edwin_m
Veteran Member
I believe the overlaps are longer (much longer in some cases) so a SPAD by a freight train will get stopped before getting to somewhere it could hit a Metro. This reduces capacity.
Where does Stadler build a manufacturing plant in the UK?
The winning bid for the new metros will be announced in 2020 Credit: Nexus
The operators of The Tyne and Wear Metro have announced the shortlist of preferred bidders to build the next fleet of trains.
They are:
The three firms will be invited to make final offers this summer after Nexus completed its evaluation of initial tenders submitted by each firm.
- Hitatchi Rail
- Stadler
- CAF
Nexus has secured Government grant funding of £337m towards the projected £362m cost, which includes designing and building a new Metro train fleet and a new train maintenance depot.
The winning bid will be announced in January 2020.
Nexus expects to see the first new trains arriving in late 2021, from which point the phased withdrawal of its existing Metro fleet will begin.
How will the new trains be different?
Nexus wants improved seating layouts, wider doors and stand-back areas, wide aisles, and a layout to encourage flow of passengers through the vehicle.
It's aimed at improving passengers’ sense of security, accessibility and providing space for large items and luggage.
There will be improved digital connectivity for passengers and air conditioning.
This is another hugely important step towards delivering a new fleet of trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro.
- Tobyn Hughes, the Managing Director at Nexus hopes the new fleet will transform the passenger experience:
We are down to the final three bidders. Each firm has a proven track record of building trains for railway systems throughout the world.
We have carefully evaluated the bids and will now begin the final stage of the process where bids will be refined. Bidders will then come back with best and final offers and we will sit down and pick a preferred bidder.
The winner will then start the task of designing and building 42 new trains, which will transform the passenger experience of the Metro system.
– TOBYN HUGHES, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT NEXUS
Who are the preferred contenders?
Hitatchi Rail: Known for its Japanese bullet-trains and bespoke metro fleets, the company has over 100 years of experience. The £100 million North East factory in Newton Aycliffe is currently building the new Azuma trains for LNER, which connects cities such as London, Newcastle, York and Edinburgh.
Stadler: An international rail vehicle construction company based in Eastern Switzerland that produces high-speed trains, intercity trains, regional and commuter heavy rail trains, underground trains and trams. Stadler also manufactures the most powerful diesel-electric locomotive in Europe.
CAF: A Spanish company with factories in Spain, France, the USA, Mexico and Brazil. It has a new UK train assembly plant in Newport, South Wales. Their recent contracts include regional trains for the Northern franchise. They are also competing to build trains for HS2.
I’d be surprised if Hitachi don’t get it purely for the nonsense local PR Nexus would want
My money is on a bespoke (and human driven) version of the Hitachi Driverless Metro.
Yep! These are the ones I'm referring to.
AnsaldoBreda first produced them for Copenhagen in about 2002, and they have been deployed to many cities since, with only slight changes to the design. Copenhagen are about to get their second batch.
They're solid performers, and quite pleasant/comfortable too!
For future NetWorkRail connections
Do I need a 1,500 V and 25 kV dual voltage vehicle?
They won’t be dual voltage, no. They’ll take 1,500v DC from the overhead power line and will have batteries for off-wire running. At least that’s the plan at the minute.
Do metro have AWS and TPWS for when they run on NR infrastructure? If not, how do they get around that as isn’t it the law following the Southall crash - is it like a special exception to the rule?
Regarding the new fleet, I am looking forward to seeing the design blueprints. Hope they don’t go for a tram design, have travelled on trams down Birmingham and even off-road they are nowhere near as comfortable as light rail.. Also hope they don’t go for sideways facing seats, means less actual seats. Yes there is more standing room, but I think it is rather rare for metros to be so busy that you can’t get on (at least on my part of the network), so do we really need more standing room?
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I imagine the ability to run both with and without overhead line would be hugely advantageous. Could open the door to running on NR infrastructure up the old Blyth and Tyne.
Also hope they don’t go for sideways facing seats, means less actual seats. Yes there is more standing room, but I think it is rather rare for metros to be so busy that you can’t get on
One thing that is pretty much certain though - the passenger seat alongside the driver will be a thing of the past. Network Rail, the ORR and others will be unlikely to grant a safety case for a vehicle where passengers are seated in such a position on a mixed-use railway, and the existing cabs are not fit for purpose (cramped, no space for secondman/assessor, new fleet likely to require more space for modern controls, etc). If we're lucky we may get a glass wall behind the driver like the new Merseyrail stock, but don't be surprised if that's out of Nexus price range!
