Tyne and Wear Metro Completes Training for New Stadler Fleet

Driver training for the new Tyne and Wear Metro fleet has been successfully completed, marking a major milestone in the £362 million fleet replacement project.

More than 200 members of the Metro team, including drivers and operations managers, have undertaken the intensive programme, with the final group of drivers now fully signed off as competent on the new Stadler trains.

The training was delivered on a rolling basis and combined classroom instruction with practical sessions. Courses were developed in partnership with drivers and their trade union representatives, ensuring the programme was tailored to operational needs.

A key feature of the training was the use of a fully immersive Metro driving simulator at the Nexus Learning Centre in South Shields, allowing drivers to practice scenarios in a controlled environment before taking the new trains out on the network. Each three-week course concluded with a rigorous assessment, effectively a railway version of a driving test.

Stadler, the Swiss train manufacturer, is supplying Nexus with 46 new Metro trains, which now make up almost two-thirds of weekday services.

Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus, said:

“I’m delighted to confirm that we’ve completed the driver training programme on the new Metro fleet. It’s been a fantastic effort to get everyone through this essential training course in just 14 months. More than 200 employees, including drivers and operations managers, are now fully competent on the Stadler trains. It’s another big milestone for the Metro fleet project, which is one the biggest and most complex in our history. My thanks go to all the drivers for their hard work in passing the course – which has been a critical part of the fleet transition process. A huge amount of work has also been put in by our driver trainers, who have mentored their colleagues on the new trains and helped them to pass all of the required assessments. The switch from the old Metro fleet to this one is a big step for our drivers, but they’ve really embraced that change and they can be rightly proud of all their efforts. We continue to press on with the roll out of the new Metro trains, which are proving transformative for customers and our own workforce. Whilst a hugely complex project to deliver, they represent a bright future for the Tyne and Wear Metro.”

Training covered all aspects of operating the new trains, from cab layout and controls to the Train Control Management System (TCMS), customer information systems, emergency braking, evacuation procedures, and coupling two trains together if required. Drivers spent four and a half hours in the simulator before supervised on-track driving, completing six hours under instructor guidance prior to the final assessment.

The programme was delivered by a team of experienced Metro drivers trained specifically to specialise in the new Stadler fleet, ensuring a smooth transition across the network.

Image: Nexus