tyne and wear metro enquiry

[phillipsalan09]

Ill be up in good ol geordie land in a couple of weeks time and was wondering where the best time and place(s) to get the optimum amount of numbers would be? I would also like to know if there is any day rover available / ticket prices or even if it would be worth my while to do this? Many thanks in advance AP

 

[alexdodds]

Ill be up in good ol geordie land in a couple of weeks time and was wondering where the best time and place(s) to get the optimum amount of numbers would be? I would also like to know if there is any day rover available / ticket prices or even if it would be worth my while to do this? Many thanks in advance AP

If you mean see loads of metros then your best bet is go to to any station between South Gosforth and Pelaw.

If doing more than 1 metro trip buy a day saver or a networkone day rover

Metro Daysaver tickets are

NOTE: These are prices after 9am on weekdays and all day weekends and bank holidays.

1 zone - £2.10
2 zones - £3.10
3 zones - £4.00

You get unlimited travel on the metro, shields ferry and also Northern Rail services between Newcastle and Sunderland.

You can get a networkone day rover for £6.80 its the same as the daysaver except you can also use it on all buses in Tyne and Wear and Northern Rail between Newcastle and Blaydon.

http://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/tickets

You can find the maps on there.

You can buy day savers at metro ticket machines only and you can buy day rovers from metro ticket machines, all buses and the ferry.

Hope this all helps

 

[12CSVT]

From past experience if you are at one of the stations between Jesmond and South Gosforth during the peak hours (0730 to 0930 or 1630 to 1830) then you should see 76 or 78 metros in service. If you are aiming to bash as many as possible for haulage in one day then concentrate on the Pelaw - Benton / Regent Centre shuttles during the peaks and do the Airport - South Hylton (12 pairs of units) and St. James - coast - South Shields (15 pairs of units if I am correct) during the off-peak as these diagrams operate all day.

 

[valenta]

Depending on how much travelling you're going to do, I would say that the DAYSAVER ticket is the best option, allowing you unlimited travel throughout the day. Like the others, I would say that the time you would see the optimum amount of trains would be between about 16:30 and 18:00, between South Gosforth and Pelaw.
The Tyne and Wear Metro is an excellent system, diverse and original, for the best journey, I would suggest that you went to the coast, near the Tynemouth, Whitley Bay and Monkseaton area. The views from the windows are spectacular.

Hope you enjoy it!

 

[142094]

Just a reminder that you have to have permision to photograph from Nexus, if you plan on staying at one station for a long period of time. A quick photo here and there shouldn't be a problem.

 

[phillipsalan09]

Just a reminder that you have to have permision to photograph from Nexus, if you plan on staying at one station for a long period of time. A quick photo here and there shouldn't be a problem.

Thanks guys - that was going to be my next question - would I get any hassle from station staff? I would ensure I had a valid ticket and would make myself known

 

[142094]

Most stations are unmanned, although they'll be watching on CCTV and some of the drivers and ticket inspectors might ask what you are doing. Best advice is to take a couple and move on quickly (or if you have time, apply for permission today).

 

[valenta]

Thanks guys - that was going to be my next question - would I get any hassle from station staff? I would ensure I had a valid ticket and would make myself known

The stations that are usually staffed are ones towards the town (e.g. Cental, Haymarket, Monument, Jesmond and Gateshead.) Hopefully if you did it discretely you would be fine.
At most stations, I doubt that you would get noticed.

 

[jp4712]

From previous experience, a letter or e-mail to the Nexus PR dept would be very handy. Tell them which stations you'll probably be at, and assure them if you have a camera that any photos are a) for purely personal use and b) you will not under any circumstances use flash.

If they write back, print it and take it with you to show to anyone who asks you what you're doing.

I recommend any station between Jesmond and South Gosforth. If you don't want hassle from yobs, go to South Gosforth as this is the location of the control centre and is used for driver change-overs; so there are staff hanging about, which puts off the idiots a little.

Paul

 

[142094]

Of course there are quite a few stations which have good vantage points on nearby bridges/footpaths etc so you can happily take as many pictures as you want and no-one can do anything.

 

[phillipsalan09]

Of course there are quite a few stations which have good vantage points on nearby bridges/footpaths etc so you can happily take as many pictures as you want and no-one can do anything.

Well I've emailed Nexus and awaut their response



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

Well I've emailed Nexus and awaut their response

Got a reply - I have to provide two weeks notice and fill an indemnity form!! PATHETIC!! H+S gone bonkers!!!! I understand their reasons but why do the fare paying public not need to fill one of these out then?

 

[valenta]

Got a reply - I have to provide two weeks notice and fill an indemnity form!! PATHETIC!! H+S gone bonkers!!!! I understand their reasons but why do the fare paying public not need to fill one of these out then?

I agree, a totally "over the top" measure.

 

[AutoKratz]

This maybe off topic but I think it's in the right thread.

Travelling on Metro today I've just noticed the very strange wheel arangement on these metrocars.

Between the two wheels on each side of every bogie there is a large metal rectangle with a flat bottom which looks like it sort of glides a few milimetres above the rail. I haven't seen anything like this on any national rail trains. Surely it should be the wheels which are the only things at rail level?

Does any body know what the function of this is? Or why it's even there at all when no other trains have this?

Thanks.

 

[142094]

That's the emergency magnetic brake - when the driver needs to make an emergency stop, the magnet is energised and is attracted to the track, stopping the train. Normal braking is wheel disc braking. AFAIK it is uncommon, and may even be unique in the UK.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

All our trams have it as well don't they?

 

[142094]

All our trams have it as well don't they?

I'm not too up on my trams, so you might well be correct. Might be unique on the heavy rail network?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

As far as I know there is no heavy rail stock with track brakes, yes. ( I consider the T&WM as light rail, incidentally, track sharing or not... )

 

[robertclark125]

Is the ECS line from Manors to Jesmond back in use? Just it was closed for a bit in 2009 I think due to building work.

 

[142094]

Is the ECS line from Manors to Jesmond back in use? Just it was closed for a bit in 2009 I think due to building work.

Haven't heard anything about it being shut recently - couple of trains use it in the morning from the depot - one then starts in pax service from Manors around the Coast, the other goes ECS to Stoddart Street sidings, to St James and starts in passenger service from there.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

As far as I know there is no heavy rail stock with track brakes, yes. ( I consider the T&WM as light rail, incidentally, track sharing or not... )

I do consider it light rail but some then class it as a tram, which I don't.

 

[NK07 FZG]

I would class it as light rail too,