Firefighters from the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) have started a number of training courses to get familiar with the new Stadler built trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro network. This will enable them to react to any emergency situation in the event that one occurs once they enter service.
Officers from the TWFRS have been invited to the Nexus Learning Centre in South Shields as part of a series of familiarisation sessions for all blue light services as part of the preparation for the entry into service of the new trains which differ significantly from the original Metrocars they will be displacing.
Head of Fleet and Depot Replacement Programme at Nexus, Michael Richardson, said: “We are working closely with the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service along with the other emergency services to get them familiarised with our new trains ahead of them entering service for customers.
“This is vital training for the fire fighters, so that they know the layout, emergency systems and access points so that they can react effectively in the unlikely event an emergency situation should arise. The various different watches who are coming in to undertake this course get a good amount of time to see the new train, get on board it and examine all of its advanced systems and its fixtures and fittings.
“The new trains are vastly different to the current ones, so we have built this into our programme of emergency services familiarisation which takes place at our bespoke learning centre in South Shields, where we keep one of the new Stadler trains for training purposes. We’re leaving no stone unturned as we get ready to bring the new trains into service for our customers, and working with blue light services is absolutely critical work for us.”
Lee Medhurst, Head of Operational Training for TWFRS, said: “These familiarisation sessions are crucial for our firefighters. As the roll out of the new Metro fleet replaces the old, we need to understand the differences between the two types in case we are working with either in an emergency situation.”
“I want to thank Nexus for inviting us to their premises and for working with us to create a training package for our staff. The insight they’ve provided will be invaluable and the familiarisation sessions provide an opportunity for our staff to ask questions, and think about how we would adapt our response from the old fleet. It’s great to be able to see the difference between the old fleet and the new fleet and how technology has advanced, and been used to help keep our community safe.”
Included in the sessions have been studying the revised carriage layout as well as the location of fire suppression systems, emergency access points to and from the driver’s cab and the carriage saloon area, braking distances, power supply, battery locations, emergency alarm and intercom systems, jacking points, location of fire extinguishers and defibrillators.