The £362 million Tyne and Wear Metro fleet modernisation has reached a pivotal milestone, with all 46 brand‑new Metro trains officially delivered to the region. The final unit arrived at Nexus’s Gosforth depot in the early hours of Saturday 21 February, marking the completion of Stadler’s full manufacturing and delivery programme.
Swiss manufacturer Stadler has now fulfilled its contract to supply the new Class 555 fleet—trains that are already reshaping customer experience across the network since the first units entered service in late 2024.
Nexus confirmed that the rollout remains firmly on schedule, with the entire timetable expected to be operated by the new fleet by Summer 2026. Each train must undergo rigorous testing and kilometre accumulation before joining the service roster. The remaining legacy fleet will be phased out between late Spring and early Summer, with final withdrawal plans to be announced soon. All retired trains will be fully recycled.
A Landmark Moment for the Metro
Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus, said:
“I’m delighted to confirm that all 46 new Tyne and Wear Metro trains have been successfully delivered to our region.
This is another significant moment for the project, which is getting closer to completion. It is the culmination of a huge amount of hard work by our own teams and by our colleagues at Stadler.
We already have more than half of the new Metro fleet available for customer service, and we are on course for all 46 trains to be ready by the end of this year.
The new Metro trains are already proving to be transformative for customers. They represent a bright future for the Metro service.
Our focus is to get all of the remaining new trains through testing and kilometre accumulation and ready for service, so the hard work will carry on from here.
The fleet deliveries have been a complex process over the last few years. Each delivery was meticulously planned, and it’s involved a huge amount of night shifts to get us to this point.”
A Three‑Year, 1,800‑Mile Delivery Effort
The first Class 555 arrived in February 2023. Since then, each train has been hauled 1,800 miles across mainland Europe, through the Channel Tunnel, and into the UK.
Stadler Switzerland CEO, Lucius Gerig, said:
“Nearly three years after the arrival of the first vehicle, Stadler has successfully delivered all 46 bespoke trains to Nexus — a fleet tailored to the needs of the Tyne and Wear Metro. This is a proud moment for Stadler and a milestone made possible by the dedication of our team and our close collaboration with Nexus.“
Customer‑Led Design and Modern Features
The fleet was shaped through one of the UK rail sector’s largest customer consultations, with more than 23,000 responses informing the final design. Passenger‑focused features include:
- Linear seating
- Climate control
- Mobile charging points
- 44 onboard CCTV cameras
- Battery technology
- Automatic sliding step at every door for level boarding and improved accessibility
With all units now delivered, Nexus and Stadler are focused on the next phase—ensuring each train meets the testing and performance standards required before entering full fleet service.
Image credit: Nexus
