Class 555 On Test At Velim

On 3 October 2022, a five-car Claas 555 EMU for Nexus arrived at the VUZ Velim test centre. This is the transport authority that manages the Tyne & Wear Metro network in and around Newcastle upon Tyne, for which it has ordered 42 trains from the Stadler's METRO family in February 2020. The contract also includes vehicle maintenance for 35 years and the construction of a new depot, both provided by the manufacturer.

The 59.9 m long trains with a maximum speed of 80 km/h are designed for 1,500 V DC and have a 2' (Bo)' (Bo)' (Bo)' (Bo)' (Bo)' 2' axle arrangement and rated power of 942 kW. Eight drivers are also taking part in the tests at Velim, and will be the first to get acquainted with the new technology, which will then be used to train around 180 of their colleagues.

Production of a total of 46 units (the order has been extended in 2021 to include four more units) are being built at the St. Margrethen works, from where 555 003 was shipped to England in January 2023 and 555 005 was completed at the end of the same month. Regular service is scheduled to start at the end of this year. The construction of the depot in Gosforth, in the north of Newcastle, is now being finalised and Stadler will also carry out maintenance on the other vehicles in use there.