Tyne & Wear Metro Fleet Replacement: Awarded to Stadler

[Trestrol]

I’ve seen photos from Northumberland Park, Cullercoats, Chillingham Road, St James and South Gosforth. It’s definitely done a full trip round the coast, and has either then done a trip to Pelaw or it’s returned to Gosforth from Manors via the empty stock line.


That’ll be brilliant if it is! A token Regent Centre - Airport shuttle to start with or would it likely be straight into full diagrams?

Also how close are we to other units being ready to begin daytime testing? Particularly thinking 004 must be close by now?

Not sure for the other units. Units 1-7 have a higher testing regime. Once these pass the rest of the fleet has a lower test threshold.

 

[ModernRailways]

With a bit of luck 005 could be available for passenger service in four weeks. Nexus drivers permitting of course.

Considering how much you suggest to know, how is this going to happen?
This will also mean the ORR will be giving sign off soon and will be a huge milestone that Nexus would’ve likely been hyping up because once the ORR signs the units off then the entire process will speed up significantly.

Four weeks seems very very optimistic. When I was there daytime testing to the trains actually running revenue service was suggested to be around a 6 month process. Of course things have changed since then and different methods of work/testing will be in place with potentially more night time testing instead for things that can be done at night but you still have the issue of driver training.

@Volvictof Do you have anything you’re able to share?

 

[Tramfan]

I’ve seen photos from Northumberland Park, Cullercoats, Chillingham Road, St James and South Gosforth. It’s definitely done a full trip round the coast, and has either then done a trip to Pelaw or it’s returned to Gosforth from Manors via the empty stock line.


That’ll be brilliant if it is! A token Regent Centre - Airport shuttle to start with or would it likely be straight into full diagrams?

Also how close are we to other units being ready to begin daytime testing? Particularly thinking 004 must be close by now?

Just sticking to running between St James and South Gosforth during the current daytime testing I believe

 

[ModernRailways]

I’ve seen photos from Northumberland Park, Cullercoats, Chillingham Road, St James and South Gosforth. It’s definitely done a full trip round the coast, and has either then done a trip to Pelaw or it’s returned to Gosforth from Manors via the empty stock line.

Having looked at the photo of the unit at Monument, I can’t clearly see a platform number but it looks like it’s probably platform 4 in which case it’s probably just done the coast loop and round manors curve - a video metro posted of it heading into South Gosforth doesn’t appear to be coming out of the sidings

 

[Volvictof]

@Volvictof Do you have anything you’re able to share?

The last I heard was that the start of daylight testing marked a 10 week period where the training package and assessments are finalised, tested and signed off by the relevant departments and authorities with driver training beginning after that, starting with the driving instructors obviously.
I haven’t heard that that timescale has been altered, but admittedly I’m not privy to the new fleet discussions.

 

[Trestrol]

Considering how much you suggest to know, how is this going to happen?
This will also mean the ORR will be giving sign off soon and will be a huge milestone that Nexus would’ve likely been hyping up because once the ORR signs the units off then the entire process will speed up significantly.

Four weeks seems very very optimistic. When I was there daytime testing to the trains actually running revenue service was suggested to be around a 6 month process. Of course things have changed since then and different methods of work/testing will be in place with potentially more night time testing instead for things that can be done at night but you still have the issue of driver training.

@Volvictof Do you have anything you’re able to share?

This is best case scenario, most fault free test hours have been completed. Daylight running is to see the interaction with the existing fleet. If you were Nexus would you want to make a big song and dance and find something goes wrong at the last minute. Entry in to service is already delayed so why give the doom and gloom merchants ammunition. Look at yesterday, no big fanfare no press invited.

 

[DanNCL]

Not sure for the other units. Units 1-7 have a higher testing regime. Once these pass the rest of the fleet has a lower test threshold.

Is that 001-007 or is that the 7 units that have been delivered?

Considering how much you suggest to know, how is this going to happen?
This will also mean the ORR will be giving sign off soon and will be a huge milestone that Nexus would’ve likely been hyping up because once the ORR signs the units off then the entire process will speed up significantly.

Four weeks seems very very optimistic. When I was there daytime testing to the trains actually running revenue service was suggested to be around a 6 month process. Of course things have changed since then and different methods of work/testing will be in place with potentially more night time testing instead for things that can be done at night but you still have the issue of driver training.

@Volvictof Do you have anything you’re able to share?

Considering that what’s been said by @Trestrol in this thread so far has been correct, I’m certainly inclined to consider what they’ve said to be reliable.

