Tyne and Wear Metro

[142094]

So do you know which refurbished unit has come back then? It could be 4061 but only if 4046 is actually back on Tyneside but no one seems to know whether it is or not.

Apparently the 2 refurbished sets are out on the system doing the peak workings this evening according to the Facebook person, shame I missed it!

Perhaps it was just me who thought it would be better if it was re-painted again because it does look untidy to my eyes however as people say, most passengers won't notice it or care about it too much I suppose.

I was in Longbenton this morning and happened to be travelling into town, which is when I saw the two battery locos and 4058 coming off the depot. Had a bit of free time this afternoon in between meetings and took a trip to North Shields - both battery locos were there and the Metrocar was waiting in the northern siding in Hylton Street. Now, from what I've seen the loading/unloading only takes place on the middle siding, so I'm hazarding a guess that they were waiting for a refurbished one to come back. However, there was no sign of it there when I went past.

However, the ramp to get it on/off the lorry comes separately and has to be set up by Alleleys, so it might have been the case that they were waiting for the ramp to be set up first instead.

Haven't seen the refurbished cars yet on the system, looks to be early morning/evening peak working to the Airport, although I should be at West Jesmond and Jesmond tomorrow so will be keeping a look out.

 

[valenta]

I can confirm 4041 and 4072 were in service today, operating peak time services from Pelaw - Monkseaton.
Was lucky enough to board the train from Heworth to Jesmond. As anticipated there wasn't a vast amount visibly new. However it was much brighter, cleaner and more modern feeling.
Though I await people's reaction to the high pitched tone when the doors open ...

 

[blue sabre]

Haven't seen the refurbished cars yet on the system, looks to be early morning/evening peak working to the Airport, although I should be at West Jesmond and Jesmond tomorrow so will be keeping a look out.

Saw them going through Felling at about 17:40, empty excepting a bloke in an orange jacket. More problems I wonder?

 

[valenta]

Saw them going through Felling at about 17:40, empty excepting a bloke in an orange jacket. More problems I wonder?

However this service was likely to be quiet as it had started from Pelaw and followed directly behind a St James service.

 

[Tramfan]

It is 4042 that has returned, there are some pics on Flickr (not mine) of it being unloaded and 4058 parked up awaiting departure

 

[valenta]

Video of the mnetrocar here and door opening tone. You may want to turn your speakers down!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUssi5WWpDg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDWPjgeA7Lw

 

[Tramfan]

Oh dear, that seems unnecessarily loud. If a door unlocking beep was required, why not something like what the Class 185s have, just a couple of short beeps?

 

[valenta]

Oh dear, that seems unnecessarily loud. If a door unlocking beep was required, why not something like what the Class 185s have, just a couple of short beeps?

Agreed.

 

[blue sabre]

However this service was likely to be quiet as it had started from Pelaw and followed directly behind a St James service.

True, and looking at the videos below it looks as if it was indeed in service. Sorry about that, must pay more attention in future.

 

[142094]

It is 4042 that has returned, there are some pics on Flickr (not mine) of it being unloaded and 4058 parked up awaiting departure

My hunch was correct.

Agree with the door tone thing. Cue a barrage of complaints to Nexus. Some of the people on the Nexus forum hate the automated announcements so will be interesting to see what they think of the new sounds.

 

[markydh]

I there anyone that actually 'likes' the automated announcements? Incorrect pronunciations in abundance...

 

[Tramfan]

I there anyone that actually 'likes' the automated announcements? Incorrect pronunciations in abundance...

I don't "like" the announcements as such, but I don't find them massively irritating either like some people on the Nexus forum seem to.
I find I tune them out like the doors closing tone, and only notice them occasionally. In fact, I tend to notice them more when they're not working and the driver is doing manual announcements.

 

[142094]

Been on 72 this morning and the door unlock sound is terrible.

 

[Anon Mouse]

wonder if I'll be lucky enough to bag it on my trip to work later

 

[142094]

Also, if you see any of the refurbished sets have a look at the maps above the doors. Spot the mistake with Monument.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

wonder if I'll be lucky enough to bag it on my trip to work later

Was on Airport - Pelaw - Regent Centre this morning, so probably the same tonight.

 

[Paul_10]

Seen the refurbished sets together for the first time at Pelaw sidings this afternoon on a Monkseaton service, I noticed how CCTV was keeping a close eye on potential graffiti attacks also for the refurbished cars only, interiors most certainly look brighter from what I seen so thats a positive.

