The Tyne and Wear Metro upgrade is another step closer after a multi-million pound signalling control suite was switched on for the first time.
The switch-on at Gosforth Metro depot is part of the countdown to the new fleet entering service for customers. The newly built facility will be used by Stadler to safely manage Metro train movements between the depot and the mainline, replacing an ageing control room in the old depot which had technology dating back to the 1980s.
Nexus, the public body which owns and operates the Tyne and Wear Metro, said the move was a big technological leap forward as testing continues to get the first new Metro trains into service.
The new facility has been strategically positioned to offer a panoramic view of the depot site and has been equipped with the very latest digital rail signalling systems. Computers allow controllers to signal trains at the few clicks of a mouse.
The move was completed during a single weekend of works, June 24-25, which required some line closures to safely move from the old depot control suite to the new one.
Major Project Director at Nexus, Cathy Massarella, said: "It's fantastic to see the team at Gosforth depot move into this modern new control suite, which is another step forward on our journey towards bringing the first new Metro trains into service.
"The digital systems are a big leap forward in how train movements in and out of Gosforth depot are managed. The quality of the facilities for the staff is vastly better than our old depot building, so will undoubtedly transform people's jobs.
"This move paves the way for the final phase of demolition work at the old depot. The depot controllers are the last ones to be moved out of the old building, but when you see the facility that they are going into then it really does look like it has been well worth the wait.
"The new Metro depot has been a £70m investment which ensures that we have a modern home for the new Stadler train fleet, and we really can’t wait to see the first ones in full service once testing and driver training has been completed."
Stadler created the new control suite, often referred to as a panel room, as part of the £70m rebuild of Gosforth Metro depot, paving the way for the final phase of demolition work on the old buildings.
Controllers will have a vastly improved and elevated view of the depot site as the new panel room is located on the first floor, with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Metro depot and its new sidings – which will eventually be home to 46 new Stadler Class 555 Metro trains.
Stadler, the Swiss train manufacturer, is building a total of 46 new Metro trains on behalf of Nexus. The fleet will enter service in phases and the aim is to have all the new trains in service in 2025.
Stadler has delivered three new trains to North East England so far, and more are set to arrive later this year. The Class 555 Stadler train is a unique design for Metro and in the months ahead will undergo rigorous testing to ensure that it interfaces correctly with signalling systems and other Metro infrastructure.
Metro drivers will also start a process of training at the controls of the new train. The new trains have been designed and shaped by customers, and in response to vast consultation will include modern features such as linear seating, charging points, air conditioning and will deliver a step-change in accessibility.
Among the new features will be an automatic sliding step at every door to enable seamless boarding, making travel easier for Metro’s 50,000 wheelchair passengers as well as people with children’s buggies, luggage or bicycles.
