A life-sized replica of the new Tyne and Wear Metro train is being repurposed as a railway safety teaching facility, giving thousands of schoolchildren each year a realistic environment in which to learn about trespass, overhead line risks and anti-social behaviour.
The Stadler-built cab mock-up, originally created to help Nexus develop its new Metro fleet and familiarise drivers before the first trains arrived, has been permanently installed at the SafetyWorks! education centre in Newcastle.
It replaces a replica of an original Metro carriage and brings the centre’s railway training environment into line with the new generation of trains now being introduced across the network.
Around 5,000 schoolchildren visit SafetyWorks! each year, where realistic scenarios are used to teach young people about a range of risks.
From driver familiarisation to safety education
The mock-up has already played an important role in the £new Metro fleet programme.
Provided by Stadler in 2021, it was constructed in Germany before being shipped to the UK and assembled at Nexus’s Gosforth Metro depot.
Its design followed feedback from Metro train crews using virtual reality technology during development of the new fleet. Built to scale, it incorporates the full driver’s cab and seat as well as an exterior matching the new trains, including their yellow livery and running board.
Before production trains arrived, Nexus used the replica to allow drivers to become familiar with the significantly different working environment they would encounter.
With that phase of the programme complete, the same asset will now support a different aspect of railway operations: preventing incidents involving young people.
Michael Richardson, Head of Fleet and Depot Replacement at Nexus, said: “This is a great legacy project within the ongoing roll out of the new Metro train fleet.
“The cab mock-up did a great job early on in the project when we used it to familiarise our drivers with the new trains ahead of the real ones arriving.
“It’s heartwarming to see that it’s now getting used to educate young people in railway safety and accident prevention. As a Metro operator we are committed to youth liaison work to ensure children understand the dangers of trespassing on our lines.”
Realistic environment targets trespass risks
The replica has joined an existing immersive Metro area at SafetyWorks! incorporating a station, tracks, platforms, ticket machines and a level crossing.
Rather than relying solely on classroom presentations, the facility allows children to encounter railway hazards in a controlled but realistic setting.
That gives Nexus an opportunity to explain both the dangers of entering operational railway infrastructure and the risks posed by high-voltage overhead lines.
Deborah Rodenby, Youth Liaison Officer at Nexus, said: “The replica of the new Metro train is a vital new tool for engaging young people when they visit SafetyWorks!.
“It’s going to really grab their attention and that will make it easier for us to get the key railway safety messages across.
“It’s fantastic to give the cab mock-up a permanent new home. It looks amazing. It has supported our Metro drivers with adapting to the new trains, and now it’s got a new lease of life as a teaching aid, helping thousands of children learn about the dangers of trespassing on the lines.
“By stepping onto this realistic station layout, they experience the real-world environment of the new Metro fleet firsthand, learning about the dangers of trespassing and to respect the lethal nature of high-voltage overhead lines. This hands-on training does more than just teach rail safety. It actively deters dangerous trespassing and anti-social behaviour by fostering a genuine respect for the network.”
Multi-agency approach to prevention
SafetyWorks! is operated as a multi-agency facility involving Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, Northumbria Police, Nexus and local authorities.
Its life-sized ‘safety town’ allows young people to work through scenarios based on situations they could encounter in everyday life, with the emphasis on recognising hazards and understanding how their actions can affect safety.
Steve Thomas, Head of Prevention and Education at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said the new Metro replica would strengthen the railway element of that work.
“We are very grateful to Nexus and Stadler for their generous donation of the replica Metro train. It will help ensure that the school groups visiting SafetyWorks! learn invaluable lessons about the dangers of playing on or near railway lines, alongside wider safety advice that could ultimately help save lives.
“SafetyWorks! is a unique facility that brings real-life situations to life, helping young people prepare for the challenges and experiences they may encounter as they move through their teenage years and into adulthood.”
Legacy from Metro fleet programme
The project also demonstrates how assets created during major rolling stock programmes can have uses beyond their original engineering and training purpose.
Mock-ups can play an important role during train development, allowing operators and frontline employees to assess layouts and identify potential changes before production. Once the design and familiarisation stages are complete, however, their primary purpose can disappear.
In this case, Nexus and Stadler have been able to retain the value of the asset by moving it into long-term community safety work.
Marc Robson, Head of Stadler Rail Service UK Newcastle, said: “The new Metro fleet will serve communities across Tyne and Wear for decades to come. It’s great to see the original cab mock-up continue to have an important use by helping young people learn about railway safety.
“The lessons learned at SafetyWorks! stay with children long after their visit, and that’s what makes this such a worthwhile project.”
As the new Metro fleet continues to enter service, the replica provides a small but practical legacy from its development programme – moving from preparing the people who drive the trains to helping the next generation understand how to stay safe around them.
