Eight Tyne and Wear Metro drivers have got their first taste of the new Stadler built trains on a trip to the Czech Republic where the first of the 46 trains are currently being put through their paces. The experienced drivers are part of the Metro Futures Traincrew Specialist Team and are the first to get behind the controls of the trains having already experienced the feel on a new simulator back in northeast England.
The first of the new trains – designated as class 555 – were transferred from Switzerland (where they are being built) to the Czech Republic last year for a start to be made on testing. The test track has a 4km test ring with Stadler engineers on hand to guide the Metro drivers in the new state of the art cab.
Craig Pearson, Traincrew Specialist and Metro driver for 10 years, said: “It was a huge moment for me to drive the new Stadler Metro train for the first time. The technology that these new trains offer us are going to be transformative and are a world away from the old fleet. Everything is at your fingertips in the new drivers’ cab. The layout is better and the computerised control systems are amazing. It’s a huge jump from analogue to digital technology.
“It was a fantastic trip to be a part of and after two years of hard efforts from the Traincrew Specialists team to get this train just right for us as drivers and our customers. We have worked on designs, computer aided drawings and a cab mock-up to guide us, but to see the train and actually drive it really was a ‘pinch yourself’ moment.
“It was an honour to be in the first group to head out to the test centre in the Czech Republic, and to be the first ever driver of the new fleet is something I will treasure forever. The new train very smooth, quiet, and comfortable to drive and will undoubtedly improve our working environment. We really can’t wait to continue this journey and to welcome the new fleet to the North East. There is a lot of work still left to do, with testing and commissioning beginning as soon as the first unit arrives here, but there is a lot of excitement within our team, across our staff at Metro, and Nexus, and of course our customers who will benefit above all from the new layout, comfort, security and reliability. It really is a massive step forward for Metro.”
Michael Richardson, Head of Fleet and Depot Replacement at Nexus, commented: “It’s fantastic that our first group of Metro drivers have had the chance to drive the new Stadler train over on the test track for the first time. It’s a really exciting moment for them, and a very important one, given that our Specialists are the drivers who have been designated the task of helping to deliver the new fleet into service later this year.
“Everyone who went out to the test facility in the Czech Republic was wowed by the new train. The technology and cab layout offer a far better driving experience. The digital technology will be transformative. We currently have 177 drivers who need to undergo training on the new fleet. Everyone will get time in the special simulator ahead of driving one of the new trains on our network for real.”
Project Manager for Stadler, Adrian Wetter, added: “Nexus staff driving the train on test at the test-centre in Velim represents another step forward in the process to deliver a new fleet for the Tyne and Wear Metro. These trains have been designed with drivers – as well as customers – in mind. We are pleased that their first experience of driving one of them was successful, and will continue to work closely with Nexus throughout the testing period over the next few months.”
20 Metro drivers have become learning and development specialists and will now be able to train their fellow drivers both on the simulator and the actual trains when delivered.
The first train is due to enter service on the Metro this autumn with the first delivery expected in the early part of the year (it had originally been due in late 2022).