With Merseyrail being a heavy rail commuter service and the Tyne and Wear Metro generally being regarded as light rail system it did strike me as odd that both services are getting apparently similar trains. Having compared the specs it seems that the 555s are a bit shorter and narrower, and are divided into 5 shorter carriages rather than the 4 carriages on the slightly longer 777s, presumably due to axle loading limitations. The floor height is 20mm lower than the 777 at 940mm, and the wheels and bogies are a bit smaller. Both trains are branded as Stadler metro, so you'd think they'd be the same platform, but I've also seen the new Glasgow subway trains descibed as being in the metro family and I'm guessing those don't have a lot in common with the 777. I just curious about whether the 555 is actually the same platform as the 777 with everything shrunk down a bit, or if they're tram derived like the class 599 they're replacing. Stadler did build some metro trains for Berlin based on their tango trams so I'm thinking the 555 might be similar, they do have the same 80 km/h top speed.
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
How similar are the Class 555 and Class 777?
- Thread starter Queewe
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
MCR247
Established Member
- Joined
- 7 Nov 2008
- Messages
- 9,953
Welcome to the forum 
Stadler are known for designing stock to suit their customers needs, rather than just having a standard ‘off the shelf’ product (as much as any such thing exists for trains). So I imagine they’d put most, if not all, of their stock produced for metros in the same family. Also, whilst stock might have different physical characteristics and appearances, they may still have a lot in common that we can’t see.
If you look elsewhere, such as to what was Bombardier, they had the 2009 stock and S Stock in the same ‘Movia’ family.
Siemens’ Desiro UK platform looks a lot different to their European cousins.
Conversely, Class 325s look like they belong in the Networker family but are actually most similar to Class 319s.
In short, I guess what I’m saying is I wouldn’t always read too much into family names as these are often for marketing purpose more than anything. Also, that visual similarities can also be misleading too
Stadler are known for designing stock to suit their customers needs, rather than just having a standard ‘off the shelf’ product (as much as any such thing exists for trains). So I imagine they’d put most, if not all, of their stock produced for metros in the same family. Also, whilst stock might have different physical characteristics and appearances, they may still have a lot in common that we can’t see.
If you look elsewhere, such as to what was Bombardier, they had the 2009 stock and S Stock in the same ‘Movia’ family.
Siemens’ Desiro UK platform looks a lot different to their European cousins.
Conversely, Class 325s look like they belong in the Networker family but are actually most similar to Class 319s.
In short, I guess what I’m saying is I wouldn’t always read too much into family names as these are often for marketing purpose more than anything. Also, that visual similarities can also be misleading too
The 777s and 555s use the same door and sliding step modules. It is noticable though that the access plate that forms the floor above the step module differs between the two classes - the 777s use a single piece plate (similar to the Greater Anglia FLIRTs, but with a less substantial perimeter frame), whereas the 555s use a 2 piece plate. Hopefully that will prove stronger that the one on the 777s, which seems to deform under load leading to the step module jamming (the 555s having 2 sets of doors in the longer end carriages will also probably help passenger loading in the door areas in this regard).
On other points relating to the 777s reliability, the 555s won't have to deal with the failures to raise and lower shoe gear, or failures to change over power to/from the batteries that the 777s have been suffering from. However, I imagine the train managment systems and PIS systems will have a high degree of commonality between the classes
On other points relating to the 777s reliability, the 555s won't have to deal with the failures to raise and lower shoe gear, or failures to change over power to/from the batteries that the 777s have been suffering from. However, I imagine the train managment systems and PIS systems will have a high degree of commonality between the classes
swt_passenger
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 7 Apr 2010
- Messages
- 32,866
A couple of fairly recent posts in the thread about 555 introduction also suggested they are quite different under the sole bar:
Tyne & Wear Metro Fleet Replacement: Awarded to Stadler
As others have said above, the general reliability of the units will help - the 555s have been specified to have very high miles between failure figures. In addition to this, the new units are far more modular than the existing fleet - swapping parts out will be far easier and faster, which...
www.railforums.co.uk
These new metro trains reek of a failure to attain a tram system due to council infighting, a Manchester tram lite, even though it’s heavy rail, Rotherham wants to replicate Manchester on the cheap, that’s never going to happen. I won’t go on as I’ll go off topic even more.
- Status