The Tyne and Wear Metro’s long-awaited fleet upgrade is now complete, with all 46 new Class 555 trains handed over to Nexus for daily service.
The final train arrived two months ahead of schedule, following an extensive testing and commissioning programme designed to check the fleet’s reliability before it entered regular operation.
Thousands of checks before passenger service
Together, the trains completed 37,000 kilometres of on-track testing. Nexus also carried out more than 90,000 individual tests across the fleet.
Behind the new rolling stock is a substantial training effort, with 480 employees receiving the specific skills needed to operate and maintain the trains. The project was delivered through collaboration between Nexus and manufacturer Stadler.
The older Metro 599 fleet was fully withdrawn in June, completing the transition to the new trains. The Class 555s will now serve passengers across Tyne and Wear for years to come.
Why it matters for Britain
The completed upgrade gives passengers across Tyne and Wear a fully modernised Metro fleet, while the training programme has built specialist skills among 480 local transport workers. Finishing ahead of schedule also means the improved fleet is available for everyday service sooner than planned.
