An innovative simulator will provide a fully immersive training experience for Tyne and Wear Metro drivers as they prepare for the arrival of the new trains.

The simulator is located at the Nexus Learning Centre in South Shields and uses CGI to offer a realistic and interactive train driving experience in a full-size replica of the brand new Metro train cab.

Provided by Stadler, the simulator will provide essential training and familiarisation for Metro drivers ahead of the trains arriving in the North East at the end of 2022.

Nexus who own and operate Metro has heralded the start of a new era for the Metro driver training programme using the multi-million-pound technology.

The simulator has the full Metro network and all of its 60 stations programmed and features high-resolution screens in front of the driver to replicate looking out of an actual windscreen.

The simulator caters for all weather conditions and potential situations such as snow and high winds right through to cows on the line, providing the driver with realistic scenarios at the touch of a button.

Head of Fleet and Depot Replacement Programme at Nexus, Michael Richardson, said: “The new simulator will be vital for getting our drivers ready for their new Metro trains. It’s a really exciting time for them to be able to use this amazing new technology.

“This really does mark the start of a new era in how we can train our Metro drivers and it will be in use for many years to come. We are grateful to Stadler for supplying us with such a fantastic and immersive driver training aid. We’ve never had anything like this before.

“The simulator allows the drivers to get ready for making the switch because the new trains are much more hi-tech than the current fleet. It provides an opportunity to get used to all the various functions and features on the new trains before the drivers get the chance to drive them for real in 2023.

“The new Metro fleet is going to transform the Tyne and Wear Metro for customers and for the staff, delivering a step-change in quality, comfort and reliability.

“We are just a few months away from a really exciting moment when we see the first new train arrive in the region. By getting a simulator in place we are ensuring that we are ready to make a seamless transition to this modern new Metro fleet.”

Marc Robson, regional fleet manager at Stadler, added: “We are delighted to have delivered this highly sophisticated piece of equipment to Nexus. It will be instrumental to the successful delivery of the Metro driver training programme, enabling drivers to familiarise themselves with the new trains we’re currently building and promoting the smooth transition from the old to the new fleet.

“The simulator is yet another example of our focus on innovation, design technology, efficiency and precision, qualities that Stadler prides itself on and which characterise our wide portfolio of rail products and services.”

Craig Pearson is just one of the 174 drivers who work for Nexus and will be one of the very first to drive the new trains. Craig is a driver specialist for the Metro Futures project and has played a vital role in supporting colleagues in preparing for the new trains

Craig said: “The new simulator is amazing. It is already providing us with a real feel of what the new trains are capable of and at this stage in the project is assisting us in our preparations for the first train arriving in November.

“The level of detail is fantastic and is each route is easily identifiable. It is better than the expectations we had for it. It will be an integral part of our driver’s conversion training between old and new fleets and provide a great tool in the future, being able to replicate most, if not all real-life situations that could arise, in the comfort of the simulator. Early feedback from drivers has been very positive.”

The simulator will be used by the Nexus Learning and Development team who will lead a full schedule of training sessions for Metro drivers in order to ready them for driving the real Stadler trains. Providing drivers with an ability to learn how to use the new train’s hi-tech functions such as a Train Control Management System which is the ‘brain’ of the train allowing the driver to interact with the train’s systems and creating the most efficient performance alongside improving safety features.

Driver will also be able to learn the new technical features of the cab such as the new control features, gauges, switches and master controller which are used whilst driving as well as the new seating position, safety and security features including CCTV technology.

The first of the new Metro trains is in its final assembly and will arrive in November for testing and further training before entering operations for passengers service during mid 2023.

Swiss train builder Stadler will supply Nexus with 46 new trains for Metro alongside a new £70m maintenance depot. The trains will be 15 times more reliable and will reduce energy usage by 30% and feature charging points, air conditioning and a step-change in accessibility. The train’s new features will see an automatic sliding step at each door making travel much easier for Metro’s 50,000 wheelchair passengers alongside those with push-chairs, luggage and cycles.

The Metro driver simulator has been made by simulator specialist manufacturer CORYS in Grenoble, South-East France. The company has supplied training and engineering simulators for over 30 years for the transportation, power and process industries utilising engineering-grade modelling tools, virtual environs and control room replicas and/or emulations.

For further information about the new Metro fleet, please visit: http://www.nexus.org.uk/newmetrotrains