Tyne and Wear Metro

[142094]

DBR T&W can help by applying the occasional mop.

Easier said than done. Taking salt off the saloon floors is a lot more difficult than using a mop and bucket, and it doesn't stay off for long.

Since Metro/Nexus chose Churchill for cleaning trains have been scruffy on the inside. It also doesn't help that the cleaners finish at 6/7pm!

Hopefully someone like ISS will get the contract as they seem to be a lot more proactive.

Churchill staff only pick up litter on trains at the terminus stations. There are other staff at the depot employed by DB who do the bulk of the cleaning.

 

[transmanche]

Taking salt off the saloon floors is a lot more difficult than using a mop and bucket, and it doesn't stay off for long.

That was my point...

 

[jp4712]

4069 is now at Wabtec for refurbishment: I snapped it as it approached Doncaster on the A1 on an Allelys low-loader.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jp4712/11876158136/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jp4712/11875752754/

 

[mildertduck]

The following was posted on BBC Radio Newcastle's Facebook this morning:

A teenager has already collected more than a thousand names on his online petition to persuade transport bosses to extend the Metro to Washington.
Metro provider Nexus say Washington is one of NINE possible corridors it has identified for a possible Metro extension or street trams, but a link to Washington would cost up to 300 million pounds and any extension would need to win a large amount of government funding.

Where do you think the Metro should be extended to?

I'll have a listen to the debate when it comes on, and let you know if anything interesting is said.

 

[142094]

Will be slow progress to get anything to go to Washington. Without a doubt it would need extra stock, which will not be forthcoming until the whole fleet is replaced.

 

[ModernRailways]

Will be slow progress to get anything to go to Washington. Without a doubt it would need extra stock, which will not be forthcoming until the whole fleet is replaced.

Would it though?

If the Government said 'Yes' to funding it, then I guess it would also include funding for a new depot closer to Pelaw as well as all new rolling stock. If both were done at the same time, then whilst the Washington line is being built, a new depot would also be built. New trains would start at this depot and once the majority of the current fleet is scrapped new trains will start being received at Gosforth depot.

Once a full new fleet of train carriages around 150, probably less (allows for additional peak services across all branches as well as the the new fleet required for Washington and possible peak services down there) was fully delivered the new line would be just about ready to open.

So all in all, as long as the line started being built at the same time as a new depot and then new trains started coming around a year or two later the washington line would be fully up and running by the time the last of the new fleet was delivered.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Would going to Washington use the Leamside line?

I would be concerned about putting the metro down there as my current research suggests that heavy rail opening may be possible in the medium term.

 

[ModernRailways]

Would going to Washington use the Leamside line?

I would be concerned about putting the metro down there as my current research suggests that heavy rail opening may be possible in the medium term.

I think it was mentioned that if Leamside was done it would have to allow Network Rail/National Rail trains down same as the current setup for the Sunderland line.

Right now I think we have more of a chance of trains to Cramlington/Blyth than we do to Washington! Although, I do have a feeling that we may be lucky and get similar funding to the Metrolink in Manchester to create more, newer lines. For all the buses are fairly good in Newcastle, they are pretty poor in the peaks simply due to the amount of traffic. It took me an hour and a half to get from West Denton into the City Centre! It wouldn't even take that if I walked, the traffic is ridiculous. Same goes for the Eastern end it took me about an hour to get from Byker to Manors! If these people chose Metro over there cars Metro couldn't cope, also the reliability on that section of line is pretty poor too in comparison to the South Shields branch. In fact the reliability seems to drop once you get past South Gosforth. The Airport branch seems to have quite a few problems and the St James branch seems to have problems!

 

[142094]

Reliability on the Sunderland line is actually quite good in comparison to the rest of the network - in part due to the fact that there is a decent turnaround time at South Hylton and Airport, and also there is a good amount of time leeway in the timetable for trains to get from Fellgate to Pelaw Junction. Funnily enough, there is also very little wheelslip after Pelaw Junction, except on the level crossings, in stark contrast to just about everywhere else over the past few months.

Would it though?

Without a doubt yes. Nexus haven't yet applied for funding for a new fleet, and this will only happen after the first phase of the All Change programme has been completed. Even if Nexus applied today, you are probably looking at the best part of a decade before there are any new trains. As you say there would have to be some sort of new depot opened as Gosforth is pretty much full to the brim and couldn't accept many new units.

 

[Paul_10]

Reliability on the Sunderland line is actually quite good in comparison to the rest of the network - in part due to the fact that there is a decent turnaround time at South Hylton and Airport, and also there is a good amount of time leeway in the timetable for trains to get from Fellgate to Pelaw Junction. Funnily enough, there is also very little wheelslip after Pelaw Junction, except on the level crossings, in stark contrast to just about everywhere else over the past few months.

Whats the causes of less wheel slip on that section? I would presume there is less trees around that part of the line but is it down to the track also? Realiability seems poor everywhere on the system to be fair although in terms on the Sunderland line then the reliability of those level crossings in Boldon seem awful, been numerous problems there in the last year or so. I'm also surprised not all the crossings on that part of the line have not got barriers fully across(apart from the ones at East Boldon metro), if there was an idiotic driver who decided to try cross the crossing and a train goes past full speed, I dread to think what the consequences might be.

 

[IanXC]

Following feedback from the recent member survey, the forum staff have decided that Light Rail Systems justify multiple threads, rather than the current situation with most discussion in a single thread which many of you told us you find impenetrable.

Going forward we expect to see a range of threads, for example detailing subjects such as day to day running, operating policy, construction progress on new fleets and lines and future proposals for the system.