31-701: Brockley Whins is an area in South Tyneside, part of South Shields, with a postcode of NE32 [1] It is served by Brockley Whins Metro station . The name originates from a farm which was located about 400 metres East, in what is now the Biddick Hall Estate. ("Brockley" means "of badgers" and "Whins" is synonymous with "bushes"). When the Brandling Junction Railway (now the Newcastle-Sunderland metro line)
62-598: A "call for assistance" device. Other minor modifications include improved door seals, more concise interior signage and removal of the green boarding lamps to facilitate new audio warning equipment for door operation. Some Metrocars also featured air conditioning boxes at their A end to control the conditions within the drivers cab, these were later removed from the units due to overhead line (OHLE) clearance issues if trains were to be placed on wheelskates . Passenger counters were integrated above doors to help Nexus analyse trends in passenger levels. These features were removed from
93-671: A 1.5-mile (2.4 km) test track in Backworth . The track was built on the route of an old mineral wagonway formerly part of the North Tyneside Steam Railway . It had a two-lane car shed and a mock station platform, along with a short tunnel section which consisted of concrete tunnel segments laid at ground level; the tunnel was later demolished to allow testing of prototype cars for the Hong Kong MTR , also built by Metro-Cammell, since these cars have
124-612: A contract to perform a three-quarter life refurbishment at Doncaster Works , which included making them compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 . The first was completed in February 2012, with the last in July 2015. Cost overruns and technical issues resulted in only 86 being completed, with 4001, 4002, 4040 and 4083 remaining in service in un-refurbished condition. Because they did not comply with
155-588: A number of railways in the United Kingdom, including the Woodhead line , but is now unique. Each Metrocar has its own Brecknell Willis pantograph for collecting power from the overhead line. The sections of Metro owned by Nexus have a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph) in some areas, which matches the top speed of the rolling stock. The vehicles have a minimum curve radius of 50 m (160 ft), although there are no curves this tight except for
186-482: A pair of emergency magnetic track brakes , which can be used to bring a train to a complete stand in as little as 150 m (492 ft) from the maximum service speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). Metrocars have three acceleration steps, and four braking steps, and an additional emergency brake step which drops the emergency magnetic track brakes. Many features of the Metrocar are operated by compressed air which
217-530: A very large profile. The test track was closed in 1980, and it is now home to the Stephenson Railway Museum . The prototype cars are very similar to the production fleet, with the exception of having Kiekert passenger doors, which were refitted to match the specification of the production fleet before entering passenger service. The prototype cars were also fitted with two different types of block coupling equipment (one at each end), allowing
248-523: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Brockley Whins Metro station Brockley Whins is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the suburbs of Boldon Colliery and Brockley Whins , South Tyneside in Tyne and Wear , England. It joined the network on 31 March 2002, following the opening of the extension from Pelaw to South Hylton . The original station opened in June 1839, as part of
279-401: Is also equipped with ticket machines, waiting shelter, seating, next train information displays, timetable posters, and an emergency help point on both platforms. Ticket machines are able to accept payment with credit and debit card (including contactless payment ), notes and coins. The station is also fitted with smartcard validators, which feature at all stations across the network. There
310-431: Is no dedicated car parking available at this station. There is the provision for cycle parking, with five cycle pods available for use. As of April 2021 , the station is served by up to five trains per hour on weekdays and Saturday, and up to four trains per hour during the evening and on Sunday. Rolling stock used: Class 599 Metrocar Along with other stations on the line between Fellgate and South Hylton ,
341-614: Is stored in a reservoir under the driving cab at the front of the train. Features operated by air include: air-operated disk brakes, horn, windscreen wipers and passenger doors, as well as being used to raise the pantograph . As the section between Pelaw and Sunderland on which they operate is part of the Network Rail system, the units were allocated TOPS class 599 in January 2002. Prior to opening, two prototypes, 4001 and 4002, underwent several years of testing from June 1975 on
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#1732798099049372-539: The Brandling Junction Railway , and consisted of only one platform, located on the line towards Newcastle. This meant that trains towards Sunderland were required to cross over onto the opposite track, in order to allow passengers to board and alight – an arrangement quite common on other railways in the area, such as Crook . This arrangement resulted in an accident on 6 December 1870, causing five deaths. The subsequent investigation led to changes in
403-798: The British Rail Class 599 . Most were refurbished between 2010 and 2015 by Wabtec Rail at Doncaster Works and are scheduled to be replaced by Class 555 rolling stock from 2024. The design of the Metrocars was partly derived from that of the German Stadtbahnwagen B . However, they were built by Metro-Cammell in Birmingham , and were not fitted with the lights and indicators that would have allowed them to run on streets. Each Metrocar consists of two semi-permanently connected coaches mounted on three bogies , with
434-478: The Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2002, unit 4032 was temporarily decorated in a special gold livery; it was then returned to the red and yellow livery, which it carried until refurbishment. Between 2012 and 2015, 86 Metrocars were refurbished and repainted in a black and yellow livery. Until 2017, prototype unit 4001 carried its original cadmium-and-white livery whilst 4002 carried an advertisement for
465-648: The Brandling Junction Railway on the level , just to the east of the station at Pontop Crossing, with various curves being laid in to connect the two routes. Since the 1850s, passenger traffic has only taken place on the present east–west route, however the former north–south line was used by freight traffic as late as 1966. The station was renamed Boldon Colliery by the London and North Eastern Railway in March 1925, but reverted to its original name in July 1991. As well as Seaburn , East Boldon and Heworth , Brockley Whins
