Tyne and Wear Metro

[ModernRailways]

Any chance that as soon as you find out (or anyone else for that matter) could post to let me know, please.

 

[Paul_10]

4054 was paired with 4041 on the afternoon peaks and had to be withdrawn from service at Gateshead Stadium due to a fault. Interestingly enough, after it was withdrawn from service it headed just before the tunnel in Gateshead got turned back and sped past heading towards Pelaw Sidings one is assuming out of service.

 

[142094]

Nexus are saying that the on-board announcements will be changing soon, so progress after all.

Saying that, not all trains have the announcements working still.

 

[ModernRailways]

Nexus are saying that the on-board announcements will be changing soon, so progress after all.

Saying that, not all trains have the announcements working still.

Any idea as to what they're changing? I don't really see anything wrong with them now other than the fact it should be more along the lines of two announcements, where both announce everything, instead of one saying a load of things, and then the other two just saying the station.

Although, on the refurbs the amount of dings and beeps is quite annoying, especially when travelling Pelaw to Regent Centre/Longbenton where it barely has a break as it's always doing something.

 

[Paul_10]

Nexus are saying that the on-board announcements will be changing soon, so progress after all.

Saying that, not all trains have the announcements working still.

Yeah, I have noticed more recently more trains seems to have the PA boards switched off(or not working) including unit 4054.

It will be interesting to hear what these updated announcements will sound like, must admit as with anything in life, we find it annoying at first but get used to them and I now personally find the announcements fine and can easily drown them out really.

Aslong the new announcements can announced South Gosforth and Four Lane Ends correctly, then there should be no complaints from me.

 

[AutoKratz]

New announcements will be a real person in a local accent.

 

[142094]

New announcements will be a real person in a local accent.

Should have been done years ago. Right balls up Nexus have made of the whole PA project - can't think of any other system which has had so many problems with their announcement system.

 

[Crossforth]

Saw this at Doncaster yesterday... anyone know which one it is? (Rubbish picture I know)

 

[142094]

Hard to tell as there are four down at Doncaster at present, but it looks just about ready, so quite possibly could be 4031 (unless I'm mixing the numbers up again).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
RE - Monument barriers. I've seen numerous manual barriers at Monument where ticket checking has had to be abandoned half way through due to people getting backed up at the barriers. I have no idea why the new gateline was put exactly where the old one was - what would have made more sense would be for the gateline to be installed directly across from the old National Holidays counter to the Monument Mall entrance, which would have given a lot more space for people to filter around. Time will tell.

 

[ModernRailways]

Also, to add to that point about Monument, those with tickets that will have to be opened by staff they will have to walk across in front of everyone else to get to the barrier openable by staff.

And I've heard only one staff member required on each gateline, that's ridiculous in the case of Monument, where I believe it has to be two. That will leave staff extremely vulnerable, and from what I've seen of the Metro at night it isn't a pleasant place, however going down towards Jarrow from Central it seems to be alright - as long as Pelaw doesn't have the usual crowd hanging around.

 

[Crimzz]

Also, to add to that point about Monument, those with tickets that will have to be opened by staff they will have to walk across in front of everyone else to get to the barrier openable by staff.

And I've heard only one staff member required on each gateline, that's ridiculous in the case of Monument, where I believe it has to be two. That will leave staff extremely vulnerable, and from what I've seen of the Metro at night it isn't a pleasant place, however going down towards Jarrow from Central it seems to be alright - as long as Pelaw doesn't have the usual crowd hanging around.

All stations with barriers will have two staff members with the exception of monument which will have three.

 

[ModernRailways]

All stations with barriers will have two staff members with the exception of monument which will have three.

It still won't be enough for Monument, when you get a surge of people coming up from both Platform 4 (Trains from the coast) and from Platform 1 (trains towards pelaw) and Platform 2 (trains towards South Gosforth) there will be too many that it will get backed up onto the escalator, especially in the initial first few weeks where everyone will be lacking common sense and not have a clue what to do. I wouldn't mind seeing how many people try and 'touch out' whilst using a paper ticket for them to realise it should be going in the small slot.

