The early hours of Friday 30th May saw two more new trains arrive on the Tyne and Wear Metro network having made their way across from Switzerland – once again completing the journey solely by rail over several different legs. The two to arrive this time were 555 016 and 555 035.
The arrival of this latest pair – apart from at the very beginning all deliveries have been in twos – means that 21 of the eventual fleet of 46 are now in the north east, of which 11 have been used in passenger service, so far. The remainder are either still in various stages of construction at Stadler’s plant in St Margrethen in Switzerland.
They are entering service in a phased introduction with the plan being that 23 of the 46 will have turned wheels in passenger service buy the end of 2025 and the remainder following in 2026. Once this introduction is over all the original Metrocars will have been withdrawn from service, with the majority being scrapped.
Trains now on Tyne and Wear Metro property are 555 001–555 016, 555 020, 555 021, 555 027, 555 028 and 555 035.