Well tonight was interesting.
Train 132 left Gateshead and then about 40 seconds later, there was a massive blue flash followed by a massive bang - pantograph seemed to have dropped. The train lights went off, and the train came to a stand. Driver checked out the train and then after about 5/10 minutes we restarted our journey towards South Shields.
Then just after Pelaw, alongside the sidings the same thing happened. Driver inspected the train and the undercarriage for any smoke since he couldn't really check in the tunnel. He then isolated the front pantograph, and we trundled to Hebburn where we then detrained and told to wait. However, it was the last train... Thankfully, the last Pelaw train (Service 107) was sent down behind us to take over whilst the failed service went down to Jarrow and turned around there running empty back to the depot.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, but announcements really need to be made. We had no announcement from the driver at all after either incident to tell people what was happening. The only announcement came on approach to Hebburn where we told we had to leave the train because of a fault with the train and that another train was being extended to continue the service. No apology, nothing. I can understand no announcement immediately after, as he was likely speaking with control, but once he got off the phone with control he should have made an announcement just apologising
At Hebburn two lasses went to the Help Point and demanded a Taxi because 'the metro service is s*it'. The guy on the other end just hung straight up, granted they did say what they did but there was no reason for him not to have just said 'We can't get you a taxi but a train will be along to take you on your way in about 3 minutes. You can claim for a refund for your tickets.'
I did notice there was no mention of it on any of their social media accounts or the Nexus site too...
It was also quite funny because the first time it happened in Gateshead, another passenger said 'Oh god! Just make sure we don't start smoking, if we do I'm out of here.' whilst pointing to an emergency door handle. Thankfully there was a CSA on board so that would have likely been stopped .
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I know from recent posts you don't seem too keen on the refurbishment of the interior by saying it looks plastic looking but any comparisons between the first units and more recent ones are very minor indeed and certainly does not affect the quality nor performance of the metrocars.
I actually thought it was fairly nice when they first came out (hence my picture on here
), but after they've been in service a month they just seem to be a complete tip. Obviously, that's not exactly Metro's fault, but when seats are falling off, lights are considerably dimmer (to the point where un-refurbs have stronger lighting) and various other things not seeming to last, makes me think (and many others) that this refurbishment won't last for the full duration that Nexus would like.
Another problem is the doors, I've noticed now on quite a few sets the door buttons aren't working, and the doors are sticking and need a little push to open. That happens on unrefurbs too, but not as often and the doors just generally seem highly unreliable now, at least once a week a train has a set of doors out of service.
I did also say 'And it would be nice to find out the differences between what 4041/4072 had done and what the latest ones have had done.' because whilst there have been various changes to what we see it makes me wonder if anything 'underneath' has also been skipped/changed.
