Metrocar updates and withdrawals - Tyne & Wear Metro

[mansonlo49]

Beamish are no longer able to take it. Nexus have publicly confirmed that a metrocar will be going to a different museum instead, although they haven't yet confirmed if it is still 4020 or which museum it will be going to. However, the latest rumours are that it is still 4020 and it is now going to NELSAM.

Is it called The North East Land Sea & Air Museum thanks

 

[ainsworth74]

No more of these out then? 555 or bust now?

Unless it's changed there's a planned diagram for each day Monday to Friday next week as a final hurrah but until then it's very hit and miss if there are any out at all. Details are somewhere previous in this thread (though hopefully one of the many helpful people will post it in reply to this ).

 

[hopperelec]

Unless it's changed there's a planned diagram for each day Monday to Friday next week as a final hurrah but until then it's very hit and miss if there are any out at all. Details are somewhere previous in this thread (though hopefully one of the many helpful people will post it in reply to this ).

Nexus only published the timetables just over an hour ago. A summary was posted elsewhere, but I'm not sure what the original source for that was which is why I didn't share that version lol.

Article: https://nexus.org.uk/news-media-hub/news/metros-old-train-fleet-set-for-its-final-week-in-service/

The Tyne and Wear Metro’s original train fleet will have its final runs in customer service next week.

They will be operating on the Yellow and Green Metro lines from 9.30am to 5.30pm from Monday 22 June, until 5.30pm on Friday 26 June.

A full timetable for the week, for each line, can be seen below.

View the time tables here. Yellow Line. Green Line.
The timetable of where customers can travel on the old trains will be shared on Metro’s social media channels, including its X page (formerly Twitter) @My_Metro.

It will also be the last chance for customers to have the driver’s eye view when travelling on the front seats of the old Metro carriages, something which has become a much-loved cultural touchstone over the last 46 years.

Nexus said that the front seats had brought joy to millions of customers over the years, and they were a big part of Metro’s history.

Metro’s original Class 599 trains have carried 1.7 billion customer journeys since entering service in August 1980 and they have clocked up half a billion kilometres.

As the last old train returns to the depot, it will mark the end of an era for Metro and for North East England’s proud railway heritage.

Cathy Masarella, Managing Director of Nexus, said: “Next week will be really significant for the Tyne and Wear Metro as we get ready to say farewell to our old trains.

“The last few trains will be in service week commencing 22 June until 5.30pm on the Friday, 26 June. Customers may still see the occasional 599 around the Metro system after this date, but this is their last guaranteed chance to travel on one. The bulk of our services are now provided by the new Stadler trains.

“This is the end of an era for Metro and many customers will be sad to see them go. The old fleet has given us 46 years of service, but it’s now time to look to the future and our new train fleet.

“This week is also the last chance for customers to get the front seat view on the Metro. We know that people are going to miss this treasured aspect of travelling on the old fleet. That driver’s eye view of the line has been popular with people of all ages.”

Yellow line: https://nexus.org.uk/wp-content/upl...-Timetable-Yellow-St-Jame-South-Shields-1.pdf
Green line: https://nexus.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Final-599-Timetable-Green-Airport-South-Hylton-1.pdf

 

[ainsworth74]

Nexus only published the timetables just over an hour ago. A summary was posted elsewhere, but I'm not sure what the original source for that was which is why I didn't share that version lol.

Article: https://nexus.org.uk/news-media-hub/news/metros-old-train-fleet-set-for-its-final-week-in-service/



Yellow line: https://nexus.org.uk/wp-content/upl...-Timetable-Yellow-St-Jame-South-Shields-1.pdf
Green line: https://nexus.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Final-599-Timetable-Green-Airport-South-Hylton-1.pdf

Good timing!

Looks quite well designed to ensure that the train covers the entire route but does so mostly outside of the peaks just in case it breaks. Glad to see Nexus are at least doing something though to mark the end. Shame they can't arrange a proper farewell railtour as well to cover some rarer track. But still this is a good effort none the less!

