First Stadler Class 555 heralds a new era for Tyne & Wear Metro
THE FIRST five-car Class 555 electric multiple unit was delivered to Tyne & Wear Metro’s Gosforth depot on February 28, heralding the start of a new era for the Metro network. 555003 is the first of 46 new fivecar EMUS built by Stadler Rail in Switzerland to be delivered to the UK, and it was followed by 555004, which arrived at its new home at Gosforth on March 10. The trains will now undergo a period of testing and commissioning, along with driver training, before entering passenger service in the autumn.
Tyne & Wear Metro operator Nexus says the new trains will gradually replace the original train fleet – which dates back to the opening of the Tyne & Wear Metro in 1980 – over the next couple of years. It is expected that the full fleet replacement will be completed during 2025. The driver training programme will be intensive, with Nexus employing 177 drivers who will undergo initial training on a Class 555 simulator provided by Stadler before commencing practical training on the new EMUS.
The operator also has a team of 18 core drivers who will act as learning and development specialists on the new trains, and it will be this team who carry out the main driver training on the new fleet.
Each driver must complete a minimum of 30 hours at the controls of the Class 555s.
Nexus managing director Martin Kearney said: “It was a proud moment for us to welcome the first new Stadler train to North East England. The £362 million programme is now entering a significant phase.
“To see that train arriving at our Gosforth depot was a moment of history for the Tyne and Wear Metro. Everyone is excited to get the testing and driver training process underway so we can put the new train into service on the network.
“The Stadler trains have all the latest modern technology. They are a world away from our current fleet and promise to be transformative for customers and for our workforce. “Our customers, employees, specialist user groups and trade unions helped to design the new trains as part of a far-reaching consultation exercise that received 23,000 responses. We are getting a bespoke design from Stadler, with a sleek modern appearance inside and out. This is the first of 46 new trains we have ordered from Stadler. They will arrive over the next couple of years and will be phased into service on the network.”
Stadler project manager Adrian Wetter said: “The arrival of the first train in Newcastle is a massive milestone, bringing the project to manufacture and supply 46 new trains one step closer to fruition.
“These trains are technologically sophisticated, designed for passenger comfort, and will dramatically improve the travel experience.
“We are pleased to continue working with Nexus on the next stage, which is a comprehensive programme of testing to ensure that the trains meet industry safety standards before they enter into commercial service.”
Meanwhile, it has also been announced that original Metrocar 4001 is to move into preservation. Its new home will be the Stephenson Steam Museum in North Tyneside, once it is withdrawn from service with Nexus.