The bodyshell for the first of Tyne and Wear Metro’s new £362m train fleet has been unveiled by the trains’ builder, Stadler.
A fleet of 46 trains are being delivered by the Swiss train builder, Stadler, on behalf of Nexus, with the first new train to enter passenger service from 2023. The new Metro trains will retain Metro’s iconic yellow colour scheme.
Metro is owned and managed by Nexus, which is a public body and a spokesman for the company said “it was a significant moment for a historic project that will transform Metro for its customers, delivering a step-change in quality and reliability”.
The bodyshell is made of aluminium, which is lighter than steel and has excellent anti-corrosive properties to ensure that the new trains achieve their life expectancy.
The new trains will be 15 times more reliable than the existing fleet and will cut energy consumption by 30%. They will have charging points, air conditioning, and much-improved accessibility through an automatic sliding step at every door, which will make travel easier for Metro’s 50,000 wheelchair passengers, as well as people with children’s buggies, luggage, or bicycles.
Stadler took over maintenance of the old fleet in October last year and will be responsible for the servicing and maintenance of the new trains for 35 years, underscoring their commitment to the regional economy.
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