Whilst the big news from the Tyne and Wear Metro continues to be the withdrawal of all the fully commissioned new trains for operational issues, there is still a network to run and the latest performance posters had at least seen an improvement in the number of services running on time – whether this is maintained with just the aging Metrocars to operate remains to be seen.
Two four-week periods are under review this time and on both occasions the number of trains considered on time was over 80% – a major improvement on where they were a few months ago.
2nd February to 1st March 2025
86% of trains on time (3 minutes later or 30 seconds earlier than scheduled)
Same period in 2024: 71%
2nd March to 31st March 2025
82% of trains on time
Same period in 2024: 77%
Ahead of the withdrawal of the Stadler built trains they had been increasing their appearances in service. The very first of the class which had been used in service was still out regularly as we see in this view of 555 021 at South Gosforth on 25th March 2025.
One of the more recent trains to enter service was 555 028 which ran with passengers for the first time on 10th April 2025. Seven days later and we see the unit at Pelaw working a service to South Hylton. (Both Photographs by Trevor Hall)
- Gareth David recently spent a day on the Tyne and Wear Metro – just after the new fleet was withdrawn. You can read all about his visit at https://railwayworld.net/2025/04/25/tyne-and-wear-metro-in-a-day/