Also, does anyone know at Heworth will they be installing barriers to get to the National Rail train services as I haven't seen any barriers go into that section and it would be quite easy to fare evade through that way!

 

[Paul_10]

Also, does anyone know at Heworth will they be installing barriers to get to the National Rail train services as I haven't seen any barriers go into that section and it would be quite easy to fare evade through that way!

Thats a good point you made there and something you should ask Nexus about, obviously from the amount of fare dodgers I see at Heworth, I get the feeling not many people will probably even know that and even myself as a paying passenger, it has never crossed my mind to head that way.

I can't think of any reasons why barriers can't be installed just before the entrance to Heworth mainline station. Of course if needs must, you can have a line of inspectors just before the stairs/escalators which I have seen numerous times.

 

[Crossforth]

Hard to tell as there are four down at Doncaster at present, but it looks just about ready, so quite possibly could be 4031 (unless I'm mixing the numbers up again).

Thanks for your help... I spose we'll see which one goes back next

 

[ModernRailways]

Another balls up of this whole transport revolution is that people who have had to buy their Gold Card in April but didn't yet have a new bus pass now have to wait till next April to actually get it loaded on as the travelshops don't have facility to add the products on if they've already been partly used.

I went in for my pass and they told me they can't load it on unless I pay £35, if I renew online I pay £30 though so why pay £5 just for the pleasure of putting on my Pop card, when in four weeks time I will have to pay another £35 as it can't be done online then. They then told me I will just have to go up to the member of staff on the gateline to get let through.

At the current rate, almost all passengers who hold some sort of pass (excluding annual passes and under 16) will have to see a member of staff.

As for sending an email to Nexus, I've sent an email in three times all outlining the main things which don't seem to be being addressed (including Heworth gateline to National Rail). I am still waiting for a response - first email sent three months ago and then I've sent them in monthly. I can only wonder if it's there new online system and not that they are ignoring it. If only Huw Lewis would give a reply on here again - I can't sign up to the new Nexus forums for some odd reason which means I can't ask on there.

The main problem with putting barriers down there is they should put in a ticket machine too, problem then is with people vandalising them. Too many people escape through that route already and if they know there are barriers at the top then they will just leave via the ramp no questions asked. Some will end up bunking off at Felling or Pelaw too, especially since they are all relatively close and would only add 5 minutes walking time on.

 

[142094]

The lack of a ticket machine at the entrance from the Northern Rail platform is why a new barrier cannot be put in place - no ticket machine means that the Penalty Fares could not be enforced, as there was no opportunity to buy a ticket in the first place. There were plans for the entrance to be completely blocked off but this penalises passengers transferring from a service from Sunderland on Northern to the Metro platforms.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

All stations with barriers will have two staff members with the exception of monument which will have three.

I'd prefer two staff at quiet stations like Airport, three staff everywhere else and as many as possible at Monument.

 

[Nexus_Comms]

Another balls up of this whole transport revolution is that people who have had to buy their Gold Card in April but didn't yet have a new bus pass now have to wait till next April to actually get it loaded on as the travelshops don't have facility to add the products on if they've already been partly used.

I went in for my pass and they told me they can't load it on unless I pay £35, if I renew online I pay £30 though so why pay £5 just for the pleasure of putting on my Pop card, when in four weeks time I will have to pay another £35 as it can't be done online then. They then told me I will just have to go up to the member of staff on the gateline to get let through.

At the current rate, almost all passengers who hold some sort of pass (excluding annual passes and under 16) will have to see a member of staff.

As for sending an email to Nexus, I've sent an email in three times all outlining the main things which don't seem to be being addressed (including Heworth gateline to National Rail). I am still waiting for a response - first email sent three months ago and then I've sent them in monthly. I can only wonder if it's there new online system and not that they are ignoring it. If only Huw Lewis would give a reply on here again - I can't sign up to the new Nexus forums for some odd reason which means I can't ask on there.

