Stadler Rail
This article has a Wikipedia equivalent.
Stadler Rail AG (or simply Stadler) is a Swiss holding company, widely recognised as a rolling stock manufacturer and rail services provider. They trade internationally via a number of subsidiaries. They were contracted by Nexus to design, build, and maintain the Class 555 fleet and Gosforth Depot.
Subsidiaries
[edit | edit source]Stadler trades via a number of subsidiaries. This article focuses on those involved with the Tyne and Wear Metro.
Stadler Bussnang AG
[edit | edit source]Stadler Bussnang AG (STAG) was Stadler's corporate hub. They were the subsidiary that officially bid on, and subsequently won, Nexus' £500m contract to design, build, and maintain the new fleet and Gosforth Depot, competing against Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A. (CAF), a joint venture between Downer EDI Rail Pty Ltd and CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co. Ltd, and Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd.[1][2] Stadler was shortlisted alongside Hitachi and CAF, and it was announced that they had successfully won the contract on 28 January 2020.[3]
Stadler Rheintal AG
[edit | edit source]Stadler Rheintal AG (STAR) was Stadler's Rheintal branch which owned the manufacturing facility in St. Margrethen, Switzerland, where the Class 555 fleet was built. They retained ownership of each unit until they finished testing and kilometre accumulation on Metro infrastructure, at which point they are transferred to Nexus for passenger use.
Stadler Rail Valencia SAU
[edit | edit source] This subsidiary has a Wikipedia equivalent.
The bogies for the Class 555 fleet were built at Stadler’s factory in Valencia,[4][5] which is owned by Stadler Rail Valencia SAU.
Stadler Rail Schweiz AG
[edit | edit source]On 20 June 2025, STAG and STAR merged to form Stadler Rail Schweiz AG.[6] As such, Stadler Rail Schweiz will have assumed responsibility for the last few Class 555 units to be built, delivered and tested.
Stadler Rail Service UK Limited
[edit | edit source]Stadler Rail Service UK Limited (SRS UK) is in a 35-year contract, starting from 4 October 2020, holding them responsible for maintaining the metrocars, Class 555 fleet, and Gosforth Depot on behalf of Nexus. As part of this agreement, 120 ex-Nexus staff were transferred over to Stadler via a TUPE agreement.[7] The exterior of the new Gosforth Depot, completed in early 2024, prominently features Stadler's logo in multiple locations.[8]
SRS UK also pledged to work in partnership with Newcastle University's Open Lab,[9][10] involving Stadler in the 2020 public consultation for the Metro Futures project. This included providing a high-resolution 3D visualization built using Unreal Engine.[11][12][13]
SRS UK's managing director, Paul Patrick, was previously head of fleet engineering at Nexus and started work as an apprentice at Gosforth Depot in 1995.[14][15]
Sources
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "Five bidders invited to negotiate to build a new Metro fleet" (archived). Nexus. 17 September 2018.
- ↑ Holden, Michael (17 September 2018). "Bidders announced for the new Tyne and Wear Metro trains" (archived)
- ↑ "Nexus unveils £362m new Tyne and Wear Metro trains" (archived). Nexus. 28 January 2020.
- ↑ "Stadler starts production of the wheel sets for Metro’s new train fleet" (accessed 20 April 2026). Nexus. 27 April 2022.
- ↑ "Start Of Bogie Production For The New Tyne And Wear Metro EMUs" (archived). Railvolution. 28 April 2022.
- ↑ "Stadler Bussnang and Stadler Rheintal merged" (archived). Railvolution. 24 June 2025.
- ↑ "Stadler officially takes over Metro fleet maintenance and Gosforth depot" (archived). Nexus. 4 October 2020.
- ↑ "Project - building Gosforth Depot" (accessed 19 April 2026). VolkerFitzpatrick.
- ↑ "Stadler pledges to work in partnership with Newcastle University" (archived). Nexus. 26 November 2020.
- ↑ "Newcastle University to work in partnership with Swiss train-builder" (archived). Newcastle University. 26 November 2020.
- ↑ "Metro Futures" (archived)
- ↑ Wilson, Alexander (16 April 2025). "Metro Futures: rethinking public transport through engagement" (archived)
- ↑ Bowen, Simon; Wilson, Alexander; Rodger, Sunil; Feltwell, Tom; Nappey, Tom (5 August 2022). "Metro Futures 2020: Enabling Participation at Varying Depths and Scales via Digital Technology". International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction. 39 (18): 3663-3683.
- ↑ Millington, Jo (24 September 2020). "Stadler Rail Service UK appoints first UK engineering director" (archived). Rail Business Daily.
- ↑ "Paul Patrick started work at the old Gosforth Metro depot as an apprentice in 1995." (archived). LinkedIn. Nexus. 20 January 2023.
