Tyne & Wear Metro Class 555s arrive ready to depart

The experience gained from trialling the first few Stadler Class 555 trains on the Tyne & Wear Metro means that all subsequent trains will be fully modified and ready for service as soon as they leave the factory in Switzerland.

However, system owner and operator Nexus has rejected suggestions that the first public service runs will be on 8 September for the Great North Run, saying not enough train crew have been put forward. It has also not said whether they will be launched before the end of the year.

Daylight testing is increasing across the system, with a few ‘555s’ now seen along the coast, at Newcastle Airport and in Sunderland, but none on Network Rail infrastructure.