A decommissioned Metro train has been donated to the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) to support essential training for its crews.
The old Metro carriage, number 4019, will form an integral part of the operational training facilities for fire fighters.
It will allow the TWFRS training team to recreate real-to-life scenarios that crews regularly encounter, including road traffic collisions and breathing apparatus training.
Metro operator Nexus handed the train over on Tuesday 16 September, when it was taken off the tracks at the Howdon Depot in North Tyneside and transferred by road on a low loader to the TWFRS headquarters in Washington.
It will be a vital asset for all operational firefighters including members of the TWFRS Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, enabling crews to also take part in joint training exercises with external blue light partners.
To add to the realism there will be a concrete platform, a tunnel, and an imitation ticket machine. The training team can do multiple rescue exercises, on and off the train, and simulate fires through cosmetic smoke and fire.
Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus, said: “We’re delighted to see this decommissioned Metro train going to support such important training.
“When the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service got in contact with us about acquiring one of the used carriages we had no hesitation in saying yes.
“This train will now play a vital role in supporting firefighter training across a range of different scenarios. It will undoubtedly prove really useful for them in recreating some of the scenarios they may have to deal with one day.
“The old Metro fleet has served our region well for more than 45 years but it’s now making way for the new generation of Metro trains. We’ve already donated the very first Metro prototype to the Stephenson Museum in North Tyneside, and we now have one going to very good use at the fire and rescue service HQ in Washington. We can’t wait to see the firefighters using the old train for their training programme.”
Ken Corbett, Area Manager of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We would like to pay our gratitude to Nexus for their kind donation. The Metro carriage will provide an essential resource for our fire and rescue teams, who tirelessly train all year round in recreated real-life environments that help to fashion scenarios for firefighters to gain firsthand training.
“This will also benefit the residents of Tyne and Wear, as they will be safe in the knowledge that firefighters helping to keep them and their families safe from harm: have access to some of the best state of the art training facilities available in the region.”
Paul Patrick, Managing Director of Stadler Rail Service UK, said: “The trains that served the Tyne and Wear Metro for more than 40 years were of immense practical benefit to the north east region. On a social level, they facilitated jobs, boosted economic growth and supported social cohesion. But for individuals, they simply got people to where they needed to be – work, the shops, a night out, a trip to the beach or going to see their nan.
“Now, we are really pleased that one of the trains will continue to be of practical use: improving the training of the Fire and Rescue Service so that ultimately, their staff can do their jobs better, saving lives and providing an invaluable service to the community.”
It is hoped that over the next few weeks TWFRS firefighters will start implementing the Metro train as part of their wider training programme.
The handover comes just a week on from Nexus donating a used Metro train to the Stephenson Steam Railway in North Tyneside.
Image credit: Nexus
