Tyne & Wear Metro Fleet Replacement: Awarded to Stadler

[rg177]

I feel tangible progress for these Stadler units coming on.
Certainly compared to the 701s !.

There should be a second (permanent) diagram in the next couple of weeks. But it's good to see them racking up use in passenger service - even if with a few teething troubles.

 

[DanNCL]

List further updated to show 555020 entering passenger service, as well as to distinguish between units that are in use for driver training, those on test, and those not yet seen outside of Gosforth depot. Also corrected an error that had 555026 down as delivered instead of 555028, now corrected to show 555026 in Switzerland and 555028 at Gosforth.

On a recent visit to Gosforth I noticed that 555001 was completely powered down alongside long term stored Metrocars 4007 and 4037. 555001 has been in the North East for 9 months now and still not been seen out on the network. Does anyone know what the situation is with this unit?

Key:
Green - operational in passenger service
Blue - Delivered, under test.
Orange - Delivered, not yet seen on test
Red - Complete, not yet delivered
Purple - Delivered, in use for driver training
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. 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.
555003 - first unit to be delivered to Gosforth, arrived 28/02/2023.
555004 - delivered to Gosforth 11/03/2023.
555005 - delivered to Gosforth 06/04/2023.
555006 - delivered to Gosforth 13/09/2024.
555007 - delivered to Gosforth 13/09/2024.
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.
555014 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555015 - delivered to Gosforth 16/12/2023.
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, entered service 31/12/2024
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 - complete, stored in Switzerland
555027 - delivered to Gosforth 25/10/2024.
555028 - delivered to Gosforth 25/10/2024.
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

 

[swt_passenger]

I think going by the press release, there will be metrocars still in service going into next year. It will be interesting too see if every new unit will be delivered before the final metrocars get retired or not.

I'm also interested too see when this promise of a 10minute frequency will occur, this was a big factor to duel the track on the South Shields line. How many extra diagrams would there be for a 10min frequency? Can't imagine it be all that many.

Metro Flow added 4 extra units. I’d expect that would be 4 extra diagrams.

 

[MetroTyler]

555001 has been in the North East for 9 months now and still not been seen out on the network. Does anyone know what the situation is with this unit?

From my understanding, still needs a lot of work? I don't see it coming around for a good few more months while Stadler and Nexus are busy transitioning the rest of them.

 

[DanNCL]

From my understanding, still needs a lot of work? I don't see it coming around for a good few more months while Stadler and Nexus are busy transitioning the rest of them.

It shouldn’t have needed any more work than 555002 did.

 

[rg177]

555021 on 121 today.

 

[Jmore]

Finally got on it, although saying that a technical issue just triggered the emergency break just short of Benton

Finally got on it, although saying that a technical issue just triggered the emergency break just short of Benton

After 45 minutes, made it to Benton but 021 now getting withdrawn

 

[rg177]

555021 back in service on path at 14:20 from Monkseaton P1.

 

[DanNCL]

Did a 555 manage to complete T121 successfully today?

 

[rg177]

Did a 555 manage to complete T121 successfully today?

555020 operated without issues today. 555027 was also out on test which isn't one I've noticed previously.

 

[MetroTyler]

Yeah, looks like 027's first daylight test day was today

 

[rg177]

555020 on 121 today.

 

[DanNCL]

555027 was out on test again today. It was alongside 555020 on the passenger diagram at St James for a couple of minutes late this afternoon.

 

[rg177]

555020 once again on 121 today.

555027 was also on the Kilometre accumulation path again.

 

[DanNCL]

555020 started the day on T121 but failed in service. The rest of the diagram is being covered by 4053+4066.

Whatever it is that causes them to brake suddenly seems to be a persistent issue and question does need to be asked, were these units actually ready for service or were they put into service before they were ready just to meet the end of 2024 deadline set by the mayor?

 

[Paul_10]

555020 started the day on T121 but failed in service. The rest of the diagram is being covered by 4053+4066.

