Tyne & Wear Metro Fleet Replacement: Awarded to Stadler

[rg177]

555021 out on 121 today.

 

[Pati]

555021 out on 121 today.

is that on the full St James - South Shields or on just Pelaw - Monkseaton like yesterday?

 

[rg177]

is that on the full St James - South Shields or on just Pelaw - Monkseaton like yesterday?

Full Yellow Line service returning to the depot at 19:28.

Leaves Regent Centre 04:58. Departures from South Shields 05:44, 08:56, 12:08, 15:20, 18:35 (last one terminates South Gosforth) and St James 07:22, 10:34, 13:46, 16:58.

Weekdays only for now.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Time for an updated fleet list!

Key:
Green - operational in passenger service
Blue - Delivered, under test.
Orange - Complete, not yet delivered
Purple - Training unit
Grey Bold - On assembly line at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland.
Grey Regular - Construction not yet started.


555008 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555009 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555010 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555011 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555012 - complete, stored in Switzerland

555014 - complete, stored in Switzerland

555016 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555017 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555018 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555019 - complete, stored in Switzerland

555022 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555023 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555024 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555025 - complete, stored in Switzerland

555028 - presumed complete in Switzerland
555029 - presumed complete in Switzerland
555030 - presumed complete in Switzerland

Shound't these be in orange?

 

[DanNCL]

Shound't these be in orange?

Yes they should, thanks for pointing it out, I’ll get that changed.

 

[800001]

I’m guessing the planned timetable is going out the window if the section between Monument and Gateshead stadium remains closed due to the deteriorating Gateshead flyover

It’s not closed is it? Just a speed limit.

 

[Mag_seven]

A new thread to discuss the issue with the flyover can be found here:

Metros unable to run under closed flyover

Moderator note - split from: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/tyne-wear-metro-fleet-replacement-awarded-to-stadler.157260/ Full Yellow Line service returning to the depot at 19:28. Leaves Regent Centre 04:58. Departures from South Shields 05:44, 08:56, 12:08, 15:20, 18:35 (last one...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[HfdNcl]

No 555 in service today.
555021 developed a driver door fault last week, but was kept in service until Friday (drivers can exit via the cabin or window in an emergency).

 

[rg177]

I don't believe there's any plan to run the 555s this week in any case.

 

[MPR]

No 555 in service today.
555021 developed a driver door fault last week, but was kept in service until Friday (drivers can exit via the cabin or window in an emergency).

It was fixed the day it occurred.

Was never planned to be out today.

 

[ainsworth74]

Considering it's in the lull between Christmas and New Year and, on top of that, TW Metro is fighting to run a service at all, I assume that the 555 being out on this Friday (27th) is unlikely?

 

[rg177]

Considering it's in the lull between Christmas and New Year and, on top of that, TW Metro is fighting to run a service at all, I assume that the 555 being out on this Friday (27th) is unlikely?

No planned operation until at least next week as far as I'm aware - this was a decision made before the network was cut in half!

 

[ainsworth74]

No planned operation until at least next week as far as I'm aware - this was a decision made before the network was cut in half!

Cheers!

 

[DanNCL]

Further updated fleet list. Changed a couple of the colours to bring it more in line with the list I've posted in the Metrocar thread.

Key:
Green - operational in passenger service
Blue - Delivered, under test.
Orange - Stranded South of the Tyne
Red - Complete, not yet delivered
Purple - Training unit
Grey - On assembly line at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland.

Notes:
Units stored in Switzerland are split between three known locations; Stadler's St Margrethen site, the SBB yard at St Margrethen, and Stadler's Erlen site.

