Metro Operator Affirms Commitment to New Train Launch by Year-End

A transport executive has indicated that a new Metro train is still expected to commence service before the conclusion of the current month. Stuart Clarke, who serves as the infrastructure director at Nexus, informed BBC Radio Newcastle that the operator remains “committed” to deploying the new trains by year-end, though he refrained from specifying an exact launch date. The introduction of the £362m fleet, intended to supersede the existing outdated carriages, has experienced multiple postponements attributed to factors such as testing procedures, driver training requirements, and inflationary pressures. “We are still committed, we are going to see a new train in customer service this month,” Mr Clarke said. Initially, passengers had been informed that the 46 Swiss-built trains would be progressively introduced from summer 2023 through early 2025. The initial target date was first adjusted to the close of 2023, subsequently deferred to the beginning of 2024, and then further postponed to the end of the current year. The network has frequently experienced operational disruptions, including an incident in November where a quarter of its trains malfunctioned on a single morning. Furthermore, the closure of the A167 Gateshead Highway flyover on Friday has led to trains operating at a slower pace in that vicinity. The tunnels of the network are situated directly beneath this structure, which was closed due to significant concerns regarding one of its concrete supporting pillars and is now slated for demolition. Mr Clarke indicated that Nexus would need to collaborate “very closely” with Gateshead Council should the flyover be dismantled. He stated, “They are working on a solution right now, to have repairs done regardless of whether the flyover opens again or not to road vehicles.” Mr Clarke reported that trains are currently operating at 30km/h (18.6mph) through the affected section, a reduction from the standard 80km/h (49.7mph), but emphasized that this measure is “entirely precautionary.” He added, “For the time being, the 30km/h speed limit will remain, so what that means is we are running to all destinations, just not to timetable.” He also mentioned that alternative solutions are under consideration, such as shortening the segment where the speed restriction is enforced. For further updates, follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding its external linking policy is available.