496-511: The Disability Discrimination Act 1995, they were restricted to operating peak hour services. The refurbishment saw the trains undergo corrosion correction work, to repair damage as a result of the trains' steel and aluminium construction, new seating, flooring and interior finish, in addition to improved saloon and emergency lighting. A new larger wheelchair space has also been created at the end of each car, featuring
527-472: The Metrocars, with deliveries scheduled to commence in late 2022. This was part of a £362M programme which included a new depot. After receiving feedback from 23,000 people, Nexus added an additional 12 tip-up seats, handrails in the wheelchair areas, brighter markings and changes to the interior design of the trains. Nexus expect the Stadler trains to begin to enter service in 2024. In March 2023, it
558-510: The Tyne and Wear Metro website. Both were repainted in 2017 into the same black and yellow livery carried by the refurbished Metrocars, but in September 2019, Metrocar 4001 underwent further repainting into a 40 Years livery with all four previous liveries amalgamated into one. The network is electrified with a 1,500 V DC overhead line system. This voltage was previously used on
589-405: The automated next station announcements were introduced they featured a female announcer, however during late 2014 this was replaced with a male announcer. The female announcements are still in use by two Metrocars, however can only be heard when the Metrocar is at the front of the train. All 90 units underwent a half life refurbishment between 1996 and 2000. In June 2010, Wabtec Rail was awarded
620-436: The law, as well as the construction of a second platform, to the east of the existing one, to serve Sunderland-bound trains. When the station was converted for use by the Tyne and Wear Metro , the westbound platform was relocated opposite the newer eastbound platform. The station was originally a busy junction, as the former Stanhope and Tyne Railway route from Tyne Dock to Consett and Waskerley via Washington crossed
651-413: The middle bogie being a Jacobs Bogie . The outermost bogies are powered and the centre Jacobs Bogie, located in the articulated section between both halves is unpowered. The trains make use of rheostatic braking between 80 and 30 km/h (50 and 19 mph), with air-operated disc brakes for use during the final stages of deceleration below 30 km/h (19 mph). All bogies are also equipped with
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#1732798099049682-519: The non-passenger chord between Manors and West Jesmond . During the early years of Metro, units were operated in single and double sets. As single units became overcrowded, Nexus resumed using two units as standard. Single units again became common during construction of the Sunderland extension when some units were taken for testing of the new track. During original construction, the Metro system
713-453: The phrase was replaced with "doors closing" in 2004. In 2011, the "doors closing" recording was replaced in post-refurbishment Metrocars with a simple beeping noise, similar to that used on London Underground trains. The train makes a solid three-second beeping tone when the doors are released, and a rapid three-second beeping tone immediately before the doors close, in line with the 2010 UK Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (RVAR). When
744-415: The series vehicles with a passenger seat beside offering a forward view. The Metro fleet was initially painted in a two-tone livery of cadmium yellow and white that matched the Metro station design and the livery of the Tyne and Wear bus fleet until 1986. In 1995, a new colour scheme was introduced - solid red, green or blue with a yellow wedge at each end and yellow triangles on the doors. This scheme
775-542: The specification midway through the refurbishment however. After an accident at Gosforth in March 2017, 4022 was taken to Bristol Barton Hill TMD for assessment, before moving to the Nemesis Rail facility at Burton upon Trent in October 2019 for scrapping. In January 2020, Stadler Rail was awarded a contract to build 42 (later increased to 46) five-carriage Class 555 articulated light rail trains to replace
806-660: The station is fitted with vitreous enamel panels designed by artist, Morag Morrison. Each station uses a different arrangement of colours, with strong colours used in platform shelters and ticketing areas, and a more neutral palate for external elements. Tyne and Wear Metrocar The Tyne and Wear Metrocars are a fleet of light rail vehicles manufactured by Metro-Cammell for the Tyne and Wear Metro in North East England between 1978 and 1981. For operation on Network Rail controlled tracks between Pelaw Junction and Sunderland , they are designated on TOPS as
837-446: The two designs to be thoroughly tested. The prototypes featured small cabs and central end doors similar to London Underground stock, to allow evacuation of trains in a tunnel. In the event, the Metro tunnels were constructed with continuous sidewalks, making the end doors unnecessary. Prior to their entry into service in 1987, the two prototypes were refitted to reflect the specification of the production fleet. The small cabs remained in
868-467: Was built (1839) it crossed the Stanhope and Tyne railway nearby. Sidings were put in place to connect the 2 railways together, and a station was placed there, named after the farm because it was the nearest habitation at that time. The modern estate was apparently named after the station. [REDACTED] Media related to Brockley Whins at Wikimedia Commons This Tyne and Wear location article
899-483: Was designed to use three unit sets, and some platforms were constructed to accommodate this; however, due to a lack of funding, this was not possible. As a result, the units run in sets of two. The "stand clear of the doors please" announcement, which was played before the doors started closing, was introduced in 1991. In order to increase the clarity of the announcement (especially for individuals not fluent in English)
930-543: Was formerly served by rail services operating along the Durham Coast Line between Sunderland and Newcastle . Following the introduction of Tyne and Wear Metro services to Wearside in March 2002, Heworth is now the only remaining intermediate station served by rail services operating between Sunderland and Newcastle. Step-free access is available at all stations across the Tyne and Wear Metro network, with ramped access to platforms at Brockley Whins. The station
961-513: Was modified slightly in 2005 to comply with safety regulations, changing the doors to a solid yellow in order to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 . During this period, a large number of special liveries were carried in addition to the standard colour scheme. These were often advertisements for local businesses such as Metrocar 4042 advertising the Evening Chronicle and Metrocar 4054 advertising Metroland . To celebrate