555001 - delivered to Gosforth 19/04/2024. Not yet seen during daylight hours on Metro network. Tested at VUZ Velim, Czechia, during late 2022 and early 2023.
555002 - delivered to Gosforth 14/06/2024. Tested at VUZ Velim, Czechia, during late 2022 and early 2023. Has ran on both daytime and overnight test runs in the UK.
555003 - first unit to be delivered to Gosforth, arrived 28/02/2023. Has ran on both daytime and overnight test runs
555004 - delivered to Gosforth 11/03/2023. Has ran on both daytime and overnight test runs. Stranded South of Tyne
555005 - delivered to Gosforth 06/04/2023. Has ran on both daytime and overnight test runs. Stranded South of Tyne
555006 - delivered to Gosforth 13/09/2024. Not yet seen during daylight hours on Metro network.
555007 - delivered to Gosforth 13/09/2024. Has ran on both daytime and overnight test runs.
555008 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555009 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555010 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555011 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555012 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555013 - delivered to Gosforth 16/12/2023. Has ran on both daytime and overnight test runs
555014 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555015 - delivered to Gosforth 16/12/2023. Has ran on both daytime and overnight test runs
555016 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555017 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555018 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555019 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555020 - delivered to Gosforth 19/04/2024. Has ran on both daytime and overnight test runs
555021 - delivered to Gosforth 14/06/2024, first unit to enter service 18/12/2024
555022 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555023 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555024 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555025 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555026 - delivered to Gosforth 25/10/2024. Not yet seen during daylight hours on Metro network.
555027 - delivered to Gosforth 25/10/2024. Not yet seen during daylight hours on Metro network.
555028 - presumed complete in Switzerland
555029 - presumed complete in Switzerland
555030 - presumed complete in Switzerland
555031 - under construction at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland
555032 - under construction at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland
555033 - under construction at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland
555034 - under construction at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland
555035 - under construction at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland
555036 - under construction at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland
555037 - under construction at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland
555038 - under construction at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland
555039 - under construction at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland
555040 - under construction at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland
555041 - under construction at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland
555042 - under construction at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland
555043 - under construction at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland
555044 - under construction at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland
555045 - under construction at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland
555046 - under construction at Stadler Rheintal, St Margrethen, Switzerland

 

[ainsworth74]

Interesting so there 30 units which could, in theory, enter service pretty rapidly then once TW Metro have enough staff trained up? Obviously the units in Switzerland have to get here but that's just a matter of timing rather than anything more fundamental than them not existing!

 

[rg177]

555021 is out on 144 today which is a Benton to Pelaw short diagram. It's currently at West Jesmond heading towards Pelaw.

 

[MetroTyler]

555021 has just gone out of service and returned to the depot. Looks to be due to a brake issue or driver error that meant an emergency brake activation had to occur while entering Gateshead for Benton as it would not have stopped in the station in time. Train appeared to be struggling to activate brakes beforehand however.

 

[rg177]

555021 has just gone out of service and returned to the depot. Looks to be due to a brake issue or driver error that meant an emergency brake activation had to occur while entering Gateshead for Benton as it would not have stopped in the station in time. Train appeared to be struggling to activate brakes beforehand however.

Its had a few issues today. Replaced by 555020 for rest of diagram.

 

[DanNCL]

Its had a few issues today. Replaced by 555020 for rest of diagram.

Just in time for Nexus to claim that two units were in service in 2024 and not just one!

 

[northeast10]

555021 has just gone out of service and returned to the depot. Looks to be due to a brake issue or driver error that meant an emergency brake activation had to occur while entering Gateshead for Benton as it would not have stopped in the station in time. Train appeared to be struggling to activate brakes beforehand however.

wild speculation is very dangerous. How do you know the train was struggling to activate the brakes? How do you know it wouldn’t have stopped in time? How do you know it was an emergency brake application? Then to suggest driver error?

 

[Paul_10]

Very dangerous seems such an over the top term to use like.

However should just stick to the facts which are the train got withdrawn from service due to a fault.

On a side note, as we know when a driver changes at South Gosforth or at a terminus station, they key into the cab and you hear the track brake drop, is there any unique noise on these new sets or not?

 

[MetroTyler]

wild speculation is very dangerous. How do you know the train was struggling to activate the brakes? How do you know it wouldn’t have stopped in time? How do you know it was an emergency brake application? Then to suggest driver error?

The point is that it's a speculation, not a definitive truth and I'm not claiming it is certainly any one of those things.

