A train driver on the Tyne and Wear Metro has his own YouTube channel, where he takes viewers behind the scenes of the £362m project to introduce a new Metro fleet.

Craig Pearson, 39, of Gateshead, has become an ambassador for the project. He has been video blogging at key moments on the drivers’ journey to their new trains, under the title ‘That Metro Guy’.

In the third episode of That Metro Guy, Craig goes behind the scenes of the new Gosforth Metro depot to find out how the £70m project is nearing completion. He was shown around the depot construction site, which will soon be a home for the Tyne and Wear Metro’s new fleet of trains.

Along with fellow Metro Futures specialist Mick Fulcher, they are filming and producing their own videos, and uploading them to a dedicated YouTube channel.

The Gosforth depot is located close to Regent Centre station in the suburbs of Newcastle and covers 12 acres. The new depot will incorporate inspection roads and pits, cranes, jacks, test facilities, automatic train-checking equipment, and a wheel lathe.

There will be a wash plant to clean train exteriors, and dedicated areas for both daily and periodic deep-cleaning.
The exterior of the area is being adapted to optimise train movements while keeping noise to a minimum for the benefit of residents.

Stadler is building 46 new Metro trains for Nexus, which will be delivered up to 2024, and will service and maintain the trains for 35 years. They will be 15 times more reliable than the existing fleet, will cut energy consumption by 30%, and feature charging points, air conditioning, and a step-change in accessibility with an automatic sliding step at every door.

The new Gosforth depot has been designed to ensure maximum availability and reliability of the new trains. It will vastly improve the working environment and provide facilities for preventive and corrective maintenance, overhauls, and train presentation. There will be storage for spare parts and material supplies and office space for training and support functions.

While promoting sustainability and providing an attractive environment for employees, the building will make the best use of natural light with energy-efficient lighting throughout the premises, and solar panels on the roof will reduce overall energy consumption. Water will be recycled on-site and rainwater will be harvested and used for train washing facilities and toilets. There will be a dedicated, secure area for bikes, with showers for people cycling to and from work. Charging bays will be installed for electric cars.

You can see the first two episodes in the series here and here