They won’t hype up ORR approval until it’s received. For all we know that could happen tomorrow (it probably won’t but that’s besides the point). There’ll not be any announcement about that til it’s already finished.

This is best case scenario, most fault free test hours have been completed. Daylight running is to see the interaction with the existing fleet. If you were Nexus would you want to make a big song and dance and find something goes wrong at the last minute. Entry in to service is already delayed so why give the doom and gloom merchants ammunition. Look at yesterday, no big fanfare no press invited.

No press but our newly elected Mayor was quick to make a song and dance about it! No doubt in an attempt to make the public wrongly think she actually has any power to speed the introduction up.

 

[Trestrol]

Is that 001-007 or is that the 7 units that have been delivered?

I assume it's the first seven units as I don't think 1 through to 7 are all here yet.

 

[hacman]

Nexus likely won't comment on ORR acceptance until they're given approval, for the simple reason that the ORR can, and has been known to, suddenly throw a spanner in the works for fairly unexpected reasons. You've just got to look at the situation with the 80x series fleets and the very last-minute requirement to adjust the ICL jumpers to prevent a very specific edge-case issue!

Having looked at the photo of the unit at Monument, I can’t clearly see a platform number but it looks like it’s probably platform 4 in which case it’s probably just done the coast loop and round manors curve - a video metro posted of it heading into South Gosforth doesn’t appear to be coming out of the sidings

It was at platform 4 - the train has done a loop around the coast and via the Manors curve, it seems, with a brief detour into the siding at Stoneyhurst Road.

 

[DanNCL]

555005 has been out again today and stayed out on test during at least part of the evening peak. Similar route to yesterday I believe but based on how long it's been out, probably more than one trip.

 

[cakefiend]

Any idea if there'll be daylight testing on Sunday?

 

[DanNCL]

555005 is out again today. Exact same timings as yesterday. Currently doing two round trips from Gosforth to St James via the coast. Departure times from St James appear to be 15:03 and 17:03.

Some photos I took about an hour ago.

 

[Volvictof]

Any idea if there'll be daylight testing on Sunday?

I vaguely remember seeing a social media post or comment from nexus saying it will be weekdays.

 

[Ewan Hetting]

Watching the latest video on the NEXUS channel, seems as though the new 555s are using the same voice announcer as the current fleet as you can hear one go off for north shields in the background.

 

[danbarjon]

Watching the latest video on the NEXUS channel, seems as though the new 555s are using the same voice announcer as the current fleet as you can hear one go off for north shields in the background.

Just checked and yes it's true. I must say I don't know of anyone who wanted to change the announcements so it makes sense that they keep the original announcements.

 

[ModernRailways]

Considering that what’s been said by @Trestrol in this thread so far has been correct, I’m certainly inclined to consider what they’ve said to be reliable.

Having spoken to an ex-colleague they still expect this process to take months and there is certainly 0 talk of them entering service within a matter of weeks as has been suggested by @Trestol.
The timescale and initial plans have been changed but are still similar enough to when I was there. With that meaning, as I have previously said, that we are around 6 months away from seeing a unit start revenue earning service, pending nothing major and niggles being ironed out.

 

[Trestrol]

The bulk of testing is complete with the majority completed during the night. This will have ironed out most problems. Daylight running is to see how they perform with other traffic and most faults if any will be minor. I would not be surprised if they hadn't applied to the ORR already for acceptance. I think entry into service will be unannounced and sudden to manage expectations.

 

[Volvictof]

The latest that’s being touted is September for start of training, and then however long it takes to train the 30+ drivers that it will take to have one new unit in passenger service.

 

[ModernRailways]

The latest that’s being touted is September for start of training, and then however long it takes to train the 30+ drivers that it will take to have one new unit in passenger service.

This is similar to what I have recently been told and is also very similar to what was initially expected when I was working there, as I have previously said things can change but certainly not a significant enough change to see a unit with passengers in a matter of weeks.
The expectation is likely for the first unit to be almost ready in the next ~3-4 months with then a further month or 2 required for driver training to begin and get enough drivers trained up.

 

[Trestrol]

Driver familiarisation is being undertaken on these daytime runs. Daylight milage accumulation finishes for number 5 on Friday, so I'd expect another unit next week.

 

[Volvictof]

Driver familiarisation is being undertaken on these daytime runs. Daylight milage accumulation finishes for number 5 on Friday, so I'd expect another unit next week.

