First Class 555 EMU enters service on Tyne and Wear Metro

The first Class 555 electric multiple unit has entered service on the Tyne and Wear Metro.

The unit, 555021, was used on the 1104 Pelaw-Monkseaton via Newcastle city centre on Wednesday December 18, carrying North East Mayor Kim McGuinness.

Stadler is building 46 new Metro EMUs for operator Nexus in a £362 million order (which also includes a 35-year full-service maintenance contract), with two thirds now complete and 13 delivered. Another 25 are due in early 2025.

At first, 555021 will be used on weekdays as part of a phased roll out.

McGuinness described its introduction as a “historic day”, saying: “I pressed Nexus and Stadler to get the first new Metro train out there for passengers as quickly as possible. I know how much hard work has gone into making that happen from many people involved in testing and solving the technical challenges. I look forward to seeing these new trains becoming a common sight next year as they are phased into use.

“We are now witnessing the first steps towards making Metro, once again, a world-class system the whole region can be proud of.  I put a convenient, comfortable and above all reliable Metro at the heart of my vision for the future of public transport in North East England, so that when we bring buses back under control we can create the good value integrated network people are crying out for.”  

A customer consultation over the design of the ‘555s’ led to more than 23,000 responses. It resulted in the sets having linear seating, mobile charging points, climate control, 44 digital CCTV cameras, battery technology, and new accessibility standards, including an automatic sliding step at each set of doors to allow for level boarding.

The first five-car unit was unveiled at the Tyne and Wear Metro’s South Gosforth depot in March 2023.

The ‘555s’ will replace Metrocars dating back to the opening of the network in 1980, of which two-thirds of the original 90 sets remain in use.

Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus, said: “We’re excited to put the first new Metro train into service for customers today. 

“This is an historic moment for the Tyne and Wear Metro and for public transport in our region. It’s the beginning of a new era for Metro, our customers, and for our own workforce.”

All 46 sets are expected to be introduced into service over the next two years.