It's always struck me as bizarre that they were ever built with such a layout! Does anyone know the thinking behind it? A glass partition I could understand but to have a half-width cab? Odd! Hopefully the new trains will come with a glass partition though (even if the bit directly behind the driver is blocked off, I wouldn't fancy having someone leaning over my shoulder!) as it's one of the best things about that network having the forward view.
I travel daily through the central belt at peak times, and whilst I'm usually able to board a train there are occasions (especially if there has been disruption) when I've been unable to get on to the first couple of trains due to crowding.
Even then, it's a squash most days due to the way the current design encourages people to gather around the doors. If passengers can be encouraged to move down the carriage, then I'm all for it.
Metro has its own Indussi based system which is fitted to the tracks down there.
Funding for this is being sought after in the TCF round 2 bid. There is no expectation that that line will be part of Metro, it is a different, heavy rail proposal.
The current fleet has Indusi train stop signalling protection fitted, and to get around the requirements the Durham Coast line is fitted with dual AWS/TPWS + Indusi between Pelaw Junction and South Hylton. This also results in additional space being left between trains, which is somewhat less than ideal.
The new trains were supposed to coincide with the replacement of signalling systems across the rest of the Metro network, but any mention of signalling seems to have gone totally quiet, meaning that unless this pops up as a new project after the fleet replacement we're going to be using the current arrangements for the foreseeable.
Ideally we'd have seen a semi-ATO / CBTC signalling system introduced along with higher speeds to allow the network to operate more efficiently, but perhaps delaying this could be a good thing, as it will allow Network Rail time to get their ideas straight with regards to ERTMS implementation in the region, meaning that any new system specified for Metro could be directly compatible, rather than the current overlay/kludge.
Bidders would be free to make the trains respond to both Indusi and TPWS/AWS, but this is not likely since it's superfluous to requirements, and would complicate testing and acceptance for little benefit.
The new fleet invitation to tender originally specified both 1500V DC and 25KV AC power supply compatibility, in addition to the exploration of independent power options, both for off wires running in an emergency (as a limp-home feature for power failures), and for longer distance. 25KV is now no longer a hard requirement, with extended battery (or other IP) running preferred. This was allegedly due to weight restrictions, but my guess would be the true reason was cost.
Of course, this doesn't preclude a bidder including 25KV AC support in their design, either out of the box, or as passive provision - especially since there is not really such a thing as a "DC traction package" these days, with most modern vehicles using AC direct drive traction hardware for reasons of efficiency.
In terms of seating, this has been left to the discretion of the bidders, provided the capacity numbers are met. So we may see a full "tube" style layout, with seats along the sides of cars only, or a (more suitable IMHO) hybrid layout similar to the S-Stock. The current trains do reach capacity at times, and there are aspects of the design that encourages space to be wasted, but we're not yet anywhere near the point where the full tube layout is required, especially if the new trains are one long fixed consist, rather than the pairs of twin-articulated cars we have now with extra cabs in the middle that are not required. Issues with the current timetable also contribute to the current levels of crowding, which is something the new, more reliable fleet should help resolve. The new fleet will also very likely open up the possibility of technological solutions to this too - such as passenger counting hardware being able to feed into realtime travel information, letting passengers know where is best to stand on the platform to spread people out, or if the train behind is considerably more empty. Once the foundations are in place (hint, these are the same as those for the on-train WiFi), you can start to do all sorts of interesting stuff. Some companies in Japan even have their RTI app show the AC temperature in the coaches!
The tender does include rather specific wording as to the width of doorways, plus the addition of an "inset" space either side to try and prevent some of the current passenger circulation issues.
One thing that is pretty much certain though - the passenger seat alongside the driver will be a thing of the past. Network Rail, the ORR and others will be unlikely to grant a safety case for a vehicle where passengers are seated in such a position on a mixed-use railway, and the existing cabs are not fit for purpose (cramped, no space for secondman/assessor, new fleet likely to require more space for modern controls, etc). If we're lucky we may get a glass wall behind the driver like the new Merseyrail stock, but don't be surprised if that's out of Nexus price range!
