Four new Metro trains ordered
Four more new Metro trains have been ordered as part of a massive investment in the system.
The move, which comes after operator Nexus secured £95million from the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund, will bring the total new fleet to 46.
Swiss train builder Stadler officially began manufacturing the new trams ahead of assembly at its factories at the end of the year. Scores of components are being supplied by North East firms.
The first new train will arrive next year in 2022 and enter passenger service in mid-2023.
Director of Finance and Resources at Nexus, John Fenwick, said: “I’m delighted to confirm that we have been able to order four extra new Metro trains on top of the 42 which are already on order, and that Stadler has now started the manufacturing process.
"Securing the funding to order these additional trains is the culmination of an enormous amount of work in successfully making the case for the Metro Flow project, which
is a key tenet of our recovery plan as we emerge from the Coronavirus pandemic.”
Nexus has also unveiled plans to dual three sections between Pelaw and Bede Metro stations with the new funding.
The sections are located between Pelaw and Hebburn (800 metres), Hebburn and Jarrow (1.4km) and Jarrow and Bede (600 metres).
The organisation says the move – which will see a littleused freight line upgraded and electrified so both Metro and freight trains can share the route – will remove the stoppages caused by drivers having to wait for permission to proceed, freeing up more space in the timetable and making it easier to expand the service and add new stops and routes.
Work will start in September next year.
Cllr Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee, said: “Metro Flow will be truly transformational for people using the service every day to get to work, education or leisure destinations across the region. It will offer improved journey times across the entire Metro system so I’m sure this will encourage more people to consider public transport as a clean, safe and reliable way to travel.”
Find out more at www. nexus.org.uk/newmetrotrains