Tyne and Wear Metro

[142094]

I doubt they would become fully automatic personally...

For starters, the sign is different on the outside of the doors, but I suppose that could always be replaced.

There was a question on the Nexus forum along the same lines a while back (from someone who has already said he videos Metros and probably posts them on You Tube). I'll see if I can find it - but the same point was made about the heat loss in winter.

Jon

PS - glad I'm not the only one who seems to think so highly of some of those YouTube contributors...

Although it is good to see more people in the hobby, their attitude and general behaviour can be terrible at times. I know several stories about what has happened with a few of them, and also the videos on You Tube are incriminating too.

 

[transmanche]

If nothing else, think of how much heat would get wasted in the winter/colder days

I'd say that the logical place to open all doors automatically would be at the busy underground stations (Haymarket, Monument, Central, Gateshead). At busy times all doors will be opened anyway - doing it automatically could save a a few seconds dwell time.

 

[hacman]

Yes! I've wondered about such an idea myself, where on hot days in the summer or at busy stations the doors are opened by the driver instead, but I have a feeling this would cause confusion among quite a few passengers.

It's probably not so good from a DDA compliance perspective too, as consistency on such things is likely to help those who are visually impared.

I think the system in Stockholm used to do this kind of thing...

Jon

 

[transmanche]

Yes! I've wondered about such an idea myself, where on hot days in the summer or at busy stations the doors are opened by the driver instead, but I have a feeling this would cause confusion among quite a few passengers.

The District line in London used to operate like this. The driver opened all the doors in the 'summer', with passenger control in the 'winter'.

I don't see how it's confusing... if the door's not open, press the button.

 

[Tramfan]

The Metrocars had stickers on the doors in the mid 90s saying something along the lines of "warning, automatic doors" so I also don't believe that these new stickers are in readiness for the doors being opened by the driver.

 

[142094]

The Metrocars had stickers on the doors in the mid 90s saying something along the lines of "warning, automatic doors" so I also don't believe that these new stickers are in readiness for the doors being opened by the driver.

Just been confirmed on the Nexus forum that they are not going automatic - so You Tube telling porkies again.

 

[hacman]

Thought as much...

As I say, the sign on the outside is different, but "Automatic" doesn't neccisarily mean they open on their own anyway... It just means that they are power operated.

Ah well - at least that myth has been stopped before it got any ground...

Jon
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I don't see how it's confusing... if the door's not open, press the button.

I'd be inclined to agree with you, if it were not for the high number of people who stand waiting for the doors to open at present with them all being passenger operated.

Even better are the large numbers of people who can't seem to comprehend the large red and white signs saying "doors out of order", and stand there hammering the button in a mix of increasing irritation and futility...

Ah well - such is life!

Jon

 

[blue sabre]

Just been confirmed on the Nexus forum that they are not going automatic - so You Tube telling porkies again.

Well there goes my theory! I was thinking that maybe those new arrow boards that have been appearing were a reminder for which side the driver is to open. The reaspn for them not being automatic on the refurbed sets would be tp keep uniformity amongst the fleet.
Guess not!

 

[Paul_10]

Thought as much...
Even better are the large numbers of people who can't seem to comprehend the large red and white signs saying "doors out of order", and stand there hammering the button in a mix of increasing irritation and futility...

Ah well - such is life!

Jon

That makes me smile too when I see countless passengers at stations trying to get on(and even sometimes off!) a train where the door is out of order, and I remember a driver making a comment about it to a fellow driver once how passengers just fail too see those large signs when a door is out of order and holding them up as a consequence.

Another one for me although a little bit more understandable is where passengers on the prototype units press the green light instead of the black button and get into a bit of a panic because the instructions on the door button itself appears in there eyes to press the "green button" instead of the black one! I do fear one day i will see several passengers missing their stop because of this but as of yet, I havant seen this.

