MetroCar4058
Member
- Joined
- 18 Jun 2014
- Messages
- 580
Thanks for sharing. If I’m honest given it is September this was the programme I thought they would be working to, not all as worrying as it sounds!
Thanks for sharing. If I’m honest given it is September this was the programme I thought they would be working to, not all as worrying as it sounds!
Disappointing but not surprising in the least.
I am aware that Nexus were doing Murton Gap as part of a work experience plan for KS4. I do wonder why it has been redacted though. The development has been progresing on the southern side next to Rake Lane. Anyways it is intretsing to see that they still want to run the new trains by December on short runs my guess is *cough* Regent Centre - Airport *cough*.I know not strictly the right thread, but interesting to see that Murton Station has a section in that which has been redacted which I assume in the name for the new planned station between Shiremoor and West Monkseaton - always been referred as Murton Gap. Haven't seen much mention of it anywhere for a few years now.
Maybe they are sensitive to the fact that none of the local residents want the development to happen. Or maybe since the Government dropped the housing quota for local authorities it may not happen.
I have a Pop card for use on the T&W Metro and almost every day notification pops up letting me know that a number of trains have been cancelled .. lack of trains is usually the excuse given.In the meantime, the aging fleet is falling apart and the service has been an absolute shambles for the last year
I have a Pop card for use on the T&W Metro and almost every day notification pops up letting me know that a number of trains have been cancelled .. lack of trains is usually the excuse given.
I am looking forward to seeing the new trains
Maybe the rule (if it exists) only applies in tunnels? I’ve been stuck in a broken-down unit on the QE2 bridge before, they attached the “rescue” unit while we were still on-board.I suspect there's a rule on metro they can't attach sets whilst passengers are on board so your left in a situation where passengers are stuck in limbo on a hot train and there's only so much patience people have sadly.
I visited the QE2 bridge during a couple of times during its construction and it's quite a way down. I was studying civil engineering at the time.I suspect it’s much safer doing that than walking a train full of people across the bridge!
Does anyone have any updates as to if we are going to see a demonstration train in service by the 31st of this month?
Considering there still hasn't been any daytime testing I think it's very unlikely.Does anyone have any updates as to if we are going to see a demonstration train in service by the 31st of this month?
Yeah that's what I thought but I wasn't sure if there had been more daytime testing.Considering there still hasn't been any daytime testing I think it's very unlikely.
From what I have heard from ex-colleagues the date appears to now be May/June 2024 for the first passenger service.Does anyone have any updates as to if we are going to see a demonstration train in service by the 31st of this month?
Is there still only 3 units here in the UK?From what I have heard from ex-colleagues the date appears to now be May/June 2024 for the first passenger service.
What an absolute farce. Entry into passenger service will be a year late by then.From what I have heard from ex-colleagues the date appears to now be May/June 2024 for the first passenger service.
At least 11 units complete in Switzerland, probably more than that now as that was a while ago.Loads ready to come. They are waiting for the new stabling roads to be finished.
That’s nothing compared to some other recent new fleets in the UK!What an absolute farce. Entry into passenger service will be a year late by then.
3 units, but there are plenty waiting to come over.Is there still only 3 units here in the UK?
This is a problem when stations aren’t staffed, if a passenger takes ill at somewhere like Monument whilst it’s staffed then staff can help assist them from the train and deal with it on the platform (depending on severity, sometimes keeping them where they are is best). But if you’re at Wallsend, for example, you can’t just boot them off and then leave them on their own so service comes to a stand, the alternative is to keep the train moving and meeting an ambulance somewhere further along.Ill passengers (the Nexus policy appears to be leave them on the train and stop the service)
The trains are being built to schedule, the problem is the stabling facilities. Construction is behind schedule- given the huge amounts of rain this autumn, this isn’t a massive surprise.What an absolute farce. Entry into passenger service will be a year late by then
You’ll still get all those types of delays, and there will be teething problems, but the new trains will be so much better.I'm not sure this new fleet is going to be the golden bullet that many are hoping for.
Not sure what you mean - three Class 555 are already here and testing has been ongoing since May. It would be a good start if these could enter passenger service.The trains are being built to schedule, the problem is the stabling facilities. Construction is behind schedule- given the huge amounts of rain this autumn, this isn’t a massive surprise.
