Tyne & Wear Metro: Fleet Refurbishment List

[ModernRailways]

On a different note, the quality of the new announcements is a league of its own, they should never have been put to the public in the current form, firstly I find the man very irritating and false and he really doesn't flow at all 'next station is Fawdon' for example, it then gets worse when it says 'next station is Fawdon, please take extra care when using the level crossing' which is then repeated 3 times for Fawdon alone, and by the time I reached my station towards Airport with all of those level crossings and that repeated 9 times! I felt like I couldn't bare to sit though that again - 4084 one to avoid at the moment

I haven't heard the level crossing and if that's the case what a ridiculous thing for it to say! Common sense would tell people to take care at the crossings and in my experience it's vehicle drivers who are dangerous, you get the odd passenger but not worthy of an announcement...

He really gets on my nerves, I much prefer a proper female auto voice announcer or a proper male announcer, he's right in the middle he sounds very feminine. He doesn't have a consistent tone/pitch and that is possibly most annoying. Metro have said they are going to be rolling him out across the system when the current female announcer doesn't receive any complaints other than the fact they need to be more local and pronounce stations properly. Another thing Nexus have done on the cheap by the looks of it, got one man to make recordings for all Metro announcements etc.

I've only heard the new announcements from Monument - Pelaw and I despise them! In actual fact, the other day they pulled up on a Pelaw short and I decided to wait because they are ridiculously annoying and he really grinds on me! And I thought the announcements on Go North East buses by the Metroradio team were annoying, I would prefer them and I will take the bus if they do get a full roll out over Metro!

Also, Central Station is not called Central, it is called Central Station and should NOT be changed unless all signage/maps are being changed. Most local people have also started calling it Central Station, I know it used to be just Central to locals though.

Rant over - as you can tell I really don't like them

Finally, I received an email from Metro about Jarrow closure. I asked them why Jarrow couldn't have one platform in use for all trains since the trains don't pass there. There response 'Trains cannot run on the other line.' Erm, yes they can it's bidirectional and it often happens during the day for whatever reason.

Could someone summon Huw Lewis here to clear this all up as I don't see the point in closing a station's platform unnecessarily especially when Bede isn't exactly the best station to be at after 2000!

 

[Paul_10]

On a different note, the quality of the new announcements is a league of its own, they should never have been put to the public in the current form, firstly I find the man very irritating and false and he really doesn't flow at all 'next station is Fawdon' for example, it then gets worse when it says 'next station is Fawdon, please take extra care when using the level crossing' which is then repeated 3 times for Fawdon alone, and by the time I reached my station towards Airport with all of those level crossings and that repeated 9 times! I felt like I couldn't bare to sit though that again - 4084 one to avoid at the moment

Although never heard it myself, I have to admit, it does sound like a bit pointless but maybe Nexus feels there are too many people taking the risk of using the crossings that they have to put a 'safety' awareness message in within the announcements.

Its got to be said, it looks like these male announcements may well not be carried on as only one car(4038) has got them. I must admit now hearing them a couple of times, me initial positive reviews are waning and that you have to say, the non human female voice actually sounds quite a bit better. The male voice i'm afraid just sounds too gimmicky.

 

[ModernRailways]

Its got to be said, it looks like these male announcements may well not be carried on as only one car(4038) has got them. I must admit now hearing them a couple of times, me initial positive reviews are waning and that you have to say, the non human female voice actually sounds quite a bit better. The male voice i'm afraid just sounds too gimmicky.

4038 had them so they could be trialled. Metro responded to a tweet a few days back saying it was going across the fleet, essentially meaning it wasn't a trial but it was a test to ensure they worked! The current announcements work just fine, and just need some small tuning to one or two stops where the stations aren't pronounced properly but beyond that they are fine!