What’s ment by driver familiarisation in this case?

 

[DanNCL]

Driver familiarisation is being undertaken on these daytime runs. Daylight milage accumulation finishes for number 5 on Friday, so I'd expect another unit next week.

That's incredibly quick, only 8 afternoons and only 15 round trips between Gosforth and St James (as only did one trip on day 1). That's not even 300 miles. That surely can't be right?

 

[Paul_10]

That's incredibly quick, only 8 afternoons and only 15 round trips between Gosforth and St James (as only did one trip on day 1). That's not even 300 miles. That surely can't be right?

And surely the same unit has to complete the whole system before it passes the test so to speak especially the Sunderland line with the different signalling?

As far I'm concerned I'm still not expecting the first unit to be ready until the end of the year at least but it is encouraging the daytime testing unit has been out everyday and not one of those where we seen it one day and not seen again for weeks.

 

[ModernRailways]

And surely the same unit has to complete the whole system before it passes the test so to speak especially the Sunderland line with the different signalling?

They've been testing down to Sunderland at night, so if it's just purely mileage accumulation then they can stick to the Metro network for that and it saves taking a path up/paying Network Rail.
What I have tried to find out, to no avail as yet, is if everything has been done at night, including the majority of the mileage accumulation, is that potentially why they only need a small of daytime running to ensure they can mingle with the current (old?) fleet. If so, then the daytime testing is basically a formality and more just the finalising of the unit before ready for service.

 

[Trestrol]

That's incredibly quick, only 8 afternoons and only 15 round trips between Gosforth and St James (as only did one trip on day 1). That's not even 300 miles. That surely can't be right?

Yes but remember there is a unit in the training centre at South Shields and also the simulator as well. And as is the way these days you can learn everything on line! . Also the majority of testing on the system has been done at night as ModernRailways says.

 

[swt_passenger]

What’s ment by driver familiarisation in this case?

I saw a YouTube video of 555005 a couple of days ago, and spotted a partition in the saloon immediately behind the leading cab, it had at least the words “driver” and “instruction” visible on it. The interior cab door appeared to be open to the saloon. That definitely suggested instruction to me…

The video is here, have a look about 40-50 secs in, you’ll have to pause it. I don’t think it’s been linked yet:

(link to YouTube video of 555005 at various locations around the system)



(A screen grab from the video showing partial view of “Driver under instruction” partition in saloon)

 

[18nufc98]

There’s no drivers training (at all) or under instruction on the daytime runs. Only drivers are those who have been driving them since the start. The screen will just be to give the drivers more space than just the cab and to still have separation between rest of staff on board.

 

[Volvictof]

I saw a YouTube video of 555005 a couple of days ago, and spotted a partition in the saloon immediately behind the leading cab, it had at least the words “driver” and “instruction” visible on it. The interior cab door appeared to be open to the saloon. That definitely suggested instruction to me…

The video is here, have a look about 40-50 secs in, you’ll have to pause it. I don’t think it’s been linked yet:

(link to YouTube video of 555005 at various locations around the system)

View attachment 158558

(A screen grab from the video showing partial view of “Driver under instruction” partition in saloon)

As above, I thought it was odd that you said that, as there is no driver familiarisation going on. ( I thought maybe you knew something that diddnt, hence the question. But that sheet is just to keep the guys who are driving it during the testing from being distracted by the numerous other staff onboard. I assume the cab door needs to remain open for whatever reason. (Probably numerous people need access to the cab for testing purposes) The only people who have been driving these units on the network are the metro futures specialists.

 

[swt_passenger]

As above, I thought it was odd that you said that, as there is no driver familiarisation going on. ( I thought maybe you knew something that diddnt, hence the question. But that sheet is just to keep the guys who are driving it during the testing from being distracted by the numerous other staff onboard. I assume the cab door needs to remain open for whatever reason. (Probably numerous people need access to the cab for testing purposes) The only people who have been driving these units on the network are the metro futures specialists.

No problem - I suppose it would be daft to have differently labelled partitions to fit for different scenarios.

But nevertheless it’s another reasonably good quality video…

 

[danbarjon]

Metro have replied to people's questions on the 555s on Instagram stating

"the first ones should be in service by the end of this year"

and when someone said "We are tired of waiting. We are dwelling and riding our new metro in our minds" Metro responded with this:

"not much longer to wait!"

replies were on this video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7ULoJKoZTh/?igsh=OHNkZnJicjh3MWVm