The Newcastle transport authority Nexus had made replacement of the aging fleet of trains which currently provide rail services for the Tyne and Wear metro, a priority.

The original pre-qualified bidders for supply and maintenance of the trains were invited to submit their bids and did so in early Spring 2019. Geoff Miles provided specialist input to the client’s bid evaluation team for train maintenance. CAF, Hitachi Rail and Stadler were shortlisted for the contract to design, supply and maintain a replacement fleet of 42 EMUs for the Tyne & Wear Metro, transport authority Nexus announced on 18 June 2019. Best and final offers were then submitted in summer 2019 and Geoff Miles again provided train maintenance specialist advice and reports to the client team. The winner is to be announced in January 2020 and the vehicles to be delivered from late 2021.