New Metro trains pulled from service due to leaks
A number of new Tyne and Wear Metro trains were withdrawn from service due to water leaks, operator Nexus has confirmed.It said faults with heating, ventilation and air conditioning units caused the problems on Saturday, which the BBC understands affected four trains.A joint investigation is being carried out with Swiss-manufacturer Stadler. It is understood all but one of the six new models available to passengers are back in service.Nexus said the introduction of the new £362m fleet was the most "complicated and challenging in its history" and apologised to customers.
It comes after five of the fleet were pulled in April while a problem with doors was fixed.
More trains due
Nexus managing director Cathy Massarella and Lucius Gerig, CEO of Stadler Switzerland, said the issues over the last few days, which saw water leak into the carriages, were being investigated.Both said they were working together to rectify any problems as "quickly as possible.""We'd like to apologise to anyone who have been affected by this", a joint statement said. "Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to maintain a good service for customers."The fleet introduction is the biggest and most complex project in the history of the Tyne and Wear Metro and the current phase is the most challenging of any fleet transition project."They added they were taking "a careful and phased approach" to introducing the new trains, which will eventually replace the old fleet that has been operating for more than 40 years ago.The first of the new trains made its maiden journey in December, with a series of delays meaning the original target date of summer 2023 was missed.It is hoped that all 46 of the new trains will be in use by the end of 2026, with half due by the end of this year.
Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
39 minutes ago
- The Sun
Aldi launches viral La Vieille Ferme dupe but in a box – and it's much cheaper
ALDI has launched a boxed wine version of the viral La Vieille Ferme for a fraction of the price. Made with picnics in mind, the 1.5 litre tub of wine has hit shelves just in time for the warm weather. Arriving in stores today, Le Petit Poulet Rosé Boxed Wine is a pale and citrusy rosé that's straight from the wine region of Provence. And priced at £12.49 it's over £3 cheaper than the original, La Vieille Ferme Rosé Bag in a box, which scans for £15.50 per litre. While traditionally it's been lower grade wines that have been sold in boxes, expert Sam Caporn says boxes now have a much greater variety of wines on offer. He's urged Brits to give boxed wine a go, calling it a more affordable way to drink as the beverage stays fresh for longer. He said: 'Boxed wines have many advantages. For example, boxed wine can stay fresh for considerably longer than bottled. 'There is usually a price advantage too, as you're not paying for heavy or expensive glass. And lastly, boxed wine tastes no different to bottled!' It's not just rosé that Aldi has got on offer but a collection of red and white boxed wines too. White-wine drinkers will be thrilled to know that the Cambala Sauvignon is scanning for just £13.99. Meanwhile, an intense Shiraz is flying off the shelves for as little as £13.99 for 2.25L. This comes just days after Aldi slashed the price of some of its fanciest wine to just £10 as part of a brilliant bargain sale. The retailer is slashing the price as part of a sale to mark English Wine Week. Saving 44 per cent per bottle shoppers will be treated to Aldi's premium Winemaster's Lot English Sparkling Wine for just £9.99. Without the discount the bottle would set back shoppers a massive £17.96. The deal will be available in stores for the duration of English Wine Week from the 19th-25th of June. Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said: 'English Wine Week is a great moment to showcase the quality of British winemaking. "With a saving of 44% on our Winemaster's Lot English Sparkling Wine, we're making it easier than ever for shoppers to enjoy exceptional, award-winning English wine at unbeatable prices.' English Wine Week is an annual national event that celebrates the English wine industry. Several retailers, restaurants and vineyards participate in the event, offering up cheap English wines to customers. This year Aldi will be serving up multiple bottles from their collection to mark the event. 4
Western Telegraph
39 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Farage plans to charge non-doms £250,000 fee which will be given to poor
