As the Tyne and Wear Metro prepare for their new £362m train fleet to arrive in 2023, they have launched a fantastic initiative for local communities to repurpose up to five old carriages.
Nexus, who are the public body that owns and looks after Metro, is looking forward to seeing the creative and inventive ideas of how an old train could see a transformation becoming a vibrant part of a local community.
Local community groups and not-for-profit organisations have been offered the chance by Nexus to put forward their thoughts and plans for the well-known Metro carriages.
Nexus are hoping to donate up to five Metro carriages for use in the community following their decommissioning.
Customer Services Director at Nexus, Huw Lewis, said: “The Metro trains have been real workhorses over the last 41 years but they will start to be phased out from 2023 to make way for our new trains, so it's fitting that we allow some to be donated for local communities to make use of them.
“We are seeking expressions of interest and ideas from community groups and non-profit organisations about how a Metrocar might be used somewhere as a public asset once it has been taken out of service
“What we need now are creative and exciting proposals from the public as we get ready to say goodbye to the Metro fleet.
“We are giving away up to five Metro trains. The challenge is to get your thinking caps on and consider how you would go about converting a Metrocar to a new use if you were to receive one.
“Using an old Metro as a valued community space is a very fitting way to commemorate the service they have provided since they entered service over 40 years ago.”
The Tyne and Wear Metro trains have worked tirelessly for over four decades and are soon to be retirement from the network. The phasing out of the old stock will start in 2023 and will complete during 2024 as the next generation of Metro trains will begin their service.
Nexus also aim to keep two of the original Metro prototypes which were the very first two trains to come to the region in the 1970's, these will be donated to museums in a bid to record the heritage of the network.
46 new Metro trains are being built by Swiss train manufacturers Stadler and will be delivered up to 2024. Stadler will also be undertaking the service and maintenance work for the new trains for the next 35 years supporting both the network and the regional economy and are currently building a brand new £70m Metro depot at Gosforth.
The new trains will bring huge benefits in reliability and will cut energy use by 30%, they will also benefit from features such as improved internet connectivity, charging points, air conditioning and a step-change in accessibility. One of the most impressive features is an automatic sliding step for each door, providing easier travel for Metro's 50,000 wheelchair passengers and people travelling with children's buggies, luggage, or bicycles.
To register interest in a used Tyne and Wear Metro carriage email stakeholder.relations@nexus.org.uk
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