The £362 million programme to replace the entire Tyne and Wear Metro fleet has reached a major milestone, with all 46 new Class 555 trains now formally handed over to Metro operator Nexus by Swiss manufacturer Stadler.
The achievement marks the final phase of what Nexus describes as the largest and most significant project in the history of the Tyne and Wear Metro, securing the long-term future of the network while delivering a modern fleet designed around passenger needs.
The 46th and final train was officially handed over this month, two months ahead of the project’s target completion date of the end of 2026. With all units now through testing and commissioning, the entire fleet is available for customer service across the network.
The scale of the programme has been significant. Nexus has completed more than 90,000 individual tests, trained 480 members of staff and carried out approximately 37,000km of testing to bring the new trains into operation.
Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus, said:
“I’m pleased to confirm that we now have all 46 new Tyne and Wear Metro trains formally handed over to us by Stadler. This marks the final phase of the biggest project in Metro’s history.
“We set a target for the end of this year to achieve this milestone, and we’ve managed to get there a bit sooner than that.
“My thanks go to everyone at Nexus and to the team at Stadler for all their hard work on the project. It’s been a brilliant effort by everyone involved. Many thousands of hours have gone into the testing process.
“We are now in the final phase of the most significant project since Metro was first built. It’s been a complex and detailed programme, from the announcement of the funding in 2017, to the start of the build process, and then roll out into service for our customers.”
The new fleet has been delivered from Stadler’s manufacturing facility in Switzerland, with every train transported around 1,800 miles across mainland Europe and into the UK by rail.
The first Class 555 arrived in February 2023, while the first passenger service operated using the new fleet on 18 December 2024. Since then, Nexus has taken delivery of a new train, on average, every 15 days.
Lucius Gerig, Executive Vice President Division Switzerland at Stadler, said:
“I’m incredibly proud that we have delivered all 46 trains ahead of schedule, and grateful to everyone who made it possible. This achievement reflects the excellent collaboration between Nexus and Stadler. These fantastic trains will serve the people of Tyne and Wear for many years to come.”
While train delivery has now been completed, Stadler’s long-term involvement in the project continues through its fleet maintenance responsibilities at Gosforth Depot.
Paul Patrick, Managing Director of Stadler Rail Service UK, said:
“This is an important moment in a long-term project but the hard work doesn’t stop. Our partnership with Nexus continues for the long-term with Stadler colleagues at the Gosforth depot working around the clock to maintain, repair and prepare the new trains for service every day.”
Designed following a customer consultation that generated more than 23,000 responses, the Class 555 fleet introduces a range of passenger-focused improvements. Features include linear seating layouts, mobile device charging points, climate control, battery technology, 44 onboard CCTV cameras and enhanced accessibility measures.
Among the most notable accessibility upgrades is an automatic sliding step at every doorway, helping to deliver near-level boarding and easier access for all passengers.
The project also signals the end of an era for the Tyne and Wear Metro, with the final trains from the original Metro 599 fleet withdrawn from service in June this year.
With all 46 new trains now handed over, the focus turns to maximising fleet availability and delivering the full benefits of one of the UK's largest urban rail fleet renewal programmes.
Image credits: Nexus
