British Rail Class 555

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British Rail Class 555
ManufacturerStadler Rail
Family nameMETRO
ReplacedTyne and Wear Metrocar
Constructed2021–
Entered service2023 (expected)
Number built46 units
Formation5 carriages per unit
Capacity104 seated; 496 standing[1]
Operator(s)Tyne & Wear Metro
Depot(s)
Line(s) served
  • Green (Newcastle Airport–South Hylton)
  • Yellow (St James–South Shields)
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Train length59.9 m (196 ft 6+1⁄4 in)
Width2.65 m (8 ft 8+3⁄8 in)
Height3,445 mm (11 ft 3+5⁄8 in)
Floor height940 mm (3 ft 1 in) from top of rail
Doors8 double doors per side, 1,400 mm (4 ft 7+1⁄8 in) wide sliding plug doors with retractable steps for level boarding
Wheel diameter720 mm (28 in) (new)
645 mm (25.4 in) (worn)
Wheelbase
  • 2.2 m (7 ft 2+5⁄8 in) jacobs motor bogie
  • 2 m (6 ft 6+3⁄4 in) trailing bogie
Maximum speed50 mph (80 km/h)
Weight
  • 98 t (serviceable unit)
  • 128 t laden weight (100% seats occupied; 4 P/m2)
  • 141 t crush laden weight (100% seats occupied; standees 450 kg/m2)
Axle load12.5 t (12.3 long tons; 13.8 short tons)
Traction systemRedundant traction equipment with water-cooled IGBT–VVVF power converters
Tractive effort140 kN (31,000 lbf)
Acceleration1.35 m/s2 (4.4 ft/s2)
DecelerationComplete stop in
  • 250 m (820 ft) (service)
  • 150 m (490 ft) (emergency)
Power supplyOnboard batteries for emergency use. Provision for battery traction on longer routes with no electrification.
HVACFully roof mounted HVAC
Electric system(s)1,500 V DC overhead lines
Current collection methodPantograph
UIC classification2'(Bo)'(Bo)'(Bo)'(Bo)'2'
Braking system(s)Pneumatic disc brake units, magnetic track brake and electrodynamic brake.
Multiple workingWithin class only, for service / ECS moves only due to platform lengths
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 555[2] is a new class of electric multiple unit that will be used on the Tyne and Wear Metro, replacing the original Tyne and Wear Metrocar rolling stock from 2023.

History[]

In 2016, the Metro operator Nexus, announced a consultation to determine the views of its customers in the design of its planned new fleet of trains.[3] At the time, the operator had completed a life-extending refurbishment on its existing fleet that was intended to take it up to its planned life-expiry date, which was estimated for the early to mid 2020s. Following this consultation, Nexus began the procurement process to purchase a new fleet of trains, with its initial proposal for a total of 42 units, each of five cars, to replace the 89 existing sets, with an option to order another four units to cope with passenger demand.

In January 2020, Nexus selected Stadler Rail's Metro platform as the basis for its new trains.[4] Two months later, Nexus received funding for an additional four units, taking the total up to 46.[5]

Construction and commissioning[]

Construction of the first Class 555 units is scheduled to begin in August 2021, with delivery planned for the first unit to be delivered in November 2022 for testing and commissioning around the Metro network. Two units will be extensively tested at a test track, based in Velim in the Czech Republic. The first commissioned unit is due to enter the service in July 2023.[2]

In December 2021, Nexus revealed that the Metro fleet had entered the final assembly phase at Stadler’s factory in Switzerland and that the manufacturer is in the process of fitting the main interior components of the first of the new trains. The works include the installation of wheels, seats, equipment cases, piping, wiring, flooring, windows and other internal furnishings.[6]

Design[]

The Class 555 is a variant of Stadler's Metro multiple unit platform, with changes specifically optimised for the Tyne and Wear Metro network. In September 2020, Nexus undertook a second public consultation to ask for opinions on how the interior of the new trains should be designed, related to the seating, grab poles and space for bike racks. At the same time, Nexus' drivers were consulted on the design of their cabs using virtual reality software,[7] and in March 2021, took delivery of a physical cab mock-up built by ROBUR Prototyping in Chemnitz, Germany and shipped to the Gosforth Depot. A cab consultation period was carried out between March and April 2021 with over 200 operational staff taking part.[8] Unlike the previous fleet, which had only a half-width driver's cab at each end, with the other half occupied by passenger seating, the new units will have a full-width driving position.[9][10]

Diagram for the Class 555 based on concept art

The new trains will be five cars long in fixed formations, with a Jacobs bogie between the inner cars. One centre car will be fitted with a Brecknell Willis pantograph to draw the power from the 1,500 V DC overhead lines. They will also be fitted with regenerative braking technology for greater energy efficiency, and a battery energy storage system that will allow the trains to remain powered and reach the nearest station if the overhead lines fail. This offers the potential to be used on routes that are not fitted with overhead lines that may be added to the network in the future.[10]

The trains will feature specially designed retractable steps at the doors, which are designed to bridge the gap between the train and the platform. They will have an overall capacity of 600 persons, with 104 seats,[1] specially designed easy access areas and have state-of-the-art CCTV, a new passenger information system, WiFi Internet access, USB charging points and (for the first time on Tyne and Wear Metro) air conditioning throughout the saloon.

Infrastructure upgrades[]

To facilitate the delivery of the new fleet, Nexus has commissioned work to replace or modify several aspects of the network. These have included the total demolition and rebuilding of the Metro Fleet Depot in Gosforth, requiring construction of a new temporary depot at Howdon to provide alternative stabling and maintenance facilities whilst Gosforth Depot is rebuilt. Raising or lowering the track at 40 of the network's 60 stations to facilitate use of the new door system is required, costing a total of £2 million. This work was started in October 2020.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Metro Futures Webinars Q&A" (PDF). Nexus. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b "New Metro trains to be known as Class 555s". Today's Railways UK. No. 232. Sheffield: Platform 5. June 2021. p. 19.
  3. ^ "Metro's new train fleet". Nexus. Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Stadler to build Tyne & Wear metro fleet". Metro Report International. Railway Gazette. 28 January 2020. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Rail in the 2020 budget". Rail Business UK. Railway Gazette. 21 March 2020. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Stadler starts final assembly of the first new Metro train | nexus.org.uk". www.nexus.org.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Nexus and Stadler - one year on". Nexus. Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Nexus Drivers take a look at their new cabs".
  9. ^ Powell, Jonathan; Fraszczyk, Anna; Cheong, Chun Nok; Yeung, Ho Ki (2 December 2016). "Potential Benefits and Obstacles of Implementing Driverless Train Operation on the Tyne and Wear Metro: A Simulation Exercise". Urban Rail Transit. 2 (3–4): 114–127. doi:10.1007/s40864-016-0046-9. S2CID 54941241. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Metro EMU" (PDF). Stadler. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Nexus is carrying out a £2m project to get platforms ready for new Metro trains". www.nexus.org.uk.
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