A team from Nexus has taken a first look at the Stadler factory in Switzerland where the Tyne and Wear Metro’s new fleet of trains are being made.

The 8,500 square metre plant in St Margrethen, built only two years ago, is one of the most state-of-the-art train manufacturing facilities in Europe.

Stadler has already started work on the new Metro fleet, with full assembly of the first new train just 12 weeks away.

Nexus, the public body which owns and manages the Metro system, got the first chance this week to look around the Stadler factory and see the advanced facilities up close.

Metro Development Director, Neil Blagburn, said: “It was brilliant to get a first look at Stadler’s latest manufacturing facility, and its separate testing and commissioning facilities over in Switzerland, where the new Metro trains will be getting built and commissioned.

“We got the chance to see all of the assembly stages in action within the plant, with aluminium body shells entering at one side and high quality fully assembled trains of all shapes and sizes leaving at the other for customers around the world.

"We also visited the testing and commissioning sites and saw first-hand the rigorous processes which ensure the trains leave the factory as a fully finished article.

“Being there in person made it easy to visualise the new Metro trains moving through those same production lines less than three months from now.

“I’m delighted to say that we remain on course to get the first train in the region at the end of next year. We still expect that the first one to be in passenger service in July 2023.