Nexus, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, and Stadler signed the GBP 700 million (EUR 830 million) contract to supply of 42 five-car metro trains, to build a new maintenance facility and carry out 35 years of maintenance for the Tyne & Wear Metro. The contract also includes an option for additional metro trains.
Commercial operations are scheduled to begin in 2023 and in 2024 the new metro trains will completely replace the existing fleet.
“It’s an historic moment in the proud 40 year history of the Tyne and Wear Metro service. I am delighted that has now been made official with the signing of the contract with Stadler. The hard work now starts in making our new train fleet become a reality,” said Tobyn Hughes, the Director General of Nexus.
The 60-metre long trains have a maximum speed of 80 km/h. The new train can accommodate up to 600 passengers and are designed with special multi-functional areas for wheelchairs, prams, luggage and bicycles.
Good thermal and acoustic insulation will regulate on-board temperatures for the comfort of passengers, and newly developed air-sprung bogies will reduce noise levels.
The lightweight vehicle design, the recovery of braking energy and the use of highly efficient traction converter technology will all lower energy consumption. The trains will be built to accommodate an energy storage system, so that in the future they will be able to operate on an extended network.
Under the contract Stadler will provide maintenance services for both new trains and the existing o
nes, comprising a fleet of 89 vehicles. This work will initially be carried out at Nexus’ existing depot in Gosforth, which will be replaced by a brand new facility, designed by Stadler and built with locally recruited partners. To ensure maximum availability, the contract includes among other things preventive and corrective maintenance as well as daily cleaning. These activities will be carried out by Nexus’ experienced service personnel, who will transfer to Stadler as part of the contract.
Stadler will also work with local suppliers from the North East of England to produce the new trains. The manufacturer has carried out extensive research into possible local companies to supply parts for these vehicles. Although the trains will not be manufactured in the UK, Stadler is committed to involve as many companies from the Tyne and Wear region in the project as possible.
The Tyne and Wear Metro serves Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland in Tyne and Wear in the north-east of England.
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