 

[MetroCar4058]

I didn't mind the fact it mentioned the level crossings, but it just seems to be everything the new announcer says grinds on me and then it's repeated 3 times per station! Which gets very tedious and annoying - it's common sense not to skip the level crossing, but people frequently do it to either catch a train or simply because they are open, and the people who skip them will always skip them unless they are gated which I see no reason for

 

[142094]

The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of those who abuse the level crossings don't travel on the Metro. What Nexus should be doing instead is having Northumbria Police in unmarked cars doing a blitz, where pedestrians and cars are stopped and given fines for going across against the wig wags. That is the only way people will learn.

Yesterday was a bit of a nightmare failure-wise. A South Shields train was taken out of service at Monument at half 5, which isn't ideal.

 

[MetroCar4058]

Cable trough works were taking place today near Jesmond - I must admit I really do like the new look MetroCars and the revamped stations with their black and yellow colourings, obviously they have their faults but the MetroCars are very comfortable and pleasant most of the time on this note which trains are down for refurbishment at the moment?

 

[142094]

Cable trough works were taking place today near Jesmond - I must admit I really do like the new look MetroCars and the revamped stations with their black and yellow colourings, obviously they have their faults but the MetroCars are very comfortable and pleasant most of the time on this note which trains are down for refurbishment at the moment?

Not exactly sure what this cable troughing work is supposed to achieve. From what it looks like, all they are doing is replacing the cable and putting it back in the exact same concrete troughs (albeit moving the troughs around and putting down some nice new ballast).

 

[ModernRailways]

Could someone tell me why the stations are being closed for refurbishment?

I thought it was so they could put new platform flooring down, but when we went through Hebburn yesterday, they were just painting. And they are painting during the day. They had some scaffolding which looked like it may have been for the roof but surely that could be done when the system is closed?

 

[MetroCar4058]

Also Metro are replacing the horrible old dim lighting at Gateshead Interchange with some nice new bright ones! The place is looking much better already and its not even half finished!

 

[Paul_10]

Also Metro are replacing the horrible old dim lighting at Gateshead Interchange with some nice new bright ones! The place is looking much better already and its not even half finished!

Totally agreed, big improvement in terms of lighting, I suspect all the lighting wont be done though which kinda looks odd but it thats bright anyways they don't need to be done out really. It goes to show how dim the other lighting is at the moment when you compare them together.

Speaking of lighting, some of the refurbished units have very dull lighting and they are all the refurbished cars that have been in service for quite a while now. I wonder what is causing this, its quite a contrast if a recently refurbished unit is paired with a unit that has been refurbished for well over a year at least.

 

[ModernRailways]

Totally agreed, big improvement in terms of lighting, I suspect all the lighting wont be done though which kinda looks odd but it thats bright anyways they don't need to be done out really. It goes to show how dim the other lighting is at the moment when you compare them together.

Gateshead's improvement is amazing! If it had the new white and black panelling, and a new floor I think it would look really smart and dare I say it, almost up to Chillingham Road/North Shield standard for a fraction of the cost!

Speaking of lighting, some of the refurbished units have very dull lighting and they are all the refurbished cars that have been in service for quite a while now. I wonder what is causing this, its quite a contrast if a recently refurbished unit is paired with a unit that has been refurbished for well over a year at least.

I've noticed this! It seems the lights aren't as powerful and have more of a yellow tinge. Maybe they're just not being cleaned like every other part of the carriages?

On a related topic, some of the screws holding the light fittings in are either being stolen or falling out, I can't think of how many I have seen with part of the fitting missing and as I've mentioned, some of the light covers have been flapping open!

 

[MetroCar4058]

Regarding the new lighting at Gateshead it looks like they are turning some of the concorse lighting off just down from the first esculators - I noticed they were doing similar works at Manours as the place was looking allot brighter which is a nice step considering how dark the place was.

