11 of the Stadler built Tyne and Wear Metro trains have now carried passengers with 555 007 the latest to enter service – although its initial entry was a brief one with it removed from service after a short period.
555 007 arrived on the Tyne and Wear Metro network on 13th September 2024, part of a delivery with 555 006 (a unit which entered service a few days ahead of it on 20th May 2025).
After commissioning, testing and use on driver training 555 007 was cleared for service and was used for the first time on Saturday 24th May 2025. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be a smooth entry into service as it was declared a failure at Pelaw and was replaced.
A total of 46 trains are being built in Switzerland by Stadler with so far 19 having been delivered to northeast England (all of them by rail). Of these 19, 11 have now carried passengers: 555 002–555 007, 555 015, 555 020, 555 021, 555 027 and 555 028.
They are gradually being entered into service (after a brief hiatus after an “operational issue” with the doors on a unit) with the plan being half of the fleet (23) will have been used by the end of this year.