Whatever it is that causes them to brake suddenly seems to be a persistent issue and question does need to be asked, were these units actually ready for service or were they put into service before they were ready just to meet the end of 2024 deadline set by the mayor?

Can't really be the case otherwise they wouldn't of passed the mileage without a fault therefore be allowed into service.

All that said, it's disappointing this is the second unit now that this issue(if that what it was) has occurred which means you can rule out maybe 021 is just a bit unreliable at the moment.

 

[DanNCL]

Can't really be the case otherwise they wouldn't of passed the mileage without a fault therefore be allowed into service.

All that said, it's disappointing this is the second unit now that this issue(if that what it was) has occurred which means you can rule out maybe 021 is just a bit unreliable at the moment.

Both units have been taken out of service repeatedly with faults but today is the first time that Metrocars have had to step in as cover, previously either the failed unit has been back in use after around an hour or the other 555 has taken over the rest of the diagram.

 

[MetroTyler]

Can't really be the case otherwise they wouldn't of passed the mileage without a fault therefore be allowed into service.

All that said, it's disappointing this is the second unit now that this issue(if that what it was) has occurred which means you can rule out maybe 021 is just a bit unreliable at the moment.

It appears to be the same issue on both as I've experienced it riding both. Considering they've also been restarting the trains to try and remedy it and a few drivers describing it as a "technical issue", I would assume its a software issue. Taking 020/021 out of service means they could perform software tests with them on an updated version to see if they can catch and fix said issue? I've heard nothing of the sort to confirm such

 

[rg177]

20 was taken out due to a degraded Pantograph carbon and then the relevant units were subsequently stepped up to cover 122. Absolutely nothing to do with software though granted it's not a good look having them replaced with 599s. 21 has been covering on driver training additionally.

 

[MetroTyler]

Are no other 555 units equipped to continue on T121?

 

[Paul_10]

20 was taken out due to a degraded Pantograph carbon and then the relevant units were subsequently stepped up to cover 122. Absolutely nothing to do with software though granted it's not a good look having them replaced with 599s. 21 has been covering on driver training additionally.

That sounds simalar to the issue the old fleet had which prompted a full fleet check of the pantographs.

I've only seen photos but I'm assuming the design of the pantographs are different to the ones on the old fleet?

 

[danielnez1]

That sounds simalar to the issue the old fleet had which prompted a full fleet check of the pantographs.

I've only seen photos but I'm assuming the design of the pantographs are different to the ones on the old fleet?

The new fleet seems to use a latest version of the Brecknell Willis pantograph (the old fleet used the high-reach version).

 

[jh64]

555027 is out and about today, just seen it passing through Benton.

 

[HfdNcl]

555002/555005 are next to enter passenger service (sharing a diagram, a la 555020/555021).

555008 & 555009 are next to be delivered to Gosforth.

 

[Peter Sarf]

555002/555005 are next to enter passenger service (sharing a diagram, a la 555020/555021).

555008 & 555009 are next to be delivered to Gosforth.

Do we know when the next delivery is ?.

 

[DanNCL]

555002/555005 are next to enter passenger service (sharing a diagram, a la 555020/555021).

555008 & 555009 are next to be delivered to Gosforth.

Much more likely that we’ll simply see 002/005/020/021 used interchangeably on two diagrams.

 

[HfdNcl]

Do we know when the next delivery is ?.

Third week of February.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Third week of February.

Thanks.

 

[507 001]

Forgive me if this has already been mentioned, but something I’ve noticed today whilst looking at photos is that there seems to be an awful lot of standing room with very little to hold onto. An oversight?

 

[DanNCL]

Forgive me if this has already been mentioned, but something I’ve noticed today whilst looking at photos is that there seems to be an awful lot of standing room with very little to hold onto. An oversight?

It’s a very noticeable issue with them at rush hour. All good and well having longitudinal seating to make more standing room but pointless if these extra standees don’t have anything to hold on to!