Regarding the Youtube contributers, then I have to agree some appear to be disrespectful by posting videos of staff members telling them off or whatever but I be shocked if any of them are actual proper horrible scumbags in real life, just more frustrated at the injustice of not being able to undertake there hobby because of the strict rules regarding photography/filming.

On a final note, yesterday I finally did manage to ride a refurbished metrocar 4041(although I did wait around a bit) and I do like the interior alot it must be said, much brighter and improved in my eyes. Shame the PA's are apparently still unreliable according to reports, you would of thought this sort of stuff would of been sorted out during the refurbs. I also looked at the flooring and it would appear that the experimental floor panels on 4080 did pass the trial as both type of floor designs are exactly the same as it is on that metrocar. Thankfully they did not take on one of the single seat covers they had on that metrocar, it must be the most uncomfortable seat I have ever sat on, but none of the experimental seat covers were taken and a different design were taken.

 

[142094]

A lot of passengers seem to go into a virtual trance when they're on the platform - they've done it so many times it becomes second nature to go to the nearest door and press the button. I've seen it countless times with empty trains standing waiting for the off and people will continue to press the button and try and get on - I had a few runs on a single car on test and there were a good few people trying the doors at the underground stations. Would be better if all empty/not in service trains ran with the saloon lights turned off.

 

[hacman]

Regarding the Youtube contributers, then I have to agree some appear to be disrespectful by posting videos of staff members telling them off or whatever but I be shocked if any of them are actual proper horrible scumbags in real life, just more frustrated at the injustice of not being able to undertake there hobby because of the strict rules regarding photography/filming.

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree here...

There is no "injustice". Nexus own the system, and it is private property. And whilst I can say the ban is not something I totally agree with, Nexus and their contracted operator have a right and arguably a responsibility to control who is doing things such as filming. Nexus are within their right, and the photographers need to respect this instead of posting rude and abusive comments on YouTube, and even in some cases making rude gestures at CCTV cameras and behind the backs of staff.

I'd be willing to bet that staff who have to undertake these conversations with said people, who then respond with a less than mature and polite attitude are less than pleased by the whole situation. At the end of the day, they are doing their job.

Having met one of these individuals in person briefly (and seeing him getting the previously mentioned lecture at South Gosforth), I can say he appears to be a decent and reasonable person. However, the rules are the rules, and not getting permission as and when you want is not a defense for breaking said rules.

If anything, the staff are being far more than reasonable by not taking the matter further, especially with those who are now known to them for repeat incidents.

Jon

 

[Person A]

....I've seen it countless times with empty trains standing waiting for the off and people will continue to press the button and try and get on.

When I was in my training (A LONG time ago) there was three of us on late night training, the windows were COVERED with "NOT IN SERVICE" sheets (much bigger than any seen now) the lights were off, it was dark, and STILL people would press the buttons, rant and rave that they couldn't get on, shout "I'm reporting you !" while we stood waiting for the signal to change before moving. Bede sticks in my mind, as the woman in her 40's went ballistic so much, the instructor had to open the door and explain quietly that it was a training train - he may as well have spoken in Chinese. She still ranted on. :roll:

 

[142094]

The underground stations were the worst for us on the test run - as we were only on a 1 car working, there were still people rushing down the platform to try and get on before they realised.

 

[jelliott2010]

according to hew on nexus discussions a referb set cant work with non referb sets so how does this add up?????

 

[142094]

according to hew on nexus discussions a referb set cant work with non referb sets so how does this add up?????

They cannot be used in passenger service together but can be shunted in the depot together.

 

[jelliott2010]

They cannot be used in passenger service together but can be shunted in the depot together.

check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36uRAHAVCbg

its a southbound working to pelaw and came back in service to benton

filmed at heworth

 

[142094]

Except the You Tube video shows it running out of service - plus hard to tell what the front unit is
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I've had a good look now and that front car is not a refurbished one.

 

[hacman]

Both of the cars in that video are not refurbished.

