The inside of the new trains includes:
- An open-plan and flexible seating layout with stand-back areas at each door to create more room for passengers at busy times. There are 116 seats on the train, including 12 tip-up seats in each train.
- Four dedicated wheelchair spaces. There are also multi-use spaces suitable for non-folding bicycles, pushchairs and luggage, which have tip-up seats to provide flexible space for different customer needs.
- An automatic sliding step at each door, narrowing the gap between the train and the platform, making travel easier for Metro’s 50,000 wheelchair passengers as well as people with buggies, luggage or bicycles.
- Digital information screens at key locations throughout the carriage, in addition to central ‘strip’ screens with ‘next stop’ text and audio facilities. The screens will be visible from 90% of all seats and 100% of priority seats.
- The seats are made from a hard-wearing material and were designed by our in-house team, incorporating the iconic ‘M’ logo we use on all Metro signage.
- Modern features including charging points and climate control.
We received 23,000 responses during the consultation process and have acted on that feedback by making changes to a range of the interior features. Key areas where Metro customers and employees have shaped our train design are:
- Extra seats: We have added 12 tip-up seats to the original design to provide greater comfort and flexibility.
- Handrails in wheelchair areas: Wheelchair users asked for something to hold onto in the four spaces on each train.
- Double grab poles: This new feature was the popular choice of customers from three options.
- Seat and divider decal: A final pattern for seat coverings and glass divider decals based on Metro’s iconic ‘M’ logo was created by our team, following customer feedback.
- Floor markings: Floor markings for wheelchair and multi-use spaces have been changed from white to bright yellow to provide greater visibility.
- Colour differentiation between poles and doors: Customers wanted yellow poles which stand out and match our current trains; we changed interior door finishes to contrast with these
- Bike holder: A belt clip to hold bikes was the popular choice with cyclists.
Stadler is building a total of 46 new Metro trains for Nexus. Production started in August 2021. The first new trains will enter passenger service in 2025.
