UK: Nexus, which is in charge of the Tyne and Wear Metro light rail ra pid transit system in Newcastle and Sunderland, has launched the first Class 555 train by Stadler.
Another 12 five-car trainsets are expected to start operation over the next few months.
Initially, the first train was to start operating in the summer of 2023, but the launch was postponed more than once as the vehicle needed additional testing.
The first five-car Class 555 train. Source: PatiSmhX
The catenary-battery Class 555 EMU can run at a maximum speed of 80 km/h and accommodate 600 passengers, 116 of them seated. The interior features special areas for wheelchairs and bicycles. The train can run on batteries for 45 minutes in the event of the catenary malfunction.
The remaining 33 EMUs, ordered from Stadler in 2020, are scheduled for delivery in 2025 and 2026. The total value of the contract, including 35 years of maintenance and the construction of a new depot, exceeds €820 mln.