The main problem with putting barriers down there is they should put in a ticket machine too, problem then is with people vandalising them. Too many people escape through that route already and if they know there are barriers at the top then they will just leave via the ramp no questions asked. Some will end up bunking off at Felling or Pelaw too, especially since they are all relatively close and would only add 5 minutes walking time on.

A Nexus Spokesperson replies:

"We're sorry if you've had any trouble renewing your Gold Card. Gold Card is now being sold onto smart cards (as an add-on to the ENCTS 'bus pass') and inevitably there is going to be a transition period where some people still have paper cards which they have to show staff and some have moved to smart cards.

Gatelines will be staffed whenever they are in use so this should not inconvenience customers too much while we continue the transition. By the time gatelines are activated in the autumn most Gold Card customers will have smart travel.

Away from Gold Cards the vast majority of our annual and monthly MetroSaver customers now have Pop cards while weekly MetroSavers will from the end of this month be available either as gate-compatible magstripe or smart tickets.

Network One season tickets are being changed first to gate-compatible magstripe tickets and we hope our partners at that company will move to smart in the near future."

 

[142094]

Gatelines will be staffed whenever they are in use so this should not inconvenience customers too much while we continue the transition. By the time gatelines are activated in the autumn most Gold Card customers will have smart travel.

A lot of manual barriers at Monument are often cut short half way through when there is a surge of people blocking the exit from the top of the escalators - so it is going to be ten times worse when the automatic barriers are turned on.

Out of interest:

1) Has anyone at Nexus carried out any research into the likely problems, such as observing a manual barrier and feeding this back into the planning for the position of the new barriers?

2) Used modelling software to show the consequences of two or three train loads of passengers arriving at Monument at the same time?

3) The effects when one of the up escalators is out of service? Add to that, would it make more sense for the up escalators to be the middle and leftmost ones when travelling from platforms 1 and 2 to the concourse level?

4) Alternative locations for the barriers, to allow for more 'mingle room' at the top of the escalators, compared to putting them in the exact same situation as previous.

These are just a few from five minutes' thinking.

 

[ModernRailways]

The lack of a ticket machine at the entrance from the Northern Rail platform is why a new barrier cannot be put in place - no ticket machine means that the Penalty Fares could not be enforced, as there was no opportunity to buy a ticket in the first place. There were plans for the entrance to be completely blocked off but this penalises passengers transferring from a service from Sunderland on Northern to the Metro platforms.

So, Nexus have wasted a bucket load of money on putting in a gateline at the top of the escalators/lifts but people can still scot free! However came up with that idea deserves an award! :roll:

A Nexus Spokesperson replies:

"We're sorry if you've had any trouble renewing your Gold Card. Gold Card is now being sold onto smart cards (as an add-on to the ENCTS 'bus pass') and inevitably there is going to be a transition period where some people still have paper cards which they have to show staff and some have moved to smart cards.

Gatelines will be staffed whenever they are in use so this should not inconvenience customers too much while we continue the transition. By the time gatelines are activated in the autumn most Gold Card customers will have smart travel.

Away from Gold Cards the vast majority of our annual and monthly MetroSaver customers now have Pop cards while weekly MetroSavers will from the end of this month be available either as gate-compatible magstripe or smart tickets.

Network One season tickets are being changed first to gate-compatible magstripe tickets and we hope our partners at that company will move to smart in the near future."

Most Gold Cards expired in April. Most Concessionary passes end at the end of May, you have had trouble getting people their bus passes due to an issue in production. I know a load of people who have now got to use a paper ticket until next April.

Gatelines will be staffed by a minimal amount of staff and at somewhere like Monument staff can't cope as it is during the peak (even with all barriers manned) and like mentioned many ticket checks have been abandoned as people are backing up on the escalators, add to this people with Network One passes and concessionary passes, other passes are the same, who can't currently get through the barriers. Many people won't have a clue what to do in the first few weeks and so that in itself will cause trouble. Also, what happens with those who have National Rail tickets on National Rail ticket stock?