Also I have noticed the lack of parts on some of the new trains and the lighting dimness on 04 I think last night, maybe the bulbs are near the end of their cycle and will soon be replaced? As for the parts it's evident that they don't put all of the fixtures in probably to keep costs down and speed up maintenance, it's not to evident on the refurbs but on the older cars you can see they use a lesser amount

 

[tez thorn]

cable trough works were taking place today near jesmond - i must admit i really do like the new look metrocars and the revamped stations with their black and yellow colourings, obviously they have their faults but the metrocars are very comfortable and pleasant most of the time on this note which trains are down for refurbishment at the moment?

4036,4047,4051,4064

 

[Paul_10]

Looks like too me the bulbs are just dimming as time goes on and the lights are just no where near as bright when they were fitted as new. Just seems strange as the unrefurbished units have all consistent lighting. Infact if you head pass a refurbished set at night even at speed, you can tell which is an older refurb set and which is a more recent one going by how bright the interiors are.

I have noticed though that some brighter but not as bright lights(when first enter service) have been fitted to the likes of units 4041 and 4046 but the interiors do still seem a tad dull despite a white interior.

 

[tez thorn]

Made a mistake 4028 is now down there but dunno which came back

 

[tjohnson86]

Will be 4047 that came back as that one has been down the longest. 65 is also back in passenger service now.

In regards to the male announcer I actually prefer it to the female one, though that may be because I've only heard it on one journey. I wonder whether 64 will still have the male announcer when it returns from refurbishment.


Also, I dont know if this has already been mentioned, but I do think its a bit disappointing that all the "named" metrocars that have been refurbished (60,78 and 65) have not been re-dedicated like 4041 has.

 

[tez thorn]

Will be 4047 that came back as that one has been down the longest. 65 is also back in passenger service now.

In regards to the male announcer I actually prefer it to the female one, though that may be because I've only heard it on one journey. I wonder whether 64 will still have the male announcer when it returns from refurbishment.


Also, I dont know if this has already been mentioned, but I do think its a bit disappointing that all the "named" metrocars that have been refurbished (60,78 and 65) have not been re-dedicated like 4041 has.

I must say i do agree with you there, it was a shame anyway cus the plaques were never

Maintained on the outside, if im right theres only 4026 and 77 that are named now i think

There might be a third,i have watched a video with the new announcement and i like it,

On another note apart from the units that are away,is there any that havent made an

appearance

 

[MetroCar4058]

I much prefer the woman we have at the moment, i'm not a fan of regional accents on the system and I feel with some little tweaks it would have been cheaper and easier just to modify some of her announcements, I must admit I was delighted when 4038 had the announcements off yesterday! Its just the level crossing thing that gets to me, as well as it not flowing and his frequent change of tone.

On another note what does it mean when the MetroCar has no PA or visual aids and the live board displays 'Nexus Metro' and then something after it, is that due to malfunction?

 

[142094]

On another note what does it mean when the MetroCar has no PA or visual aids and the live board displays 'Nexus Metro' and then something after it, is that due to malfunction?

Basically means there is a problem with the feed, so an error message is displayed.'A lk' means a problem with the A end link.

 

[Tramfan]

Can't be 100% certain as I only briefly glimpsed it this afternoon, but 4083 appears to have received revised advert vinyls for Emirates.

 

[tez thorn]

Bit of a confession to make, i miss the old 'stand clear of the doors please'

Shame they couldnt bring it back but modernise it

 

[ModernRailways]

Bit of a confession to make, i miss the old 'stand clear of the doors please'

Shame they couldnt bring it back but modernise it

Certainly one of the better door tones! Was the first one I remember from Metro, as a kid I used to pretend to do it 'Hurrrrrr, Stand Clear of the Doors please' :P

Needs to be DDA compliant which is why we have beeps so would have to alongside the beeps.

 

[142094]

Can't be 100% certain as I only briefly glimpsed it this afternoon, but 4083 appears to have received revised advert vinyls for Emirates.

AFAIK no work has been done to it, although it doesn't take long to do the wrap. Perhaps it just has been cleaned?

