Bidders for new Tyne and Wear Metro fleet revealed

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Transport secretary Chris Grayling has announced a shortlist of five bidders to supply and maintain a new fleet of 42 trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro in the UK.

Bombardier Transportation is joined by CAF, a Downer EDI Rail and CRRC joint venture as well as Hitachi and Stadler on the list.

The winning bidder for the £362 million contract will be announced in 2019, with the new fleet introduced in stages from the end of 2021 as the existing stock is phased out.


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Of the bidders, only Bombardier and Hitachi currently have the facilities to build trains in the UK. However, CAF is currently building a factory in Newport.

Nexus began the process to replace its ageing fleet of trains, which were built in the 1970s, in January, with the launch of a tender to design, build and maintain 42 two-car trains.

At the time, Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes said that investment in rolling stock – the biggest projects in the light rail system’s history – has been long overdue.

The government is committing £337 million and operator Nexus £25 million towards the cost of the new fleet.


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