North East Mayor Demands ‘Full Explanation’ After All New Metro Trains Pulled From Service
The North East Mayor has demanded a “full explanation” after the region’s new fleet of Metro trains was suddenly withdrawn from service due to safety concerns.
The rollout of the long-awaited new trains—hailed as a major upgrade to the ageing Tyne and Wear Metro network—has been temporarily halted following the discovery of a technical fault affecting the doors.
In a statement issued today, the Mayor said:
“I’ve had to reluctantly accept that the rollout of the new Metros must be temporarily halted.
It’s been great seeing them on the tracks and I’m as frustrated as passengers, but we can’t take unnecessary risks.”
The Mayor confirmed that he had requested a detailed account from both Nexus—the body that operates the Metro—and Swiss manufacturer Stadler, who built the new trains.
“I’ve asked Nexus and Stadler for a full explanation. They’re working hard on a fix and I’ll be receiving daily updates.”
The technical issue has forced Nexus to pull all new Metro trains from the network, just weeks after they were introduced in a phased rollout. The original plan had promised smoother journeys, improved reliability, and better accessibility for passengers across the North East.
Commuters and transport users have expressed frustration over the abrupt suspension, but Nexus insists that safety remains the top priority.
A full timeline for the resolution of the issue has not yet been confirmed.
