadler are still responsible for all units including the already delivered ones as none have been accepted by Nexus yet. Units are 'pre accepted' by Nexus before they can be delivered to Gosforth but remain the responsibility of Stadler until formal acceptance. So far at least 10 units (555001-555008 plus 013 and 015) have been 'pre accepted'.
The German barrier wagons are more likely to be the issue than the HST powercars I’d have thought.
It wouldn’t surprise me if more politicians had used the training simulator than actual drivers!
John Griffiths
Member
In the past month I have twice had dreams in which the new metro trains featured - I think maybe I am spending too much time checking this thread.
In fairness, they did look pretty good!
In fairness, they did look pretty good!
H&I
Member
Do we know when the first train might enter service? Thanks.
danbarjon
Member
Apparently a demonstration run was supposed to be by the end of this month, but I don't think that is likely.
Maybe I am throwing a spanner in the works here (obviously speculating), but would it be coincendental if some of the new Metro appeared as the new Northumberland Line opens?
Just to say its only my opinion here nothing factual here (lol).
Just to say its only my opinion here nothing factual here (lol).
danbarjon
Member
That would be a good advert for the North East but I just hope the Northumberland Line doesn't get delayed.
H&I
Member
Thanks. Do you mean a demonstration run in passenger service, not just for the media or driver testing? That is surprisingly quick.
danbarjon
Member
There was supposed to be a demonstration in passenger service by the 31st of December.
This is the source: https://northeastca.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023.09.14-TWSC-Public-Agenda-Park.pdf