The 46 new trains are being built by Swiss train manufacturer Stadler for Nexus who own and operate Metro, with production now starting on the bogies.
Production will see 276 bogies made with six for each new Metro train at Stadler’s factory which is based in Valencia.
The final assembly process is ongoing at the Swiss factory and involves fitting the main vehicle components, such as seats, windows and flooring.
The first new train will see its bogies attached to the bodyshell at the factory over the next couple of months and is set to arrive in the North East of England to undergo testing by the end of 2022 with the new fleet of trains marking a new era in comfort and reliability for Metro customers.
Claudius Oblasser, Project Manager for Stadler, said:
“Despite the challenges posed by currently geopolitical events and their implications for global supply chains, Stadler is very pleased to be on the cusp of bogie production. Once these bogies are ready, all the fundamental components will have been built, and while much remains to be done before the trains are complete, I believe this stage
demonstrates that real progress is being made, ahead of the rigorous programme of testing, set to kick off this summer.”
