Tyne and Wear Metro passengers have given a thumbs-up to London Underground-style linear seating when new trains are introduced to the system in the years ahead.
More than 3,000 people took part in the biggest ever consultation exercise on Metro trains, organised by Nexus as it completes the business case to fund new trains in a £540m investment for the busy urban rail system.
The results from three different strands of research, by independent passenger watchdog Transport Focus, academics from Newcastle University’s Open Lab and Nexus itself, will be reviewed by councillors on the North East Combined Authority this week (Thursday 9 February).
They show a preference across different strands for linear seating along the sides of trains, similar to modern London Underground and many other major city underground and rail trains.
Passengers say the design allows more space when trains are busy and more room for people using wheelchairs, with children’s buggies, luggage or shopping.
They also pointed out other benefits from the design, including making people feel more secure, discouraging littering and helping deter anti-social behaviour.
Cllr Nick Forbes, lead member for Transport on the North East Combined Authority and leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “We agreed with Nexus that local people should be placed at the heart of our plans for new Metro trains.
“The strength of the response demonstrates how important Metro is to the people and the economy of North East England, and supports a powerful case for investment in a new fleet of trains.”
Tobyn Hughes, Managing Director of Nexus, said: “We have talked to our passengers early on so that their views can be reflected fully as we complete the business case for trains and approach potential suppliers.
“By working the leading passenger watchdog, Transport Focus, and experts in community research from Newcastle University’s Open Lab we have gathered valuable independent research alongside our own consultation.
“Metro is the busiest local rail system outside London and our passengers have shown a clear preference for linear seating because of the space and flexibility it provides.
“There are many other important findings and suggestions from this research about what people want from the detail of train design.
“Because we have involved our passengers now we can challenge potential suppliers to study and respond directly to this research – and to meet and talk to passengers themselves as the design process moves forward.”
Passenger views were gathered through market research by Transport Focus, an online and paper consultation by Nexus itself and an in-depth programme of pop-up labs, passenger-led studies and online engagement tools offered by Open Lab.
Anthony Smith, Chief Executive of Transport Focus, said: “We spoke to almost 1,000 people through market research and focus groups, to give a very good understanding of what passengers want from Metro trains.
“Our research indicates that perception of space in the train is a key issue for passengers on Metro. While passengers are happy with the ease of getting on and off, trains can become congested and future designs should include features that encourage passengers to move down within the carriages.
“Passengers identify the current layout of seats to be a key contributor to a lack of space within Metrocars; linear seating designs are therefore seen to be most suitable for commuters. Not everyone has the same opinion, as you might expect, and designs involving a greater mix of seating are favoured by those travelling outside of peak times.”
Open Lab led a parallel programme with academic researchers talking to around 280 people at seven pop-up labs in locations such as Sunderland’s Bridges shopping centre and South Shields’ Customs House, and more than 3,000 people visiting a special Metro Futures website.
The Open Lab team recruited 20 passengers for an in-depth series of workshops looking at the good and bad points of current train design, the needs of different passengers and bright ideas from around the world.
And pupils from six schools were challenged to imagine Metro’s future through a journey made in 2036, with some lucky children spending an ‘imagination day’ of lessons on board a Metrocar.
Click here to find our more about Metro Futures.