Stadler METRO

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Stadler METRO
Berlin U-Bahn IK at Olympia-Stadion (1).jpg
Berlin's U-Bahn train type IK
Stadler M110-M111 in Minsk (July 2020).jpg
Stadler M110/M111 in Minsk Metro
Glasgow Subway Stadler unit at West Street 160624 (53794657872).jpg
A third generation Glasgow Subway unit
777142 Headbolt Lane Station 05.10.2023.jpg
Stadler METRO IPEMU Class 777/1 for Merseyrail
Br class555 002 arth-goldau XAM-E1 (cropped).jpg
Tyne & Wear Metro Class 555
Manufacturer Stadler Rail
Constructed2012–present
Specifications
Maximum speed120 km/h (75 mph)
Coupling system Dellner

Stadler METRO is a platform of modular electric multiple unit and battery electric multiple unit trainsets made by Stadler Rail for use on heavy and light railways. [1] They are currently used on the Berlin U-Bahn as BVG Class IK, the Minsk Metro as M110/M111 series, the Glasgow Subway as the G3 stock, [2] [3] on Merseyrail services in the Liverpool City Region as the Class 777 and on the Tyne and Wear Metro as the Class 555. [4] They will soon be used on the MARTA subway system of Atlanta, Georgia, as the CQ400s, [5] and on the Lisbon Metro as the ML 20 and ML 24 series.

Contents

History and Development

Stadler introduced the METRO platform in 2012 as a modular family of electric and battery-electric trainsets designed for use on a variety of urban metro systems. [6] The platform was developed to accommodate the wide technical variability found across global rapid transit networks, including differences in loading gauge, track gauge, traction power systems, and platform interfaces. To address these diverging standards, Stadler adopted a modular approach that allows operators to specify train length, interior configuration, door arrangements, and power-collection equipment.

Initial production began in the early 2010s, and early customers included systems in central and eastern Europe. The platform later saw wider adoption, with orders from operators in western Europe and the United Kingdom, followed by expansion into the United States when the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority placed a major order in 2019.

Throughout its development, Stadler has refined the METRO platform through incremental technical updates. These include a lightweight carbody constructed from aluminium and high-strength steel, enhanced HVAC systems, and the incorporation of redundant onboard subsystems intended to improve fleet availability. [6] The platform is also designed for compatibility with high levels of rail automation, supporting operation up to Grade of Automation 4 (unattended train operation). [6]

By the mid-2020s, the METRO had become one of Stadler’s principal urban-rail product families, with continuing repeat orders and new-build fleets such as the ML 20 and ML 24 series for Lisbon’s metro network.

Specification

METRO trains are a fully customizable electric multiple unit train, primarily for urban rapid transit systems, that can be built from two to ten cars, and can accommodate up to 900 passengers. [1]

The trains are fully electric, using a mix of third rail, pantograph, or batteries for power, however only two of the three options can be picked due to space limitations on the trains. [7]

The battery variation of the train can do between 20 and 55 km (12 and 34 miles) without charging, [8] and can be recharged in less than 15 minutes. [7]

While most variants have interior and exterior similarities, such as automatic sliding steps to allow for step free access, a majority of the features on each train are completely customizable to fit the demands and needs of the customer. [9]

Operators

Belarus

In 2016, the Minsk Metro placed an order for ten units containing six four-car and four five-car trainsets that will replace older rolling stock. [10] [11] These entered service in February 2020. [12]

Germany

In August 2011, BVG placed an order with Stadler for 40 four-car units in the form of the BVG Class IK for the small-profile network of the Berlin U-Bahn [13] [14] In August 2015, the first two units arrived and were put into passenger service as prototypes. Upon a successful trial phase, the other 38 units where delivered and put in service.

Stadler are also working on other trains for the BVG in the form of the BVG Class J and JK, which will be a mixture of two- and four-car units. [15] [16] Stadler state they are making 376 cars as two or four car units for the network. [17]

Italy

In 2021, Stadler signed a contract with Ente Autonomo Volturno to supply and maintain up to 40 units. They will be used on Circumvesuviana services. [18]

Portugal

In 2021, Stadler won a contract to supply 14 three-car trains for Lisbon Metro. [19] They are designated as the ML 20 series. The first train was delivered on 9 August 2024 and is planned to enter service in January 2025. [20]

In October 2024, Lisbon Metro again signed a contract with Stadler, this time for the supply of 24 three-car trains with an option for 12 more, designated as the ML 24 series. [21]

Spain

Between 2007 and 2013, Metrovalencia, operated by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana, received Series 4300 trains manufactured by Vossloh. [22] [23] Following the purchase of Vossloh's factory in Valencia by Stadler, the trains have been part of the METRO range. [24]

