British Rail Class 555
| British Rail Class 555 Metro | |
|---|---|
Class 555 on a SBB siding at St. Margrethen station Switzerland, prior to delivery | |
| In service | 18 December 2024 – present |
| Manufacturer | Stadler Rail |
| Assembly | Stadler Rheintal AG |
| Built at | St. Margrethen, Switzerland |
| Family name | METRO |
| Replaced | Tyne and Wear Metrocar |
| Constructed | 2021–present |
| Number under construction | 23 |
| Number built | 23 (as of June 2024) |
| Formation | 5 cars per unit |
| Capacity | 600 (104 seated, 496 standing) |
| Operators | Tyne & Wear Metro |
| Depots | |
| Lines served |
|
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium |
| Train length | 59.900 m (196 ft 6.3 in) |
| Width | 2.650 m (8 ft 8.3 in) |
| Height | 3.445 m (11 ft 3.6 in) |
| Floor height | 940 mm (3 ft 1 in) |
| Doors | Double-leaf sliding plug, each 1.400 m (4 ft 7.1 in) wide (8 per side) |
| Wheel diameter | 720 to 645 mm (28.35 to 25.39 in) (new–worn) |
| Wheelbase |
|
| Maximum speed | 50 mph (80 km/h) |
| Weight |
|
| Axle load | 12.5 tonnes (12.3 long tons; 13.8 short tons) max. |
| Traction system | IGBT-VVVF |
| Traction motors | 8 × TSA TMF 41-17-4, each of 120 kW (160 hp) |
| Power output |
|
| Tractive effort | Starting: 140 kN (31,000 lbf) |
| Acceleration | Starting: 1.35 m/s2 (4.4 ft/s2) |
| Electric system(s) | 1,500 V DC overhead |
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
| UIC classification | 2′(Bo)′(Bo)′(Bo)′(Bo)′2′ |
| Braking system(s) | Electro-pneumatic (disc) and regenerative, plus magnetic |
| Safety system(s) | |
| Coupling system | Dellner type 12 |
| Multiple working | Within class |
| Seating | Longitudinal |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Notes/references | |
| Sourced from except where otherwise noted. | |
The British Rail Class 555 Metro is a class of electric multiple units, commissioned and built for the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (Nexus) by the Swiss company Stadler Rail, at a total cost of £362 million, for use on the Tyne and Wear Metro. For operation on Network Rail controlled tracks between Pelaw Junction and Sunderland, they are designated on TOPS as the Class 555.
To facilitate operation of the new trains, a new Metro Fleet Depot in Gosforth has been built, and 40 of the 60 stations are having platform heights modified. Nexus has consulted with both drivers and passengers on the fine details of cab and carriage interior design.
On 18 December 2024, the first unit entered passenger service. Eventually the 46 new units will replace the Tyne and Wear Metrocars, which have been in use since the system opened in 1980.