The first of Tyne and Wear Metro‘s new Class 555 trains has been unveiled at a special event hosted by Nexus, the public body that owns and manages Metro, and Stadler, who are building the trains at their factory in Switzerland.

The event was a chance to step inside the new train to view its bright, clean, and modern new interior. Over 23,000 people were consulted as part of a seven-year design process through award-winning virtual reality and digital engagement created by leading academics at Newcastle University’s Open Lab to understand and respond to the needs of customers.

The new fleet is a bespoke design for Metro, and Stadler is in the process of supplying 46 of the new trains, with the first two already delivered and expected to arrive later this year.

Before entering service, the new trains will undergo rigorous testing to ensure that they interface correctly with Metro’s signalling systems and other infrastructure, whilst Metro drivers will undergo training at the controls of the new trains.

Among the train’s features are air conditioning and automatic sliding steps at every door to make travel easier for wheelchair passengers and people with children’s buggies, luggage, or bicycles, and assistance buttons are clearly marked. Throughout the trains, priority seating is clearly marked and positioned opposite real-time digital information screens, with clear modern audio systems and next-stop displays.

An open plan layout provides a sleekly modelled interior with linear seating, and charging points and security features including over 40 CCTV cameras.

The driving console was designed through extensive consultation with employees, and monitors enable drivers to view cameras throughout the train and speak directly with customers if necessary.

The new trains have adaptive traction control and built-in rail sanding to cope with the toughest autumn and winter conditions and are projected to be 15 times more reliable than their predecessors. They will start to enter service at the end of this year, and progressively replace the current 43-year-old rolling stock up to 2025.

Each time a train returns to Stadler’s Gosforth depot will analyse auto-downloaded diagnostic reports, which will provide fault-finding and revolutionise preventative maintenance.

Nexus said the event was an opportunity to thank many different people who have helped make the new fleet a reality: Metro customers who have shaped the design, local politicians and business leaders who campaigned for funding, some of its many employees and trade union reps involved in the project, and local firms now supplying parts and technology to the new train.

Transport Minister, Richard Holden MP, joined with other invited guests to get a first look at the brand new Stadler train, the first of 46 that Nexus has on order. He said: “Today marks a new bright chapter for passengers in Tyne and Wear and the North East who will benefit from some of the most modern metro trains in the country thanks to over £360 million in Government investment.

“These sleek new trains will offer cleaner, smoother and more reliable journeys as we leave no stone unturned to boost clean travel, level up transport and grow the economy.”

Managing Director of Nexus, Martin Kearney, said: “We are at the beginning of an exciting new era for transport in North East England.

“The Stadler trains are going to be transformative, and we are really excited to get them into service for our customers.

“Stadler are a world-class train manufacturer. What they are delivering are trains with the very latest modern technology, which is a massive leap from our current 43-year-old fleet.

“This is a new train whose design has been shaped by customers, employees, trade unions and specialist user groups. We believe this to have been the most far-reaching consultation yet staged into a new train design. Over 23,000 customer responses have helped to shape the design.

“The hard work starts now to get the trains ready to go into service. The new Metro trains will have to go through a phase of rigorous testing on our network, and all our drivers will need to undertake a period of train handling experience during the implementation phase of the project.

“We will then be able to put the new train into service so that all of our customers will get to feel the benefits, and share in this moment of history for the Tyne and Wear Metro.”

Cllr Martin Gannon, Chair, North East Joint Transport Committee, said: “I am delighted to see the new train take pride of place in our region’s Metro fleet.

“The technology onboard is very impressive and I’m sure passengers can’t wait to see the new fleet in action. My congratulations to the team at Nexus for their hard work getting the trains ready to enter service – it is an exciting time for public transport in the North East.

“This investment is a result of the whole region pulling together to secure major funding from government, recognising the huge importance of our Metro system to residents, businesses and of course the region’s economy.

“The new fleet alongside other significant investments in public transport such as the recently completed Metro Flow programme and our Bus Service Improvement Plan will help to transform the sustainable travel options available for many people – ensuring our transport system delivers an enjoyable, reliable and safe service which meets the objectives of our region’s Transport Plan.”

Michael Steiner, programme director at Stadler, commented: “The new trains that we are supplying are safe, reliable, highly comfortable and designed with the 21st-century passenger in mind. The arrival of the first ones in Newcastle is a highly symbolic occasion for Stadler, Nexus, our stakeholders and the passengers who will have the pleasure of travelling on them, heralding an important milestone in the project.

“We are pleased also to be on the way to completing the new purpose-built depot, which will accommodate the new fleet. Configured to facilitate a range of activities, it will enhance efficiency and vastly improve the working environment, boasting a range of features to promote sustainability and the environment.”