42 of the 46 trains built by Stadler for the Tyne and Wear Metro have now been used in service following the first use of 555 025 on Saturday 18th July 2026.
555 025 has been in northeast England for eight months having been one of three to arrive on 14th and 15th November 2025 (it actually making it to Gosforth Depot on the 14th). As with all units following arrival it has to go through commissioning, testing and mileage accumulation before it can be cleared for service and this was completed in time for it to be allocated for use on 18th July 2026.
It arrived with 555 024 (still to enter service) and 555 030 (entered service back on 18th March 2026).
With 555 025 now in service it just leaves 555 022 (arrived 20th February 2026), 555 023 (arrived 7th February 2026), 555 024 (arrived 15th November 2025) and 555 046 (arrived 21st February 2026) to carry passengers on at least one occasion.
Although we are now seeing more Stadler trains commissioned for service that doesn’t mean its the complete end of the Metrocars (class 599s). They have still be seeing irregular use with both 4041+4050 and 4068+4081 having seen use over the past week.