Nine of the Tyne and Wear Metro's new Class 555 trains were removed from service on Friday morning after a suspension system problem was discovered during routine maintenance, causing rush hour delays of more than half an hour for some commuters.
Details of the suspension issue
The fault involves a component linked to the carriages' suspension system, according to Nexus and train builder Stadler. Three of the nine affected trains were cleared to return to service by Friday afternoon, with hopes of more returning over the weekend. At the time of reporting, 22 trains were operating on the network, including two older Metro units that were meant to have been retired at the end of last month. A full timetable requires 28 trains.
The disruption was particularly frustrating on a day of high temperatures. On Friday evening, passengers traveling from Newcastle city centre to Sunderland faced a gap of more than 30 minutes between Green line services.
Impact on performance and future plans
Prior to this incident, the Metro had achieved two consecutive months with at least 90% of trains arriving on time. North East mayor Kim McGuinness has set a goal for the system to become "world class" by 2028, with more frequent services planned from December this year.
Nexus and Stadler issued a joint statement on Friday evening: "During routine maintenance inspections on Thursday 9 July, we identified an issue with one of the parts linked to the suspension system of some of the new 555 fleet. Our teams have been working together throughout the day to resolve this as quickly as possible. We sincerely apologise for the disruption caused to customers." They added that six trains were below the core service but hoped more would become available overnight, allowing the planned weekend timetable to be delivered.
Previous teething problems
The latest issue is not related to the hot weather or a repeat of earlier faults. Since the Swiss-made trains were introduced at the end of 2024, they have faced multiple teething problems. Last summer, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems struggled in heatwave conditions, causing water to pour through vents into carriages. A fix was announced earlier this year and is due to be fully rolled out by the end of July. In April 2025, a train's doors opened on the wrong side, leading to a temporary fleet removal. Additionally, metal plates had to be installed next to each door after sliding steps malfunctioned under the weight of thousands of half-marathon runners following the Great North Run last September.