And whilst the refurbished and non-refurbished cars are electrically incompatible, they can be coupled to allow shunting or rescue.

This will likely be done by connecting the units with the electrical block on the couplers retracted, which only results in the airline for the brakes being connected. This would be standard practise when shunting a unit with an electrical fault anyway, as coupling the faulty trains electrical systems to that of the good train can result in the fault condition affecting the good train also.

If TW Metro is like other railways when doing such things, this method of working is only permitted for non-service shunts and rescues, and speed is usually limited to under 15mph. Not connecting the electrical systems would also mean that the shunted unit has no traction power.

Jon

 

[Tramfan]

This would be standard practise when shunting a unit with an electrical fault anyway, as coupling the faulty trains electrical systems to that of the good train can result in the fault condition affecting the good train also.

I never knew that, it reminds of a few years ago getting delayed on the Metro due to a train failure ahead at Haymarket. A few minutes later, and the driver announced that the fault had now occurred on the train that was rescuing it as well. I wonder if that is related to the above quote?

 

[142094]

Yes, certain faults can spread so one unit will have to be completely isolated.

 

[blue sabre]

Yes, certain faults can spread so one unit will have to be completely isolated.

Saw the two refurbished cars running in the depot as individual units this evening.

 

[142094]

Doing South Hylton - Airport today, one set of doors has been locked out of use (baffling some people at just about every stop between Sunderland and Monument when I was on it).

 

[Anon Mouse]

Hope they don't use it between Sunderland and Newcastle tomorow, it will get trashed!

 

[Kryten2340]

Hope they don't use it between Sunderland and Newcastle tomorow, it will get trashed!

I was just going to post the same thing. I'm guessing they didn't. The special train that was put on from Sunderland was trashed as a window was put out and emergency stop buttons pressed.

 

[Anon Mouse]

I was just going to post the same thing. I'm guessing they didn't. The special train that was put on from Sunderland was trashed as a window was put out and emergency stop buttons pressed.

Aye I started a thread about that, where did it happen?

 

[Kryten2340]

Aye I started a thread about that, where did it happen?

I don't know. Their Facebook page doesn't say where either. There is currently a police incident between G'Head Stadium and Tynemouth. Hope it's not another death like at Wallsend 2 or 3 weeks ago.

 

[Anon Mouse]

I don't know. Their Facebook page doesn't say where either. There is currently a police incident between G'Head Stadium and Tynemouth. Hope it's not another death like at Wallsend 2 or 3 weeks ago.

I live near to Gateshead Stadium, I can't hear anything mind. Hopefully it will be nowt more serious than kids messing around.

 

[Paul_10]

I doubt it was the refurbished car that was involved in the damage as I don't think Nexus would have those sets out on a day like this for obvious reasons! It would be interesting too see which unit(s) was on the "special" train today.

According to Coachalex's photos, metrocar 4062 is attached to a battery logo with its pantograph down and will be the next unit to go off to Doncaster for refurbishment, If all
goes to plan, that should mean 4061 will be returning tomorrow/very soon.

I wonder if that also may mean 4042/4046(?) will be heading out into service tomorrow?

 

[142094]

Doubt anything is going down or coming back soon as Hylton St is being used as a permanent way depot for the possessions.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

According to Coachalex's photos, metrocar 4062 is attached to a battery logo with its pantograph down and will be the next unit to go off to Doncaster for refurbishment, If all
goes to plan, that should mean 4061 will be returning tomorrow/very soon.

I wonder if that also may mean 4042/4046(?) will be heading out into service tomorrow?

Didn't see anything today on my travels, which no doubt means that the battery loco was shunting. There is certainly no room at Hylton Street to load/unload a Metrocar unless the plant currently there is shifted.

 

[Kryten2340]

4061 has been out and about today. Just gone into the depot from Regent Centre Still got a bit of work to do as a panel from above the door was on the floor and some of the seats were folded over.