Even if they only have DC power collection I would strongly suspect it will still be an AC traction package with 3 phase drives. Is there anything new around using DC motors nowadays?That’s speculative still, I doubt they’ll come with anything other than a DC traction package & perhaps the ability to be dual tractioned in the future.
Very informative post - thank you! Regarding the higher speeds, how much of an impact would this have across the network? Obviously journey times to Sunderland would be quicker, but how much of the rest of the 80km/hr speed restrictions are due to the limits of the trains themselves vs limitations of track? E.g. could we see 100km/hr on the straight section between Jarrow and Bede? Is the track quality of metro as good as network rail and able to support high speed, or is it a cheap track just designed to support slow speed light rail?
In terms of higher speeds I reckon the only places where the speed could be raised from 80kmh would be on the Sunderland extension between Pelaw and Stadium of Light so I’m not sure there’d be much point.
Subject to the track being in appropriate condition, faster speeds would likely be attainable between the following stations, as these are places where the current fleet can, and sometimes does, reach top speed for a period of time:
The following sections may also benefit, subject to the acceleration and braking capabilities of the new fleet:
- Callerton Parkway - Bank Foot (barriers required on Bank Foot crossing to maximise potential)
- Kingston Park - Fawdon
- West Jesmond - Jesmond
- Jesmond - Haymarket
- Central Station - Gateshead
- Heworth - Pelaw
- Pelaw - Hebburn
- Hebburn - Jarrow
- Jarrow - Bede
- Tyne Dock - Chichester
- Pelaw - Fellgate
- Fellgate - Brockley Whins
- Brockley Whins - East Boldon
- East Boldon - Seaburn
- Pallion - South Hylton (subject to signalling constraints)
- Benton - Palmersville
- Palmersville - Northumberland Park
- Shiremoor - West Monseaton
- Cullercoats - Tynemouth (angle of approach into Tynemouth station is a limiting factor)
- Tynemouth - North Shields (subject to condition of the tunnel and cuttings)
- Percy Main - Howdon
- Howdon - Hadrian Road (subject to the condition of Willington Viaduct, which already has a speed restriction below the current 50mph in place)
- Wallsend - Walkergate
- Byker - Manors (subject to the construction of the Byker Viaduct)
- Wansbeck Road - Regent Centre
- Gateshead - Gateshead Stadium
- Gateshead Stadium - Felling
- Felling - Heworth
- Seaburn - Stadium of Light
- Longbenton - Four Lane Ends
- North Shields - Meadow Well
- Walkergate - Chillingham Road
Subject to the track being in appropriate condition, faster speeds would likely be attainable between the following stations, as these are places where the current fleet can, and sometimes does, reach top speed for a period of time:
The following sections may also benefit, subject to the acceleration and braking capabilities of the new fleet:
- Callerton Parkway - Bank Foot (barriers required on Bank Foot crossing to maximise potential)
- Kingston Park - Fawdon
- West Jesmond - Jesmond
- Jesmond - Haymarket
- Central Station - Gateshead
- Heworth - Pelaw
- Pelaw - Hebburn
- Hebburn - Jarrow
- Jarrow - Bede
- Tyne Dock - Chichester
- Pelaw - Fellgate
- Fellgate - Brockley Whins
- Brockley Whins - East Boldon
- East Boldon - Seaburn
- Pallion - South Hylton (subject to signalling constraints)
- Benton - Palmersville
- Palmersville - Northumberland Park
- Shiremoor - West Monseaton
- Cullercoats - Tynemouth (angle of approach into Tynemouth station is a limiting factor)
- Tynemouth - North Shields (subject to condition of the tunnel and cuttings)
- Percy Main - Howdon
- Howdon - Hadrian Road (subject to the condition of Willington Viaduct, which already has a speed restriction below the current 50mph in place)
- Wallsend - Walkergate
- Byker - Manors (subject to the construction of the Byker Viaduct)
- Wansbeck Road - Regent Centre
- Gateshead - Gateshead Stadium
- Gateshead Stadium - Felling
- Felling - Heworth
- Seaburn - Stadium of Light
- Longbenton - Four Lane Ends
- North Shields - Meadow Well
- Walkergate - Chillingham Road
There should be some improvements in journey times and increased resilience between Pelaw and South Shields if Nexus is successful in their Transforming Cities Tranche 2 funding due to the duelling of the line between Pelaw and Bede.
Be interesting to see how this could impact on journey times!