Passengers' dismay at latest blow to new Metro trains rollout

NEWS that all of the Tyne and Wear Metro's new trains have been taken out of service has been labelled "very disappointing" for passengers, as more details emerge of the problem which has been discovered.

- DANIEL HOLLAND Local democracy reporter [e-mail]

It was announced on Thursday that all five active trains from the Metro's Swiss-built fleet had been pulled from the network's timetable due to an issue affecting their doors.

While some teething problems had been expected in the introduction of the fleet, which will boast 46 new trains in total, putting a total pause on the rollout just four months after the first new train welcomed passengers has come as a major frustration.

Nexus and Stadler have not disclosed the exact nature of the fault, but a picture circulating on social media has shown a train at a station with a door open on the wrong side - meaning passengers could step out onto the tracks instead of the platform.

In a joint statement issued on Friday, the two organisations called the rollout of the fleet "an extremely complex process for any organisation to deliver".

It remains unclear how long they will be out of action for while a solution is worked on, though Nexus says it does not expect the issue to impact the timetable for the fleet's full delivery - with half of the new trains due in service by the end of this year and all 46 by the end of 2026.