On Monday, the party leader and MP for Clacton will reveal the policy which he said would 'encourage the return of wealth and talent to the United Kingdom', according to the Telegraph. The Labour Government abolished the non-dom tax status in April, which is where UK residents whose permanent home or domicile for tax purposes is outside the UK. Last year, former Conservative chancellor Jeremy Hunt revealed plans to scrap the tax status before successor Rachel Reeves sped up the process. Reform UK's policy would mean 'every high-net-worth newcoming (or returning leaver)' would pay a £250,000 one-off fee 'in return for a stable, indefinite remittance-style regime on offshore income and a 20-year inheritance-tax shield', Mr Farage wrote in an article for the Telegraph. All of this fee would be given to Britain's lowest-paid full-time workers through an automatic tax-free dividend via HMRC, the party leader added. In response, Labour said the policy was a 'golden ticket for foreign billionaires to avoid the tax they owe in this country'. Mr Farage wrote: 'Our policy is simple – Britain must be a place where success is celebrated, not punished with excessive taxes, crippling energy costs, or punitive inheritance levies. 'We will actively encourage the return of wealth and talent to the United Kingdom, on the clear condition that those who come here deliver immediate, visible benefits to our workers.' The plan would mean around 2.5 million 'hard-working Britons' would receive an 'annual cash bonus', the Reform UK leader claimed. He added: 'Our policy is not a 'golden visa' or a backdoor to citizenship. 'It is a one-time flat tax paid by newcomers in exchange for the certainty of a favourable tax status. 'Individuals will still be liable for all standard UK taxes on UK-sourced income, property and spending. 'But they won't be taxed on offshore income and gains for the duration of their agreed status.' A Labour spokesperson said: 'Nigel Farage can brand this whatever he wants – the reality is his first proper policy is a golden ticket for foreign billionaires to avoid the tax they owe in this country. 'As ever with Reform, the devil is in the detail. 'This giveaway would reduce revenues raised from the rich that would have to be made up elsewhere – through tax hikes on working families or through Farage's promise to charge them to use the NHS.'
The Herald Scotland
44 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Farage plans to charge non-doms £250,000 fee which will be given to poor
The Labour Government abolished the non-dom tax status in April, which is where UK residents whose permanent home or domicile for tax purposes is outside the UK. Last year, former Conservative chancellor Jeremy Hunt revealed plans to scrap the tax status before successor Rachel Reeves sped up the process. Reform UK's policy would mean 'every high-net-worth newcoming (or returning leaver)' would pay a £250,000 one-off fee 'in return for a stable, indefinite remittance-style regime on offshore income and a 20-year inheritance-tax shield', Mr Farage wrote in an article for the Telegraph. All of this fee would be given to Britain's lowest-paid full-time workers through an automatic tax-free dividend via HMRC, the party leader added. In response, Labour said the policy was a 'golden ticket for foreign billionaires to avoid the tax they owe in this country'. Mr Farage wrote: 'Our policy is simple – Britain must be a place where success is celebrated, not punished with excessive taxes, crippling energy costs, or punitive inheritance levies. 'We will actively encourage the return of wealth and talent to the United Kingdom, on the clear condition that those who come here deliver immediate, visible benefits to our workers.' The plan would mean around 2.5 million 'hard-working Britons' would receive an 'annual cash bonus', the Reform UK leader claimed. He added: 'Our policy is not a 'golden visa' or a backdoor to citizenship. 'It is a one-time flat tax paid by newcomers in exchange for the certainty of a favourable tax status. 'Individuals will still be liable for all standard UK taxes on UK-sourced income, property and spending. 'But they won't be taxed on offshore income and gains for the duration of their agreed status.' A Labour spokesperson said: 'Nigel Farage can brand this whatever he wants – the reality is his first proper policy is a golden ticket for foreign billionaires to avoid the tax they owe in this country. 'As ever with Reform, the devil is in the detail. 'This giveaway would reduce revenues raised from the rich that would have to be made up elsewhere – through tax hikes on working families or through Farage's promise to charge them to use the NHS.'
