Great North Initiative Launched to Unite Region and Drive £118 Billion Investment

National World - LocalTV

The Great North initiative, inspired by the spirit of the Great North Run, unites northern leaders in a bold push to attract £118 billion in investment and reshape the region’s future from the North up.

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00:00The Tyne and Weir Metrol's new Stadler-built trains are back in service after being temporarily

00:05withdrawn due to a fault of the train doors. Nexus, which operates the Metrol, worked closely

00:10with manufacturer Stadler to identify and fix the issue swiftly, ensuring the new fleet meets all

00:16safety and operational standards. Part of a £362 million investment, the new trains boast modern

00:23features such as air conditioning, improved accessibility, USB charging points and more

00:29spacious seating. The full rollout is expected to be by the end of 2026, with several units already

00:35in service following rigorous testing. However, the door fault has raised concerns among passengers

00:41and community groups. One local group representing frequent Metrol users has publicly demanded answers

00:48from Nexus, claiming the setback reflects poor planning and communication. They argue that

00:55passengers deserve more transparency, especially after years of anticipation surrounding the new

01:00fleet. Nexus has acknowledged the frustration and emphasised that TV problems are not unusual during

01:07the early stages of new train deployment. They've committed to ongoing dialogue with the community

01:13and promised regular updates as the rollout continues.

01:15Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus said, I know this temporary pause was disappointing,

01:23but we don't expect this to have any impact on the overall rollout timescales. I'd like to thank

01:28our customers for their patience and understanding on this matter. Despite the rocky start, Metro officials

01:35maintain confidence that the new trains will deliver a more reliable and comfortable service,

01:40help them to modernise one of the UK's busiest light rail networks.

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