The Stadler Class 555 train was photographed on the tracks of the Rigi Bahn, a mountain railway located between the two arms of Lake Lucerne in Switzerland.
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| (Image: Martin Horat/Tyne and Wear Metro) |
It is the highest standard gauge railway in Europe at a height of 1,752 metres, though the Metro was shot much closer to sea level at a holding facility.
The train was awaiting preliminary testing and commissioning ahead of delivery to Velim in the Czech Republic for "dynamic" testing on a large track. The first of the new 46 stadler Metro trains are expected to arrive in the North East in just a few weeks, ahead of further testing and driver training before entering passenger service in the autumn.
The Tyne and Wear Metro has been under fire from passengers who have been frustrated by an aging fleet, with Nexus managing director Martin Kearney telling members of the North East Joint Transport Committee in December that the new trains "can't come fast enough". Kearney also admitted last month that passengers "deserve better" after months of delays and disruption, while passengers were frustrated recently when a power dip temporarily brought the service to a halt less than an-hour-and-a-half before the kick-off of Newcastle vs Fulham.
The train was awaiting preliminary testing and commissioning ahead of delivery to Velim in the Czech Republic for "dynamic" testing on a large track. The first of the new 46 stadler Metro trains are expected to arrive in the North East in just a few weeks, ahead of further testing and driver training before entering passenger service in the autumn.
The Tyne and Wear Metro has been under fire from passengers who have been frustrated by an aging fleet, with Nexus managing director Martin Kearney telling members of the North East Joint Transport Committee in December that the new trains "can't come fast enough". Kearney also admitted last month that passengers "deserve better" after months of delays and disruption, while passengers were frustrated recently when a power dip temporarily brought the service to a halt less than an-hour-and-a-half before the kick-off of Newcastle vs Fulham.