In 2017, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya placed an order for 15 METRO units for use on the Barcelona–Vallès Line. The four-car trains are 80 m long and designated class 115. [25] [26] The first train entered service in March 2022. [27]

United States

In March 2019, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) placed an order for 127 units for MARTA rail. Designated CQ400, they are due to be delivered and starting services in 2025. [5] [28] [29]

United Kingdom

In 2016, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) placed an order worth £280 million for Glasgow Subway G3 stock trains, and general railway modernisations with Stadler and Ansaldo STS. [30] These trains have provisions to become driverless. [31] [32] Delivered in May 2019, [33] the trains entered service on 11 December 2023. [34]

In December 2016, Merseytravel placed an order with Stadler for 52 units, later increasing this to 53, designated as the British Rail Class 777. [35] [36] On 23 January 2023, the units began passenger service; however, the rollout has not completed due to teething issues. As of August 2024, the rollout is in its final phase. [37] [38] [39] Throughout the introduction of the new trains, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has criticised Stadler and requested compensation for the "frustratingly poor" performance of the new fleet. [40] [41] [42]

In January 2020, Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (Nexus) placed an order for 42 units, [43] later increasing this to 46 to cope with expected passenger demands. [44] [45] [46] The Metro's Class 555 had similar issues to Merseyrail's Class 777, with Nexus imposing £1.4 million of contract penalties on Stadler for "underperformance". [47] The first of the class was introduced on 18 December 2024. [48]

Fleet details

ClassOperatorNumber builtYear builtService yearsCars per setNotesRef.
Belarus
M110/M111 Minsk Metro 10Unknown20165 [12]
4
Germany
BVG Class IK Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe
(Berlin U-Bahn)		402014–202020154For the small-profile network [13]
BVG Class JK 362For the small-profile network [16]
174
BVG Class J 522For the large-profile network
334
Italy
Series 300 Ente Autonomo Volturno 602021–present3 [18]
Portugal
ML 20 series Lisbon Metro 142021-present3
ML 24 series242024-present
Spain
Series 4300 Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana 422007–20134While made prior to the METRO name, Stadler classes the 4300 series as a part of the start of the range. [24]
205
Series 115 Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya 1520214 [25]
United States
CQ400 MARTA rail 1272020–present4 [5]
United Kingdom
777/0 Merseyrail 462018–20222021-present4Standard variant. [49]
777/1 72022–2023Variant fitted with traction batteries for use on unelectrified lines.
555 Nexus 462021–present2025-present5 [44] [46]
G3 Strathclyde Partnership for Transport 172016–20224Driverless trains for the Glasgow Subway [50] [51]

