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First new Metro train runs after lengthy delays

BBC A young woman walks with a backpack walks towards the open doors of the new train. There are a few passengers on the yellow and black carriage which has a sign for Monkseaton. BBC
The new train left South Shields and picked up passengers between Pelaw and Monkseaton

The first of the new Tyne and Wear Metro trains has entered service after months of delays.

It left South Shields and picked up passengers between Pelaw in Gateshead and Monkseaton in North Tyneside, for its first journey.

Passengers had been told the 46 Swiss-built trains would be introduced at the end of 2023, before the launch was pushed back to the start of 2024 and delayed further to the end of the year.

Metro operator Nexus had blamed rollout delays on testing the trains, driver training and rising inflation.

A woman with lilac hair and a beige beanie hat wearing a green coat sitting next to a woman with a red coat and short grey hair.
Margaret Raistrick and Margaret Davis were among the first passengers to board the Metro

Among the first passengers were Margaret Raistrick from Wardley and Margaret Davis from Bill Quay, who were both unaware of its arrival at Pelaw.

"What a surprise, I didn't know it was coming today, I was just waiting at the station," said Mrs Davis.

"They are so clean, they are lovely."

Ms Raistrick said it had been "worth the wait".

"I use the Metro all the time," she said.

"They are absolutely lovely, I've been so looking forward to it and it's well worth it."

Trains breaking down

The new £362m fleet will eventually replace the current ageing models and will be rolled out in phases, Nexus said.

The system has been repeatedly hit by disruption, with a quarter of its trains breaking down in a single morning back in November.

Passengers sitting on the Metro with shopping. There are some customer service staff standing next to them. The seats are linear
The new Metros have linear-style seating and more space for pushchairs and wheelchairs

As well as being an estimated 15 times more reliable, the new trains boast air conditioning, USB charging points, and a sliding step at every door, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

They also have London Tube-style liner seating, designed to make them more spacious, and are decorated with colourful local artwork.

LDRS The Metro at Pelaw station. People are getting on it.LDRS
The Metro left Pelaw at 11.04 GMT and will enter the network's timetable

Friday's closure of A167 Gateshead Highway flyover has also caused trains to run at a reduced speed in the area, as the network's tunnels are directly underneath the structure.

Cathy Massarella, managing director of Nexus, said the carriages would "transform the customer experience, delivering more comfort, more quality and more reliability".

She added: "We're already looking forward to getting more new trains into service over the coming months.

"A vast amount of work has gone into this project, which is our biggest since Metro was first built. Our workforce has put in a huge effort to get the trains ready for service and my sincere thanks go to everyone involved."

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