Tyne and Wear Metro experiences significant morning disruption as a quarter of its trains fail

Commuters faced delays on the Tyne and Wear Metro following the breakdown of one-fourth of its train fleet during a single morning. Out of the 28 trains typically operating a weekday Metro service, seven were taken out of service between 05:00 and 07:20 GMT, leading to considerable disruption across the network. Nexus, the train operator, attributed the primary causes of these breakdowns to power and brake malfunctions. A spokesperson for Nexus stated that the train fleet is 45 years old, noting that the vehicles are “operating beyond their current lifespan.” He further explained, “The ageing fleet is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and repair, exacerbated by a shortage of spare parts and cold weather.” The spokesperson added, “We remain focused on getting the best possible performance from our current trains while transitioning to the new fleet.” Since Tuesday morning, two of the seven trains that were withdrawn from service have been repaired and have resumed operation. Nexus indicated that it is collaborating with train manufacturer Stadler, the operator of the Gosforth train depot, to resolve these problems. A Stadler spokesperson commented: “Trains are being reintroduced over the course of the day, and we expect availability to continue to improve. At this stage, we are set to provide a full service by tomorrow morning.” The company also mentioned that the upcoming introduction of new trains, anticipated next month, is expected to “dramatically improve the passenger experience.” For further updates, follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. This content is Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites and provides information on its approach to external linking.