With the regular entry into service of the new trains on the Tyne and Wear Metro it was always inevitably going to happen that we missed one entering service! And that is precisely what happened in the lead up to Christmas with 555 041 having carried its first passengers.
The first report of 555 041 being used for passenger carrying duty seems to have been 18th December 2025 which also seemed to be the same day that 555 040 was also in service for the first time.
555 041 had been delivered along with 555 040 on 4th September 2025 (555 036 also came as part of the same delivery but as only two can be transported to Gosforth at the same time that followed a day later), making it just over three months between arrival and into service for this unit.
The takeover of the new Stadler built trains on the Metro network is continuing with most days now seeing around two thirds of the allocated diagrams in their hands. The advice clearly for anyone wanting to see the original Metrocars is get to the northeast as soon as possible!
Trains which have been used in service now (although not all are thought to be currently available) are 555 001–555 009, 555 011–555 021, 555 027, 555 028, 555 031, 555 035, 555 038–555 041.
In addition 555 010, 555 024, 555 025, 555 030, 555 032–555 034, 555 036, 555 037, 555 042–555 044 have been delivered.
And that just leaves 555 022, 555 023, 555 026, 555 029, 555 045 and 555 046 to be delivered from Switzerland.