Metro train donated to fire crews

Firefighters will use the carriage to train for real-life scenarios

A fire service has been given a decommissioned train carriage to help crews recreate emergency situations.

Tyne and Wear Metro operator Nexus has donated one of its old Metro trains - the 40-tonne yellow No. 4019 carriage - to the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFS) training centre.

The 29m carriage will sit on a stretch of purpose-built track, allowing teams to recreate scenarios including collisions.

Ken Corbett, TWFRS area manager, said the carriage will provide an "essential resource" for teams and also benefit residents knowing firefighters are equipped to deal with real-life environments.

Nexus said No. 4019 travelled 11 miles by road from Howdon in North Tyneside to the training centre in Washington, Sunderland.

A concrete platform, tunnel and recreated ticket machine will also be added to allow crews to perfect multiple rescue exercises on and off the train.

The carriage was transported from Howdon to Washington

The carriage is one of two donated by Nexus, with the other being the very first Metro prototype which has been given to the Stephenson Museum in North Tyneside.

Cathy Massarella, managing director of Nexus, said: "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."

Nexus and and Swiss-manufacturer Stadler have replaced the Metro fleet with new models.

The new £362m fleet began being rolled out last year but has faced several problems including leaking and door issues.