Back on 19th December 2024 the first of 46 new trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro entered service when 555 021 carried passengers for the first time. During testing and after initial introduction we have seen several images of what the new trains look like but for the first time on these pages we now take a look inside one of the units. Trevor Hall with the photos.
An exterior shot of 555 021 as it stands at South Gosforth with a service to St James. This will go via the North Tyneside coast before looping around and back into Newcastle City Centre and St James. So far, no trains have been used on the Sunderland line to South Hylton with clearance yet to have been given for their use on that route. This was 12th February 2025.
Inside 555 021 and this is one end showing the artwork which has been added. There will be several different designs on the trains with this one being “Drawn to Life” by Sara Gibbeson. Sara is an illustrator and lecturer based in South Shields and spent weeks and months travelling on the Metro sketching her fellow passengers and people at work and play in local towns and cities. The design of the new trains now means there won’t be the chance for anyone to see out the front of the vehicles as they can on the outgoing trains.
The spacious central section of the train where there is space for pushchairs as well as bikes, with fold down seating. The decision to use transverse seating in the trains means that there is more room for standing. (All Photographs by Trevor Hall)
Re caption for photo 2, didn’t you mean the decision to use longitudinal seating? I can just about see what may be two transverse seats. I guess if they make them look like they are covered in graffiti in advance, nobody will notice the difference when they are.