Stadler has been fined over £2 million for failing to provide enough trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro, causing delays for passengers.
Newcastle: The Tyne and Wear Metro is in a bit of a pickle. Stadler, the company responsible for keeping the trains running, has racked up over £2 million in fines. This all started when they took over the maintenance of the fleet back in October 2020.
So, what’s the deal? Well, the Metro’s old trains, some of which are 45 years old, are breaking down more often. Passengers have been facing delays and uncomfortable rides for ages now. Stadler was supposed to roll out a shiny new fleet, but that’s still a couple of years away.
In the meantime, things have been rough. The Metro’s performance hit rock bottom recently, with only 61% of services running on time during one stretch. But hey, there’s a silver lining! This year, train reliability has actually improved by nearly 20% despite the chaos.
John Fenwick from Nexus mentioned that keeping those old trains running is like trying to maintain a bunch of classic cars. It’s tough! They’re working on it, though, and have even brought in extra staff to help out.
But not everyone is happy. A passenger group is calling for more action to ensure a reliable service. They pointed out that over a third of Metro services were late during a recent busy period. That’s a lot of frustrated commuters!
Stadler is doing its best, but the old trains are just not cutting it anymore. They’re struggling in the cold, and parts are hard to find. It’s a tough situation, but they’re committed to making things better until the new trains are fully operational.
In the end, everyone just wants a smooth ride. Let’s hope Stadler can turn things around soon!