Also, to add to this Northern Rail won't be accepting Pop Cards, and upon showing my Pop Card to a guard along with my paper ticket (Student Pass) he told me 'Is this that stupid new idea Nexus have had and hasn't been set up properly?' I know the guard so we had a laugh about it, but if this is the opinion of one guard how many others think the same.

The lack of integration is really starting to show and it really doesn't look good. Metrocentre should have been one of the first places to become Pop-friendly yet that won't become Pop-friendly until the buses accept Pop cards or Northern Rail.

You can't blame these companies (GNE, Northern, Stagecoach etc.) for not co-operating like you have been saying, it should have been planned before you even started to publicise the scheme. You should have had all the required bits and pieces so within a matter of weeks the majority of people would be on smart tickets, it should have been a fast roll-out (within two months), but well publicised before you actually started the transition to make people aware. Gatelines, ticket machines should have been prepared to be kicked into action within a couple of weeks of being installed, instead of them just sitting idle like they are right now!

 

[Nexus_Comms]

Most Gold Cards expired in April. Most Concessionary passes end at the end of May, you have had trouble getting people their bus passes due to an issue in production. I know a load of people who have now got to use a paper ticket until next April.

Gatelines will be staffed by a minimal amount of staff and at somewhere like Monument staff can't cope as it is during the peak (even with all barriers manned) and like mentioned many ticket checks have been abandoned as people are backing up on the escalators, add to this people with Network One passes and concessionary passes, other passes are the same, who can't currently get through the barriers. Many people won't have a clue what to do in the first few weeks and so that in itself will cause trouble. Also, what happens with those who have National Rail tickets on National Rail ticket stock?

Also, to add to this Northern Rail won't be accepting Pop Cards, and upon showing my Pop Card to a guard along with my paper ticket (Student Pass) he told me 'Is this that stupid new idea Nexus have had and hasn't been set up properly?' I know the guard so we had a laugh about it, but if this is the opinion of one guard how many others think the same.

The lack of integration is really starting to show and it really doesn't look good. Metrocentre should have been one of the first places to become Pop-friendly yet that won't become Pop-friendly until the buses accept Pop cards or Northern Rail.

You can't blame these companies (GNE, Northern, Stagecoach etc.) for not co-operating like you have been saying, it should have been planned before you even started to publicise the scheme. You should have had all the required bits and pieces so within a matter of weeks the majority of people would be on smart tickets, it should have been a fast roll-out (within two months), but well publicised before you actually started the transition to make people aware. Gatelines, ticket machines should have been prepared to be kicked into action within a couple of weeks of being installed, instead of them just sitting idle like they are right now!

A Spokesperson for Nexus writes:

"We're not sure from this post whether you want Nexus to rush into smart travel and gatelines or move at a reasonable pace to ensure both passengers and the different private transport companies are comfortable with change.

In fact every local transport company in the region except Northern is now set up and enabled for smart travel and the Pop card thanks to a major investment by us in readers and ticket machines across all buses and Metro.

Northern has been approached by us for some years and we are hopeful it will soon catch up, as train operators in London did with Oyster. The roll-out will continue as the year goes on and we are confident that passengers will adapt to and see the benefit of this change as it reaches them. In terms of Gold Card, more than 90 percent of all ENCTS cardholders in Tyne and Wear had new cards from us by the middle of March, or have existing cards with longer expiry dates (after April 2014), before we started selling Gold Card as a smart product."

 

[ModernRailways]

A Spokesperson for Nexus writes:

"We're not sure from this post whether you want Nexus to rush into smart travel and gatelines or move at a reasonable pace to ensure both passengers and the different private transport companies are comfortable with change.

What I meant was that what should have happened is everything was prepared in the background (ticket machines, card readers etc.), but passengers weren't given smart products* until about two/three/four months prior to the system actually going live. Obviously there could be production problems, which is why before you start producing them all Metro staff would be given Test cards to make sure they work properly. Then it would be a case of importing all details into Excel spreadsheets (possibly scanning the details in en masse) then a computer grabbing that data and the type of card necessary would then finish the card put it into an envelope and send it away to the travelshops in bulk. Passengers would be told to go back after about two weeks from sending in their application to collect their card.