But now watching those Youtube videos of that annoying sound, then I just hope this time Nexus/DB will listen to the feedback because that will grind people down I'm sure. I'm all for DDA so perhaps some sort of sound is needed but the volume most certainly needs to be toned down or perhaps as some suggested just a few beeps will do.

On another note, those things above the doors on the interiors we have talked about, did they do anything when that sound occurs?

I also noticed on a few photos that those lights above the doors don't appear to work on the refurbished sets by the looks of things either, not that I think they are useful since now it just shows a green light and goes off when the doors are closing not flashing red when they were first put in.

 

[Kryten2340]

Also, if you see any of the refurbished sets have a look at the maps above the doors. Spot the mistake with Monument.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

wonder if I'll be lucky enough to bag it on my trip to work later

Was on Airport - Pelaw - Regent Centre this morning, so probably the same tonight.

It's currently in Regent Centre sidings. Looks like this is my train home once it comes out.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Also, if you see any of the refurbished sets have a look at the maps above the doors. Spot the mistake with Monument.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

wonder if I'll be lucky enough to bag it on my trip to work later

Was on Airport - Pelaw - Regent Centre this morning, so probably the same tonight.

It's currently in Regent Centre sidings. Looks like this is my train home once it comes out.

Damn bar stewards have took it out of service again. Ran ECS from Regent sidings to the depot.

 

[Paul_10]

Unlucky but perhaps it was timetabled to do that? It appears to of went from Regent Centre-Pelaw-Monkseaton-Pelaw-Regent Centre, of course another problem may of arised?

Plenty of time too see them in service though!!

 

[Kryten2340]

Unlucky but perhaps it was timetabled to do that? It appears to of went from Regent Centre-Pelaw-Monkseaton-Pelaw-Regent Centre, of course another problem may of arised?

Plenty of time too see them in service though!!

Aye it looks that way. I've changed my finishing time from 5 to half 5. I used to get the Pelaw trains as they're less crowded. Didn't realise the last Pelaw train was at 5:45. I thought the whole idea of the short working trains was for the peak. To me they should have them on for a bit longer, say until 6.

 

[blue sabre]

Heard the door tone this morning - wow! Was heading the other way to me as Gateshead Stadium so it still evades me!

 

[142094]

Hung around at Monument this morning to try and see it - was just about to leave when it rolled in with a service to Pelaw. Went to Pelaw and a full trip to Regent Centre on 72. I do like the interior, but it will be very hard to keep clean. After Regent Centre it ran empty to Stonyhurst Rd siding (South Gosforth), as the car wash is being replaced and I think the line from Regent Centre to the depot may be out of use.

Now, where do I start on the door unlock sound? If you thought the announcements were bad, then this is 100x worse. With the announcements at least you could (in part) block them out, but this noise is terrible. I was talking to a few people who got off at Regent Centre and they all said the same thing - they hated it. Second thing is that the maps above the doors are incorrect - doesn't show that Monument is an interchange between the North/South lines and East/West lines to the Coast. Instead it looks as if the trains go from Manors straight to St. James.

I saw the set again tonight on the peak. Was at South Gosforth around half 3.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Someone mentioned a while back about the new signage on the door monitor screens - completely forgot about this until this morning when I nabbed the front seat. Didn't see it at every underground station but it will be to remind drivers which doors to open, although I haven't heard of any new incidents.

 

[Kryten2340]

Hung around at Monument this morning to try and see it - was just about to leave when it rolled in with a service to Pelaw. Went to Pelaw and a full trip to Regent Centre on 72. I do like the interior, but it will be very hard to keep clean. After Regent Centre it ran empty to Stonyhurst Rd siding (South Gosforth), as the car wash is being replaced and I think the line from Regent Centre to the depot may be out of use.

Now, where do I start on the door unlock sound? If you thought the announcements were bad, then this is 100x worse. With the announcements at least you could (in part) block them out, but this noise is terrible. I was talking to a few people who got off at Regent Centre and they all said the same thing - they hated it. Second thing is that the maps above the doors are incorrect - doesn't show that Monument is an interchange between the North/South lines and East/West lines to the Coast. Instead it looks as if the trains go from Manors straight to St. James.

I saw the set again tonight on the peak. Was at South Gosforth around half 3.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Someone mentioned a while back about the new signage on the door monitor screens - completely forgot about this until this morning when I nabbed the front seat. Didn't see it at every underground station but it will be to remind drivers which doors to open, although I haven't heard of any new incidents.

