Subway spends £120,000 after stability complaints

Glasgow Subway has spent nearly £120,000 after passengers complained that its new fleet of trains were too unstable and noisy.

Operators Strathclyde Partnership for Travel (SPT) paid out for more than 100 dampers on its new trains, which gradually replaced the old carriages last year.

Passengers had complained about getting thrown about while on board the modern trains.

SPT said they met safety standards, but the new dampers were introduced to improve the ride. The devices help to reduce vibrations and noise and improve comfort on journeys.

The issue was first reported in The Scotsman following a freedom of information request by the newspaper.

The new trains were launched as part of a £288m upgrade programme of the city's underground rail system.

The older stock was gradually phased out and a total of 17 new trains were introduced.

An SPT spokesperson said: "Following feedback from some passengers, SPT paid for the retrofitting of dampers to be added to the new train fleet to improve the ride quality of the trains in the system.

"While what the train manufacturer delivered met the applicable standards set for trains, we requested the additional dampers be added to further improve the ride."

In June, the last old-style subway travelled the underground loop for the final time.

The Metro-Cammell trains had been taking Glaswegians around the circular track for 44 years.

The city's subway was coined the Clockwork Orange its the iconic bright orange carriages.

One of the legacy carriages was moved to Glasgow's Riverside Museum as part of its transport exhibit and others were scrapped or put up for sale.

The new trains are the same length as the older carriages, but feature a "walk-through" design, are wheelchair accessible and air conditioned.

SPT has plans to introduce platform screen doors to all station platforms.

The operator also hopes to introduce driverless trains to the subway system in the future.