However, what should have also happened is discussions going on behind the scenes so that all transport operators were ready for the Pop card instead of leaving some out at the start. On Northern Rail, Metrocentre needs to also be given validators and should be added to Zone 3 anyway and on the maps inside Metro trains showing that Central Station to Metrocentre is a National Rail service - not Northern as the name can change at franchise takeovers.

What should have also happened is barriers moved at Monument to allow for better crowd flow, instead of those manual gates, you should have put a Wide barrier, that staff can then use their Pop cards on to allow people through.

Why has Heworth been given barriers when any fare evader who may lack some common sense will catch on they can escape via the ramp from the National Rail platforms and they can do this from any platform as all it takes is to walk across the ticket hall instead of passing through the barriers and if asked where they're going say 'Oh I missed my stop.' or during the evenings it's more likely to be 'I'm not f***ing paying.'

I know that there will be certain problems with the way suggested above though! And I was going to add something, but haven't got a clue what it was, I'll edit this post if I remember.

 

[142094]

4062 is now back.

 

[tjohnson86]

It appears 4017 went down when 62 came back. This is the 2nd car with a repainted front end to go to Doncaster. Have to say repainting the front ends seems like a waste of time when the metrocar being repainted goes to Doncaster a couple of weeks later.

 

[AutoKratz]

It appears 4017 went down when 62 came back. This is the 2nd car with a repainted front end to go to Doncaster. Have to say repainting the front ends seems like a waste of time when the metrocar being repainted goes to Doncaster a couple of weeks later.

They're being repainted so they can continue to access Sunderland Direct. It's for safety not for cosmetic reasons. The front-end yellow section must be bright enough to conform to National Rail standards.

 

[tjohnson86]

The 2 Emirates liveried metrocars (83/40) have now been seperated, saw 4083 running paired with 4086 on the South Hylton/Airport line earlier today. Will be interesting to see how long it is before 83 and 40 are paired together again.

 

[142094]

I've been told that 4054 and 4062 were coupled up at the depot today ready for the evening peak, which should mean the first outing for them both since they came back from Doncaster. Also may be a one coming back from Doncaster next week.

 

[Paul_10]

I've been told that 4054 and 4062 were coupled up at the depot today ready for the evening peak, which should mean the first outing for them both since they came back from Doncaster. Also may be a one coming back from Doncaster next week.

4054 was paired with 4041 earlier on this month and it suffered a fault and was withdrawn from service with 4041 being paired with 4022 a few days later.

4054 was back in service earlier this week paired with 4029 but this pairing did not last too long as noted by your observation and with me noting 4029 was paired with 4022 doing the St James-South Shields services.

Regarding the Emirates advert trains, is there anything in the contract the units must be paired together most of the time? I mean 4040 was paired with 4011 so its not like any of them has gone for maintenance so it seems the pairing at the start was just mainly for the launch and from now they will be paired with any unit.

 

[Tramfan]

I saw 4054 coupled to the unrefurbished 4087 in the yard at the depot last week, first time I've seen this (though I'm aware it's probably not uncommon for this to happen for shunting purposes.)

4073 is back out on the system, been on this twice this week paired with 4041.

 

[142094]

Regarding the Emirates advert trains, is there anything in the contract the units must be paired together most of the time? I mean 4040 was paired with 4011 so its not like any of them has gone for maintenance so it seems the pairing at the start was just mainly for the launch and from now they will be paired with any unit.

I have no idea but I did notice one of them was paired with a different car at the weekend, the other presumably at Gosforth. It would be very short-sighted to have agreed to keep them both together, especially with the number of cars out for routine maintenance and those down at Doncaster.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I've been told that the next car going down to Wabtec will be on Thursday - normally goes down after the morning peak, so around 11.00
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
4018 is going down tomorrow, 4030 is coming back.

 

[142094]

All a bit quiet at the minute, some interesting services for the concerts last week (and also Thursday and Saturday).