I told you for sure I know it went back to the depot and has not returned. What I've heard directly from two people on that train is it felt like it entered quite fast and they couldn't audibly hear any brakes being activated until quite late and then it braked extremely hard and undershot the platform before moving forward again to unlock the doors and announced that the train is now not in service. Undershooting sounds like it could be an emergency brake activation... Needing to use emergency brake could be down to the train detecting an overspeed, a fault in the regular brakes or even just very harsh low rail adhesion.

Again, the point of my post is not to accuse any one thing or anyone. I am not confirming any of what I've seen as absolute truth but it's clear something went wrong here hence why this subject has been brought up at all.

Very dangerous seems such an over the top term to use like.

However should just stick to the facts which are the train got withdrawn from service due to a fault.

On a side note, as we know when a driver changes at South Gosforth or at a terminus station, they key into the cab and you hear the track brake drop, is there any unique noise on these new sets or not?

From my experience, nope. However these do like to say Not In Service for a moment before switching to the new destination which is a notable quirk

 

[DanNCL]

On a side note, as we know when a driver changes at South Gosforth or at a terminus station, they key into the cab and you hear the track brake drop, is there any unique noise on these new sets or not?

There is but ‘unique’ might be pushing it as most of Stadler’s European stock makes the same noise too. It’s difficult to describe but it’s not a clunk like on the old fleet, it’s more of an air sound if that makes sense?

 

[MetroTyler]

There is but ‘unique’ might be pushing it as most of Stadler’s European stock makes the same noise too. It’s difficult to describe but it’s not a clunk like on the old fleet, it’s more of an air sound if that makes sense?

That doesn't seem to happen as a direct cause of keying into the other end as it can happen more than once while terminating which I've observed at St James before. It sounds like a big release of air, a "pshhhh".

 

[northeast10]

Detecting an overspeed on approach to Gateshead? Impossible.

LRA in a tunnel at the end of December? Highly unlikely.

Undershooting doesn’t sound like an emergency brake application. A brake application yes, but not necessarily an emergency one.

You state it’s just what you observed yet you weren’t on the train? I understand the interest in something like this happening and I’m sure you intent no malice, but my view is the speculation is no good for anybody. All it will do is harm the relationship between enthusiasts and staff.

 

[DanNCL]

That doesn't seem to happen as a direct cause of keying into the other end as it can happen more than once while terminating which I've observed at St James before. It sounds like a big release of air, a "pshhhh". I've got one video on my channel where you can hear this sound twice

It should happen twice, once on key out and again on key in. On the Metrocars you only hear the clunk on key in.

I personally think it could be dangerous yeah. Drivers could be taken offline, D+A tested and investigated because somebody with no knowledge whatsoever Presumes something has happened when it hasn’t ? Detecting an overspeed on approach to gateshead? Impossible. LRA in a tunnel at the end of December? Highly unlikely. Undershooting doesn’t sound like an emergency brake application. A brake application yes, but not necessarily an emergency one.

You’re the only one here who has mentioned anything about overspeed.

 

[northeast10]

“Needing to use emergency brake could be down the train detecting an overspeed”

Again, am sure the poster means no malice but it should be left that the train had an issue and was taken out of service.

 

[hopperelec]

“Needing to use emergency brake could be down the train detecting an overspeed”

Again, am sure the poster means no malice but it should be left that the train had an issue and was taken out of service.

They posted that only after you accused them of "wild speculation". Listing several possibilities is not speculation, and that's all Tyler has done. You're the only one cherrypicking out of that list lol

 

[Meole]

Teething problems are inevitable with such a complex specification.

 

[Paul_10]

Indeed and we can only hope it remains that way. In some ways, this is the real test for the new fleet, can it do a full days service day in day out without any hiccups on a constant basis. We certainly don't want the case of them being anything like the Merseyrail stock and metro ending up with 2 unreliable fleets.

On a enthusiast point of view, I am looking forward too see the mix of the 2 fleets in service and the interest of the withdrawal and scrapping of the metrocars albeit with some sadness no doubt when it's nearing the true end.