That was me. Although I'm still a bit puzzled why Monument doesn't have it. Well at least on platforms 1 and 2. Can't speak for St James or Manors as I never travel that way now.

 

[Tramfan]

I think the line from Regent Centre to the depot may be out of use.

Think you're right about that, there were a lot of ECS movements through South Gosforth the other week from about 3pm onwards all of which turned out to be peak time extra trains being positioned for the evening peak.

 

[spoony]

It's currently in Regent Centre sidings. Looks like this is my train home once it comes out.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Damn bar stewards have took it out of service again. Ran ECS from Regent sidings to the depot.

I saw it too from the opposite platform at the same time as you,(I work up there for Sage). Tbh I was very disappointed with it from a passenger point of view as I had a good nosy as it went back to the depot. Looked cheaply done out and will be a mess again in 6 months time. New livery looked smart but I was expecting more though.

 

[Kryten2340]

I saw it too from the opposite platform at the same time as you,(I work up there for Sage). Tbh I was very disappointed with it from a passenger point of view as I had a good nosy as it went back to the depot. Looked cheaply done out and will be a mess again in 6 months time. New livery looked smart but I was expecting more though.

Sage eh? I just had a telephone interview with them yesterday forth tech support advisor position.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Think you're right about that, there were a lot of ECS movements through South Gosforth the other week from about 3pm onwards all of which turned out to be peak time extra trains being positioned for the evening peak.

That line was in operation tonight as two trains terminated at platform 2 ran into the RC sidings, came back out to platform 1 and preceded into the depot once the shunt signal lit up.

 

[spoony]

Sage eh? I just had a telephone interview with them yesterday forth tech support advisor position.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


That line was in operation tonight as two trains terminated at platform 2 ran into the RC sidings, came back out to platform 1 and preceded into the depot once the shunt signal lit up.

Good luck, that what I do there

 

[Kryten2340]

Good luck, that what I do there

Cheers. I have a good shout like as they said they want more than 10 people. Was interviewed for Sage Pay a few weeks ago but withdrew due to the shifts.

 

[142094]

Think you're right about that, there were a lot of ECS movements through South Gosforth the other week from about 3pm onwards all of which turned out to be peak time extra trains being positioned for the evening peak.

Funnily enough I noticed that most of the sets seemed to be much dirtier than usual - the old car wash hadn't been working properly and there was in the ITA papers of funding for a new one. So going past today it looks as if a lot of work has been done already.

Normally when a set is going in from Regent Centre it goes through the car wash (even if not getting cleaned), which is no doubt why they were sending them to South Gosforth. Would have come back from there to the West Neck. Contractors would have finished in time for the evening movements back into the depot.

That was me. Although I'm still a bit puzzled why Monument doesn't have it. Well at least on platforms 1 and 2. Can't speak for St James or Manors as I never travel that way now.

Haven't seen ones at either Monument or Manors. Not entirely sure why they've just decided to put them in now - only thing I can think of is for future engineering work and using wrong-line movements. For example, if the trains from the South were terminating at Monument or Haymarket, they could use the Prudhoe Street crossover to reverse back onto the normal running line. In the tunnels between Monument and Haymarket on both lines there are stop boards with 1 and 2 on to show where the train should stop when reversing (i.e. only for when everything from Monument north or everything from Haymarket south is shut). Using the crossover might confuse drivers (possibly) which could be why the new signage is there.

 

[Kryten2340]

Funnily enough I noticed that most of the sets seemed to be much dirtier than usual - the old car wash hadn't been working properly and there was in the ITA papers of funding for a new one. So going past today it looks as if a lot of work has been done already.

Normally when a set is going in from Regent Centre it goes through the car wash (even if not getting cleaned), which is no doubt why they were sending them to South Gosforth. Would have come back from there to the West Neck. Contractors would have finished in time for the evening movements back into the depot.

Is this the reason why they are terminating one of the morning RC trains at South Gosforth instead? I noticed the other week contractors working on the car wash (I think) as they had ground cables on the OHLE.

With regards to the refurbs have they changed much of the drivers desk at all? From the glimpse I got tonight it looked purple.

 

[blue sabre]

Good luck, that what I do there

Which product/division are you on? I started in January on Accounts.

And coming back on topic.... Let's see if I can manages to catch a ride on the refurbed sets today - I'll just have my headphones on standby for the door tone!