Latest news with #CathyMassarella
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Tyne and Wear Metro air con leaks being worked on 'quickly'
Tyne and Wear Metro chiefs say they are "working as quickly as possible" to resolve air conditioning issues with the service's new have had to be temporarily withdrawn over the past two months due to water leaks, including three last Nexus and Swiss-manufacturer Stadler say condensation is draining too slowly from the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (Hvac) system during long hours of operation on hot days and dripping into carriages through trains are scheduled to enter service by the end of next year as part of a £362m modernisation programme. In a joint statement, Cathy Massarella, managing director of Nexus, and Lucius Gerig, CEO of Stadler Switzerland, said some of the new carriages were "intermittently experiencing an issue with this Hvac system during extreme temperatures" and software solutions were being tested."We're working as quickly as possible to deal with this issue, minimise disruption and maintain the best service that we can for customers," they added."We'd like to apologise to anyone who has been affected."As an interim measure, we have put a robust process in place to closely monitor the Hvac equipment and minimise the potential for water entering the carriage." Plans are in place for cleaning and servicing if required, the statement new trains are replacing a fleet that has been operating since the network launched more than 40 years their introduction has been beset by delays with Nexus blaming issues such as testing, driver training and rising problems since their rollout have included doors opening on the wrong side, leaving a drop on to the tracks below. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
New Metro trains pulled from service again over air-conditioning leaks
Metro bosses are still trying to correct a fault that is causing water to pour into the carriages of the network's new and Wear Metro's Stadler-built fleet had to be pulled from use during June's heatwave when it emerged their air-conditioning units were problem has reared its head once again as temperatures climbed over recent days, with three trains taken out of Nexus and Stadler said that condensation from the trains' heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system was draining too slowly during long hours of running on hot days - causing it to then leak through the air vents. Transport officials are still "testing solutions" to solve the issue for good, while contingencies including extra cleaning have been put in place in a bid to minimise disruption, according to the Local Democracy Reporting promise of cool, comfortable journeys during hot weather has been touted as one of the main advantages of the new £362m fleet, compared to the outdated Metro trains which have been running since 1980. It is the latest blow to the rollout, which saw new trains being removed from the Metro timetable for more than a week after one of their doors opened on the wrong of the Stadler-built fleet is due to be in service by the end of this year, with all 46 trains due by the end of a joint statement, Nexus managing director Cathy Massarella and Stadler Switzerland CEO Lucius Gerig said they were working "as quickly as possible" to get the HVAC units fixed."The introduction of the new Metro fleet is the biggest and most complex project in the history of the Tyne and Wear Metro and the current phase is the most challenging of any fleet transition project," they said."This is why we are taking a careful and phased approach to fleet introduction to promptly address any arising issues." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Funds to upgrade Tyne and Wear Metro signal system confirmed
Funding to upgrade the signalling system on the Tyne and Wear Metro has been confirmed by the Department for Transport (DfT).It said the works would "enhance journey times, improve reliability and safety" on the service as well as enable the expansion of the network to Washington. The service's operator Nexus previously said that signalling failures were responsible for 62% of all infrastructure-related firm's managing director, Cathy Massarella, said the investment was "critical" to the Metro's future. The existing signalling system, which dates from the network's construction in the 1970s and 80s, has become "increasingly difficult to maintain" due to the difficulty in finding parts and those with the engineering skills to carry out repairs, Nexus has previously said. Ms Massarella said: "We are working with analogue technology in a digital era."Without signals we can't run the trains."The announcement follows Nexus submitting a business case to the DfT last year which sought about £400m for a signalling system is unclear how much money the DfT has so far committed to government did however confirm that this money was separate to the £1.85bn slated for transport infrastructure which the government promised to the region earlier this year.A large amount of those funds will pay for the expansion of the Metro to Washington. It is also unclear when these signalling upgrade works will begin. The DfT and the North East Combined Authority have been approached for comment. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
22-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New Metro trains pulled from service due to leaks
A number of new Tyne and Wear Metro trains were withdrawn from service due to water leaks, operator Nexus has said faults with heating, ventilation and air conditioning units caused the problems on Saturday, which the BBC understands affected four trains.A joint investigation is being carried out with Swiss-manufacturer Stadler. It is understood all but one of the six new models available to passengers are back in said the introduction of the new £362m fleet was the most "complicated and challenging in its history" and apologised to customers. It comes after five of the fleet were pulled in April while a problem with doors was fixed. More trains due Nexus managing director Cathy Massarella and Lucius Gerig, CEO of Stadler Switzerland, said the issues over the last few days, which saw water leak into the carriages, were being said they were working together to rectify any problems as "quickly as possible.""We'd like to apologise to anyone who have been affected by this", a joint statement said. "Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to maintain a good service for customers."The fleet introduction is the biggest and most complex project in the history of the Tyne and Wear Metro and the current phase is the most challenging of any fleet transition project."They added they were taking "a careful and phased approach" to introducing the new trains, which will eventually replace the old fleet that has been operating for more than 40 years first of the new trains made its maiden journey in December, with a series of delays meaning the original target date of summer 2023 was is hoped that all 46 of the new trains will be in use by the end of 2026, with half due by the end of this year. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Metro line to be built as part of £1.85bn deal
A new Tyne and Wear Metro line will be built for the first time in 30 years, as part of a £1.85bn government investment. The money would help meet the cost of the route to Washington, Sunderland, with funds also expected to come from the private sector, the North East Combined Authority (NECA) said. It is hoped the new line, estimated to cost about £900m, will start running in 2033. Nexus, which operates the Metro system, said it was "a historic moment". "This project is going to be transformative for the people of Washington and our customers, opening a new Metro route corridor along the northern part of the former Leamside Line to one of our region's largest towns," said Nexus managing director Cathy Massarella. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government would award £15.6bn in total to areas across the UK. A feasibility study into the new Metro route is already under way, alongside design work for the stations, bridges and other infrastructure. North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said she secured the investment after raising it with Reeves. The money would also help create a so-called Angel Network, she said, a public transport system which would use contactless smart travel across buses, Metros and trains. "This is a game-changing moment for the people of our region, who can look forward to a truly world-class integrated public transport network, safer walking and cycling routes throughout our towns and cities, better local roads and a massive acceleration on our journey to an EV [electric vehicle] future," McGuinness said. The leader of Sunderland City Council, councillor Michael Mordey, called the announcement "great news" for Washington and the whole city. He said the new line would "transform public transport for people living in Washington" and help connect people to jobs at nearby Nissan and International Advanced Manufacturing Park. "We have waited a long time to see Metro reach Washington with a direct line from the city centre," Mordey added. The funding has been agreed as the latest phase of the region's City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS2). It will cover the period from 2027 to 2032. The package would also fund highways maintenance, walking and cycling routes, hundreds of new EV charging points and new measures to make bus journey times more reliable, NECA said. Rachel Anderson, assistant director for policy at North East Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the investment. "Upgrading our local transport networks, including progress on the Washington Metro link, is vital to connecting people to opportunity and driving regional growth," she added. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. New Metro line feasibility study under way Mayor recommits to Metro extension plan North East Combined Authority Nexus