References

  1. 1 2 "Produktdetail - Stadler". Archived from the original on 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  2. ↑ "New Subway trains unveiled - SPT". SPT. 2016-03-04. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  3. ↑ "New trains unveiled for Glasgow Subway". BBC News. 2016-03-04. Archived from the original on 2018-11-03. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  4. ↑ "First Class 555 EMU enters service on Tyne and Wear Metro". www.railmagazine.com. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
  5. 1 2 3 Barrow, Keith (April 2019). "MARTA orders 127 trainsets from Stadler". Railway Age. Archived from the original on 2019-07-23. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
  6. 1 2 3 "Metro trains | Stadler". Stadler Rail. Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  7. 1 2 Metro Class 777 IPEMU – Merseytravel, Liverpool (UK) (PDF). Bussnang: Stadler Rail Group. 6 September 2022. MMER_IPEMU0922e. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  8. ↑ ybnews (2021-07-15). "Battery breakthrough will see Merseyrail network extended". Liverpool Business News. Archived from the original on 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  9. ↑ "Metro trains | Stadler". www.stadlerrail.com. Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  10. ↑ "Minsk metro order confirmed". Railway Gazette International. December 2017. p. 14. Archived from the original on 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  11. ↑ Stadler. "METRO TRAINS FOR MINSK METRO" (PDF). Stadlerrail. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  12. 1 2 "First Stadler M110 metro trainset enters service in Minsk". Railway Gazette International. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
  13. 1 2 "IK-type underground trains" (PDF). Stadler Rail. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-12-09. Retrieved 2024-08-28. https://stadlerrail.com/media/pdf/tbvg0713e.pdf
  14. ↑ "BVG: Die neue U-Bahn ist zu dick". Der Tagesspiegel Online (in German). ISSN   1865-2263 . Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  15. ↑ "J-CLASS UNDERGROUND TRAINS" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  16. 1 2 "Stadler unveils Berlin's JK small-profile U-Bahn cars". Metro Report International . 25 November 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  17. ↑ "METRO JK SERIES" (PDF).
  18. 1 2 "EMU FOR THE VESUVIAN RAILWAY LINES" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  19. ↑ "Stadler and Siemens Mobility consortium wins contract to modernize and upgrade the Lisbon Metro" (PDF). 10 May 2021.
  20. ↑ "Metropolitano de Lisboa recebe as primeiras novas carruagens". 9 August 2024.
  21. ↑ "Metropolitano de Lisboa apresenta as novas carruagens da série ML 24 no âmbito do contrato assinado para a aquisição de 72 novas carruagens". 30 October 2024.
  22. ↑ "Las primeras ocho unidades fabricadas por Vossloh ya circulan por la red de FGV" [The first eight units manufactured by Vossloh are now in service on the FGV network]. Via Libre (in Spanish). 2007-07-10. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  23. ↑ "Renovación total de los trenes de Metrovalencia con las nuevas unidades 4300" [Total renovation of Metrovalencia trains with the new 4300 units]. Via Libre (in Spanish). 2012-11-22. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  24. 1 2 "METRO TRAINS SERIES 4300" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-02-24. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  25. 1 2 "SERIES 115 EMU" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-02-24. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  26. ↑ Barrow, Keith (2018-01-10). "FGC orders 15 EMUs from Stadler Rail Valencia". International Railway Journal . Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  27. ↑ Bustos, Miguel (2022-03-09). "Entra en servicio la serie 115 de FGC" [Entry into service of FGC Class 115]. Trenvista (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  28. ↑ Fingert, Tyler (2022-12-17). "MARTA gives customers glimpse of future railcars". FOX 5 Atlanta. Archived from the original on 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  29. ↑ "HEAVY RAIL METRO" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  30. ↑ "Glasgow Subway trains first in UK to run with no staff on board". www.scotsman.com. 3 January 2018. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  31. ↑ "Subway Revival – Glasgow to introduce UTO". Rail Engineer. 2016-08-23. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  32. ↑ "METRO GLASGOW EMU" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  33. ↑ First driverless Glasgow subway train delivered Archived 10 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine Metro Report International 7 May 2019
  34. ↑ "New trains launch for passengers on Glasgow Subway". BBC News. 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  35. ↑ Barrow, Keith (16 December 2016). "Stadler to supply new Merseyrail trains". International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  36. ↑ "METRO MERSEYRAIL EMU" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-02-18. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  37. ↑ Kirwin, Ellen; Thorp, Liam (2023-01-23). "Updates as first new Merseyrail train finally welcomes passengers". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 2023-01-23. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  38. ↑ Thorp, Liam (2023-07-13). "Update on new Merseyrail trains as roll out progresses". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 2023-09-21. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  39. ↑ "Northern Line Route & Timetable Changes". www.merseyrail.org. Archived from the original on 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  40. ↑ "Liverpool train delays 'frustratingly poor', Mayor Steve Rotheram says". BBC News. 2023-11-08. Archived from the original on 2024-06-14. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  41. ↑ "Metro Mayor slams train maker Stadler over 'frustratingly poor' performance of new fleet | TheBusinessDesk.com". North West. 2023-11-08. Archived from the original on 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  42. ↑ "Merseyrail battery-powered trains 'introduced too soon'". BBC News. 2024-01-17. Archived from the original on 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  43. ↑ "METRO EMU" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28. https://stadlerrail.com/media/pdf/mnex0522_en.pdf
  44. 1 2 "Metro's new train fleet". Nexus. Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  45. ↑ "Stadler to build Tyne & Wear metro fleet". Railway Gazette International . 28 January 2020. Archived from the original on 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  46. 1 2 "Rail in the 2020 budget". Railway Gazette International. 11 March 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-03-21. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  47. ↑ "Tyne and Wear Metro operator fines Stadler £1.4m for underperformance". BBC News. 2024-02-20. Archived from the original on 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  48. ↑ "Metro's first new train enters customer service | nexus.org.uk". www.nexus.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  49. ↑ "Stadler to Display UK's First Independently Powered Electric Multiple Unit (IPEMU) at InnoTrans". Bussnang: Stadler Rail Group. 20 September 2022. Archived from the original on 28 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  50. ↑ Gwilt, Andrew (2018-09-21). "InnoTrans 2018: Stadler shows off Glasgow Subway train". RailAdvent. Archived from the original on 2018-09-22. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  51. ↑ Nicoll, Fraser (2024-02-09). "Look inside Subway depot housing new fleet of trains in £288m revamp". STV News. Archived from the original on 2024-08-25. Retrieved 2024-08-25.

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