Stadler and Nexus Provide Update on New Tyne and Wear Metro Fleet

Nexus has provided further updates on the suspended rollout of its new fleet of Metro trains, manufactured by Stadler for the Tyne and Wear Metro.

The introduction of the fleet, part of the largest investment in the Metro’s history, has encountered a temporary pause due to an identified issue with door operation.

Last week, Nexus confirmed that the trains were withdrawn from service temporarily after a door functionality problem was observed. According to Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus, the issue involved a “highly unlikely sequence of events” resulting in unexpected door behaviour. Although the issue was isolated, the organisation opted to suspend services involving the new trains while a solution was developed.

On 29 April, Massarella added:

We have now identified a solution for this and we’re working closely with Stadler on timescales to implement it.

A joint statement released by Massarella and Lucius Gerig, CEO of Stadler Switzerland, on 25 April reiterated the collaborative approach being taken to address the issue.

Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus and Lucius Gerig, CEO Stadler Switzerland said:

Introducing the new fleet of trains is the biggest project in the history of the Tyne and Wear Metro. It is an extremely complex process for any organisation to deliver and Stadler and Nexus are working closely together to do this.

We have identified an issue linked to the operation of the doors. The standard operational procedure regarding opening and closing of the doors on the new fleet is different to that of the existing fleet and we need to investigate the impact of this further. As a result, the new trains in service have been temporarily suspended.

During the introduction of any new fleet, issues like this will occur. We are working together to resolve this as quickly and effectively as possible to deliver the best trains for our customers.

The solution will determine the timescale and we can’t confirm this yet, however we don’t expect this will impact on the rollout programme.

We will keep continue to keep customers updated and thank them in advance for their patience.

The current pause is part of a wider phased introduction plan, designed to allow technical performance to be monitored and adjusted as needed.

The new trains are equipped with advanced diagnostic systems that can identify and report irregularities in real time. This allows the operator to react swiftly and apply solutions that will support long-term reliability and safety.

Nexus has assured passengers that service disruption has been minimised and that the wider fleet rollout is expected to stay on track.

The 362 million GBP programme to replace the Metro’s ageing fleet is part of a broader investment in local transport infrastructure. Once fully introduced, the new Stadler-built trains are expected to offer improved accessibility, energy efficiency, and reliability for passengers across the Tyne and Wear region.