Latest news with #PaulWelford
BBC News
14-05-2025
- BBC News
New Metro trains targeted by vandals again
Vandals have targeted another of the new Metro trains as they made their way to shared on social media show graffiti daubed on to the side of one of the Swiss-built models, which the BBC understands happened in north London. It is not the first time the new trains have been targeted, with vandals also managing to deface one of the first to arrive in the country in operator Nexus said vandalism was a "common problem" and the train would be cleaned before it was tested on the system. The video was taken by Sophie, 16, from Hertfordshire, who said she was trainspotting with her dad when she saw the vandalised train. She told the BBC: "We were out specifically to see it, it's not everyday you get to see such an unusual train. "These units were quite obviously brand new, and it was quite irritating that they had already been vandalised."I was just surprised how quickly people will jump on a 'blank canvas' and ruin perfectly good units." Paul Welford, major projects director at Nexus, said: "One of our new trains was vandalised with graffiti during its journey here from Switzerland at the end of last week."This was not on our infrastructure and happened during the delivery process and before we'd even taken ownership of the train."This kind of pointless vandalism is sadly a common problem these days and something we have to deal with proactively as any rail operator."He said the graffiti would be cleaned off before the train entered the network for testing. A Network Rail spokesperson said it was working with the British Transport Police and appealed for information. "Incidents like this also cause delays as we need to repair damage and make sure the railway is safe," they new £362m fleet of 46 Metro trains is expected to be in service by the end of next year, following a series of setbacks, and will eventually replace the current ageing models. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Tyne and Wear Metro door fault 'cannot happen again', Nexus says
Nexus says Metro door fault 'cannot happen again' 6 minutes ago Share Save Daniel Holland Local Democracy Reporting Service Share Save BBC Nexus began reintroducing the new trains back into service on 30 April A problem with the doors on the Tyne and Wear Metro's new trains "cannot happen again", the network's operator has said. The fleet of five new trains were taken out of service for more than a week after an issue was discovered which caused the doors to open onto the tracks. Train operator Nexus said the fault was caused by a complex issue involving the door pre-select button but changes to the vehicle's software had fixed the problem. Nexus's major projects director Paul Welford said the likelihood of a similar event happening again was "extremely low" but the new precautions would prevent it from happening again. "The issue relates to the interface between operation of the doors by the Metro driver and the door request button on each set of doors," he said. "These allow customers to pre-select a door opening prior to the driver actuating the doors." Ethan Forster The Metro train door opened on to the tracks at Simonside station on 21 April The pre-select button allows a customer to select a door to open before the train enters the station. Using the pre-select button did not cause the wrong door to open every time, but its use combined with "a series of unlikely events", including driver error, led to both sets of doors opening at the same time. The problem only occurred once on 21 April at Simonside station. "The incorrect operation of the train's doors highlighted some functionality we wanted to tweak, which is why we took the decision to temporarily pause the rollout of the new fleet while we worked with Stadler on a solution," Mr Welford said. He said the software changes involved amending the trains' pre-select function and its "interface with the door operation by the driver". Nexus's new fleet of trains began to be gradually reintroduced back into service on 30 April, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The company said the door issue was not expected to delay the rollout of 23 new trains before the end of this year. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Two more Metro trains enter service
Two new Tyne and Wear Metro trains have arrived in the north-east of England as part of a £362m fleet expected to be in service by the end of next year. The 16th and 17th units in the Stadler fleet, out of a total 46 to be built, were delivered to the Metro's Gosforth depot early on Friday. The first of the Swiss-made trains entered service in December as the modern carriages are gradually rolled out. Five of the new fleet are now running on weekdays, with one train also operating at weekends. They are replacing the struggling carriages that have served the Metro network since it opened in 1980 and have become increasingly failure-prone, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. The new trains have new features including phone charging points, climate control, and a sliding step at every door. Metro operator Nexus says it still expects to have half of the new fleet in service by the end of 2025 and all of the new trains by the end of 2026. Major projects director Paul Welford said it was the "biggest project" in the Metro's history. "Stadler will be delivering around 16 more new trains from their factory in Switzerland this calendar year," he said. "They have built more than two-thirds of the 46 new trains that we have on order." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Metro Bashers find fellowship in front carriage New Metro train taken out of service after fault First new Metro train runs after lengthy delays Nexus
BBC News
12-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Two more new Tyne and Wear Metro trains enter service
Two new Tyne and Wear Metro trains have arrived in the north-east of England as part of a £362m fleet expected to be in service by the end of next 16th and 17th units in the Stadler fleet, out of a total 46 to be built, were delivered to the Metro's Gosforth depot early on first of the Swiss-made trains entered service in December as the modern carriages are gradually rolled of the new fleet are now running on weekdays, with one train also operating at weekends. They are replacing the struggling carriages that have served the Metro network since it opened in 1980 and have become increasingly failure-prone, the Local Democracy Reporting Service new trains have new features including phone charging points, climate control, and a sliding step at every operator Nexus says it still expects to have half of the new fleet in service by the end of 2025 and all of the new trains by the end of projects director Paul Welford said it was the "biggest project" in the Metro's history."Stadler will be delivering around 16 more new trains from their factory in Switzerland this calendar year," he said."They have built more than two-thirds of the 46 new trains that we have on order." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
