The regular churn of new trains entering service on the Tyne and Wear Metro is continuing with 555 031 the 19th of the Stadler built units to carry passengers for the very first time. It was used for the first time on Monday 22nd September 2025.
555 031 was one of two units to be delivered to Gosforth on 20th June 2025 (along with 555 017 which has yet to enter service) and it has taken just over the three months for it to be fully commissioned and enter service.
There are 46 of the units being built for the Tyne and Wear Metro by Stadler in Switzerland. The first entered service December 2024 and the current plan is that 23 of the units will have entered service by the end of the year, the other 50% will then be used for the first time during 2026.
The units which have entered service so far are 555 002–555 009, 555 011, 555 012, 555 014–555 016, 555 020, 555 021, 555 027, 555 028, 555 031 and 555 035. In addition 555 001, 555 010, 555 013, 555 017–555 019, 555 032, 555 036, 555 038–555 041 have been delivered to Gosforth.
A major driver training programme is also underway to allow existing drivers to make the switch to the new trains. More than 200 hundred drivers need to be trained on the Stadler vehicles, and all have to go through a three week conversion course which involves classroom based learning and practical sessions. This includes using a state of the art and fully immersive Metro driving simulator at the Nexus Learning Centre and then driving the trains out on the network alongside an instructor.
So far 162 drivers have gone through the training course, with all due to have done it by early 2026. Four drivers go through the course at any one time.
Nicola Cheetham, Head of Fleet Transition at Nexus, said: “This is a really exciting time for everyone at Nexus as we roll out the new Metro fleet. Our driver training programme is going really well. We’ve so-far trained 162 members of Traincrew, which includes 144 drivers, nine Operations Managers, four Metro Futures Traincrew Specialists and one Learning and Development Specialist. In total we need to train just over 200 traincrew on the new Metro fleet. That work will continue through to 2026 so that all of them have the correct competency. The new trains really are a game changer for Metro drivers. Their working environment has been transformed. We can’t wait to get all 46 new trains in service.”
The rain is falling at Felling as 555 035 arrives at the station on the way to South Hylton, not long after it had entered service for the first time. (Photograph by Daniel Mullins, 20th September 2025)
555 001 may be the lowest numbered train in the new fleet but there were five to arrive before it and some which have come since have entered service before it. After a long period of time where it was not seen out in daylight hours it returned to the tracks in September 2025 as seen in this test view of 25th September 2025 at Pelaw.
Another Stadler train on test at Pelaw as 555 016 heading for South Shields on 15th September 2025. This unit had entered service 11 days earlier.
555 018 is also at Pelaw on 15th September on test. It would move to the sidings just to the south of the station and would then reverse and head back north. (Photographs x3 by Trevor Hall)