The stabling facilities for the new 555s are still being constructed, I believe.Not sure what you mean - three Class 555 are already here and testing has been ongoing since May
There’s no room for any more of them to come over though, and the ones that are here can’t enter pax service until they have completed all testing.Not sure what you mean - three Class 555 are already here and testing has been ongoing since May. It would be a good start if these could enter passenger service.
3 more roads ready to come into service soon I believe.The stabling facilities for the new 555s are still being constructed, I believe.
Flooding - there are projects being planned to solved this, especially at Tyne dock.I'm not sure this new fleet is going to be the golden bullet that many are hoping for. Looking at the recent disruption issues
Flooding (a long term problem in parts of the network, particularly Callerton area and Bede)
Ill passengers (the Nexus policy appears to be leave them on the train and stop the service)
Power failures (fairly regular occurence but perhaps these are as a result of the aged fleet?)
Points failures (Pelaw and the depot seem pinch points)
Trespassers (the line is very open in places and I guess this is something that impacts a lot of operators)
Track defect (again a weekly thing)
None of this will be solved by new trains - does anyone know if Nexus have any other investment planned in terms of replacing and repairing equipment?
If at least one class 555 entered service, would this not translate in two Metrocars being sent for scrap and therefore make room for the 555? I might not be understanding this properly.The stabling facilities for the new 555s are still being constructed, I believe.
Like I said before, I do understand that no more can be delivered until there is room for them, but having the three already here enter passenger service would be a great starting point. The service has really got worse since February.There’s no room for any more of them to come over though, and the ones that are here can’t enter pax service until they have completed all testing.
Perhaps they want to avoid experiencing Merseyrail's somewhat lack lustre introduction into service of their 777s?If at least one class 555 entered service, would this not translate in two Metrocars being sent for scrap and therefore make room for the 555? I might not be understanding this properly.
Like I said before, I do understand that no more can be delivered until there is room for them, but having the three already here enter passenger service would be a great starting point. The service has really got worse since February.
I do understand that the testing is still ongoing, but how could Nexus have planned their entry into service so poorly? The trains were originally due to enter passenger service in Summer 2023, but this has already been postponed multiple times and the new deadline is now May/June 2024. Do they not know how long testing for a new unit takes?
As a regular passenger I am just in disbelief at the state of the service. The longer their entry into passenger service takes, the longer Metrocars will have to continue to operate on the Network, which is far from ideal considering the fact that they are very well over their intended lifespan, breakdowns are not going to get any less common (or easier to fix), and cold temperatures translate in a lot of units going pop before they even start service. Part of me is wondering whether the testing is really going as well as advertised, because it certainly looks like they are trying not to have the Class 555 enter passenger service at all.
The first few trains of a brand new design usually take a long time to enter service.If at least one class 555 entered service, would this not translate in two Metrocars being sent for scrap and therefore make room for the 555? I might not be understanding this properly.
Like I said before, I do understand that no more can be delivered until there is room for them, but having the three already here enter passenger service would be a great starting point. The service has really got worse since February.
I do understand that the testing is still ongoing, but how could Nexus have planned their entry into service so poorly? The trains were originally due to enter passenger service in Summer 2023, but this has already been postponed multiple times and the new deadline is now May/June 2024. Do they not know how long testing for a new unit takes?
As a regular passenger I am just in disbelief at the state of the service. The longer their entry into passenger service takes, the longer Metrocars will have to continue to operate on the Network, which is far from ideal considering the fact that they are very well over their intended lifespan, breakdowns are not going to get any less common (or easier to fix), and cold temperatures translate in a lot of units going pop before they even start service. Part of me is wondering whether the testing is really going as well as advertised, because it certainly looks like they are trying not to have the Class 555 enter passenger service at all.
Do we know why they may be trying to minimise daytime testing before the units enter passenger service? Sounds quite bizarre.A test run from Airport to South Hylton and back simulating a regular service is scheduled for the early hours of 16th December. Scheduled as train 181, 0129 Airport - South Hylton and 0236 South Hylton - Airport.
Elsewhere this sort of testing has been done mixed in with the regular service so one has to wonder if Nexus are choosing to do as much as they can overnight, possibly to minimise the time between units first running on the network during the day (and in full view of the passengers) and when they finally enter service.
As far as I understand this is a more advanced stage of testing than what TFL have achieved with the B23 DLR units that were delivered around the same time as the first 555s.