Metro takes extra step to guard against malfunction

THE Tyne and Wear Metro’s new trains needed protective measures to stop a key feature from malfunctioning under the weight of thousands of half-marathon runners after the Great North Run.

- 

Metal plates were installed at each door on the 14 Stadler-built trains that were deployed last Sunday.

Transport bosses say that the move was taken as a precaution, in order to protect the automatic sliding steps which are deployed to narrow the gap between the train and the platform. The sliding step has been praised as one of the big upgrades that the new trains have compared to the Metro's old fleet, making it easier for wheelchair users or people with buggies, luggage or bikes.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands there was concern that the weight of passengers heading out from South Shields on packed Metro trains could cause the sections of floor above the sliding steps to flex, potentially preventing them from working properly. It is thought that the issue is viewed as less serious than previous faults which have afflicted the new fleet.