 

[MetroCar4058]

On a totally random note, does Nexus have any plans to pursue doubling the line towards South Shields, I know its hard to fit it in with the freight line and the infrastructure such as bridges getting in the way, but it would really help with timetable flexibility and reduce the pressures of one track ops up that end.

 

[tez thorn]

On a totally random note, does Nexus have any plans to pursue doubling the line towards South Shields, I know its hard to fit it in with the freight line and the infrastructure such as bridges getting in the way, but it would really help with timetable flexibility and reduce the pressures of one track ops up that end.

This might sound totally dumb , but i dont know why south shields bound trains cant share

The frieght line, they share the sunderland line, all they have to do is add in a couple of points

and small sections of overhead lines

 

[142094]

This might sound totally dumb , but i dont know why south shields bound trains cant share

The frieght line, they share the sunderland line, all they have to do is add in a couple of points

and small sections of overhead lines

The section from Pelaw Junction to the oil terminal is for one train operation (some sort of token section but I am not sure which one). This basically means as soon as the oil train is on that section, no other trains can run down there. So for the Metro to share the lines, there would need to be a change in signalling.

 

[tez thorn]

I honestly had no idea about that,you learn something new everyday, i honestly dont know

how they would dual the track

 

[142094]

Been having a look through the Sectional Appendix - the line from Pelaw Junction to the oil terminal is OTNS - One Train Working - No Staff. Drivers on some sections of line are given a token/staff which only allows one train on that section of line at a time. However in this case (i.e. lightly used) there isn't a requirement for a signaller to give a token/staff to the driver.

So if you were to dual the track and share with Network Rail, someone would have to foot the bill to pay for the new signalling. Part of the problem would be the movements of the oil train, as often it has to sit at Pelaw Junction before it is allowed onto the Down Sunderland towards Heworth, and the train usually extends quite a way down towards South Drive crossing.

Realistically, the only way for it to be done easily is if the oil terminal closes, or if for example the oil trains were to run at night after the end of the Metro service.

 

[Paul_10]

It may sound like a daft reply but I seen both Metro and Freight along those sections before, usually passing in opposite directions unless things have changed in recent times?

Personally I can't see anything happening and in all honesty, there is not much in the way of significant delays with the single line. Yes, trains can get held up somewhat if say for example a Newcastle bound train is stuck at a red at the signal before the track becomes single on the approach to Jarrow and then gets hold up before the crossing at Hebburn but any delays are small and time can easily be made up.

Its not ideal but I just don't think it would be worth any investment imo.

 

[142094]

It may sound like a daft reply but I seen both Metro and Freight along those sections before, usually passing in opposite directions unless things have changed in recent times?

Personally I can't see anything happening and in all honesty, there is not much in the way of significant delays with the single line. Yes, trains can get held up somewhat if say for example a Newcastle bound train is stuck at a red at the signal before the track becomes single on the approach to Jarrow and then gets hold up before the crossing at Hebburn but any delays are small and time can easily be made up.

Its not ideal but I just don't think it would be worth any investment imo.

Doubling the line probably would have been more of a priority if the Sunderland line hadn't been built and there was an increased demand on the South Shields bit. However now the Sunderland Extension means that there is little extra rolling stock capacity to allow more trains to run down to South Shields anyway.

As you say at present both the DB Schenker Jarrow train and the Metro pass each other on the way down, but if there was a need for increased capacity then removing the single tracks between Pelaw - Hebburn/Hebburn - Jarrow and Jarrow - Bede would have to be done somehow. Take Great North Run day - as there are extra services down to South Shields, these are often held at Bill Quay bridge on the In line, at Hebburn and Jarrow stations, and also on the Out line back towards Jarrow - if the track was double throughout then this would reduce delays.

One other thing that limits the number of trains on the South Shields line is that power uptake from the OHL is limited. A few years back when I was at South Shields for the GNR, there was an OHL trip at South Shields due to there being too many trains in the section at the same time.