Nexus has accepted all 46 Class 555 trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro following testing and commissioning.
Stadler has built 46 replacement trains for Nexus, the Tyne and Wear Metro operator. The £362 million fleet programme serves the existing network across Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland.[1]
Current position
Nexus confirmed final acceptance of all 46 trains, ahead of its end-2026 target. Fleet-wide commissioning involved around 90,000 individual tests, 37,000km of running and training for 480 staff. Stadler continues to maintain the trains at Gosforth.
The new fleet
Passengers first travelled on a Class 555 on 18 December 2024. The trains have charging points, climate control and sliding door steps to assist boarding.
The last train arrived at Gosforth on 21 February 2026. Commissioning continued after physical delivery.
By 2 October 2026, the replacement fleet was providing all daily Metro services.
Nexus has formally accepted the last of its 46 new Stadler-built Metro trains, completing testing and handover of the £362 million replacement fleet ahead of its end-of-year target. Across the programme, the trains underwent around 90,000 individual tests and 37,000km of track testing, while 480 employees were trained. The last train arrived in February, and the new fleet was already providing all daily Metro services by early October. Nexus confirmed completion of commissioning and formal acceptance on 21 October.