{"id":56576,"date":"2024-12-22T11:30:33","date_gmt":"2024-12-22T11:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/?p=56576"},"modified":"2024-12-22T10:59:41","modified_gmt":"2024-12-22T10:59:41","slug":"metro-drivers-speak-of-pride-as-they-put-new-train-into-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/?p=56576","title":{"rendered":"Metro drivers speak of pride as they put new train into service"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two long-serving drivers on the Tyne and Wear Metro have spoken of their pride in playing a key role on a historic day for the network as the first of the new Stadler trains entered service. Jon Doughty and Chris Mongan drove the new train for the first time with passengers on board as it entered service on Wednesday 18th<\/sup> December 2024.<\/p>\n

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Jon and Chris are part of a team of drivers embedded in the new Metro fleet programme to become experts on the workings of the new trains as part of the detailed testing and training process, and taking the train into service is the culmination of more than five years of hard work.<\/p>\n

Jon, 58, of North Tyneside, has been driving Metro trains for 20 years. He said: \u201cBeing part of this historic occasion was an incredible privilege. The years of hard work and dedication from everyone involved in delivering these new trains have been remarkable, and it\u2019s an honour to represent the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cKnowing how much of a positive impact these trains will have on our customers and the local economy makes this milestone even more meaningful. This isn\u2019t just about new trains, it\u2019s about shaping a brighter future for the Tyne and Wear Metro and the region we\u2019re proud to serve.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe introduction of this new train signals the start of a transformative era, one that promises greater reliability, enhanced comfort, and cutting-edge technology. These trains are designed to meet the changing needs of modern customers, reflecting how travel and work patterns have evolved over the years. It\u2019s an exciting step forward, setting the stage for a Metro system that will better serve the region for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chris, 48, a Metro driver for 23 years, also of North Tyneside, added: \u201cAs the first driver to operate this train in customer service I\u2019m filled with immense pride. This moment represents the culmination of over five years of dedication, collaboration, and hard work by the entire team involved in the project to replace the Metro’s ageing train fleet. Being part of such a transformative initiative has been a privilege, and knowing the positive impact these trains will have on our communities, economy, and daily lives is its own reward.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt isn\u2019t just about driving a train, it\u2019s about driving progress for the region I\u2019m proud to call home. To have been entrusted with this historic milestone is an honour and the pinnacle of my 23-year career with Nexus.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s historic for the Tyne and Wear Metro and the entire region as we welcome the first new Metro train into service. It\u2019s the beginning of an exciting new era for the Metro system. These new trains are a game changer, bringing with them a step-change in reliability, comfort, and cutting-edge technology. They have been designed to meet the evolving needs of customers – including a changing workforce with new patterns of commuting and working.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey promise a vastly improved experience, from smoother rides to state-of-the-art features that reflect the way we live and travel today. This is more than just an upgrade, it\u2019s a transformation that will serve the people of our region for decades to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Further information of the phased introduction of the new trains has also been given. They are due to operate Monday-Friday with a pause during Christmas week (23rd<\/sup> to 27th<\/sup> December). 555 021<\/strong> was again in action on Thursday 19th<\/sup> December with it due to operate a full day diagram, starting from South Gosforth at 0500.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Two long-serving drivers on the Tyne and Wear Metro have spoken of their pride in playing a key role on a historic day for the network as the first of the new Stadler trains entered service. Jon Doughty and Chris … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[67],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56576"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=56576"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56576\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56577,"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56576\/revisions\/56577"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=56576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=56576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=56576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}