Tyne and Wear Metro reveals sunny colour scheme for new fleet

Metro has unveiled it’s vibrant yellow colour scheme for the new Tyne and Wear train fleet.

The new £362 million fleet of 42 metro trains, being built by Stadler, is due to enter service in 2023.

The yellow paint, with black and grey along the sides takes the Metro back to it’s roots, in a nod to the Metro’s iconic yellow PTE livery from the system’s launch, 40 years ago.

The unveiling comes as Nexus, the public body which owns and manages the Tyne and Wear Metro, launches a public consultation on its interior design.

“The colour scheme is built round Metro’s strong brand heritage and refers back to the original ‘PTE’ Metro livery, while taking the system into the future,” explained Nexus Customer Services Director, Huw Lewis. “It has been refined through feedback from passengers and the technical input of the people who work on Metro – in cleaning, maintenance, marketing and accessibility roles.

“We have made sure our passengers have had a major role in the design of Metro’s new fleet from the start, and that continues today as we ask them what to help with all those crucial little details of the carriage interiors.”

While initial plans to take a mock-up cross section of a carriage around the five local authority areas have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Nexus now intend to use virtual reality (VR) to bring their ideas to passengers. “We will be creating a VR-supported experience at the Rail Academy where we can invite key passenger groups in a covid secure way,” added Huw.

The venture will be supported by Newcastle University’s Open Lab team. A website and series of online events from the team will see passengers given the chance to explore a virtual model of the train and give their feedback on the trains’ interior features, including handholds, wheelchair and cycle spaces and information displays, with particular attention to meeting the needs of less able passengers.

The new trains, which will be 15 times more reliable and will cut energy consumption by 30 per cent, will have modern features including improved internet connectivity, charging points, air conditioning and a step-change in accessibility. Stadler will be responsible for servicing and maintaining the trains for 35 years.

 Explore and comment on the new Metro trains at https://metrofutures.org.uk/