 

[89-763-733]

Thanks. I had never heard of them but they have an interesting collection of mainly military items but also several trams

Exhibits at North East Land Sea and Air Museums

What to see at NELSAM

www.nelsam.org.uk

 

[D1537]

Blimey, Friday will be messy. I'll be keeping well away from that

 

[DGH 1]

Beamish are no longer able to take it. Nexus have publicly confirmed that a metrocar will be going to a different museum instead, although they haven't yet confirmed if it is still 4020 or which museum it will be going to. However, the latest rumours are that it is still 4020 and it is now going to NELSAM.

Who is NELSAM?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jun 2026 ==

Who is NELSAM?

Never mind I've just seen the above post.

 

[D1537]

No metro services at all south of Monument at the moment due to cable theft.

Edit: running again @10:00

Predictably, no Metrocars out at the moment.

4035 going for scrap today.

 

[DGH 1]

No metro services at all south of Monument at the moment due to cable theft.

Edit: running again @10:00

Predictably, no Metrocars out at the moment.

4035 going for scrap today.

Thanks for the information, I wonder if they're keeping them for next week.

 

[D1537]

4020 - Withdrawn, last day of service 09/01/2026
4024 - last in service 13/06/2026
4029 - last in service 22/05/2026
4041 - last in service 30/04/2026 (used on scrap move 18/06/26)
4050 - last in service 13/06/2026
4068 - Last in service 29/05/2026 (used on scrap move 18/06/26)
4078 - Last in service 12/06/2026
4079 - Last in service 28/03/2026
4081 - Last in service 12/06/2026

8 left in service for the last week of Metrocars, though 4079 hasn't moved for a while and supposedly has bad wheelflats.

 

[RyanT15]

4020 - Withdrawn, last day of service 09/01/2026
4024 - last in service 13/06/2026
4029 - last in service 22/05/2026
4041 - last in service 30/04/2026 (used on scrap move 18/06/26)
4050 - last in service 13/06/2026
4068 - Last in service 29/05/2026 (used on scrap move 18/06/26)
4078 - Last in service 12/06/2026
4079 - Last in service 28/03/2026
4081 - Last in service 12/06/2026

8 left in service for the last week of Metrocars, though 4079 hasn't moved for a while and supposedly has bad wheelflats.

4079 shunted under its own power on Monday

 

[NorthEastern]

Nexus only published the timetables just over an hour ago. A summary was posted elsewhere, but I'm not sure what the original source for that was which is why I didn't share that version lol.

Article: https://nexus.org.uk/news-media-hub/news/metros-old-train-fleet-set-for-its-final-week-in-service/



Yellow line: https://nexus.org.uk/wp-content/upl...-Timetable-Yellow-St-Jame-South-Shields-1.pdf
Green line: https://nexus.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Final-599-Timetable-Green-Airport-South-Hylton-1.pdf

Thank you for posting this, I will definitely try to ride next week (but not Friday )

 

[generalnerd]

Beamish are no longer able to take it. Nexus have publicly confirmed that a metrocar will be going to a different museum instead, although they haven't yet confirmed if it is still 4020 or which museum it will be going to. However, the latest rumours are that it is still 4020 and it is now going to NELSAM.

Oh why can’t beamish take it anymore?

 

[swt_passenger]

Oh why can’t beamish take it anymore?

I suspect because Beamish has so far concentrated on areas within the museum site reflecting dated periods, perhaps they thought it would be a relatively long time to get round to the 1980s, and it wouldn’t really work as a stand alone exhibit, so would very likely have to be be stored long term.

Perhaps a more general museum such as NELSAM or the Stephenson Railway (as already allocated), were always better choices - the latter especially because of the test track period…

 

[generalnerd]

I suspect because Beamish has so far concentrated on areas within the museum site reflecting dated periods, perhaps they thought it would be a relatively long time to get round to the 1980s, and it wouldn’t really work as a stand alone exhibit, so would very likely have to be be stored long term.

Perhaps a more general museum such as NELSAM or the Stephenson Railway (as already allocated), were always better choices - the latter especially because of the test track period…

That makes sense. I can imagine them making an attempt to acquire a car at some point in the next few decades.

 

[D1537]

4024+4050 are out on T125

 

[DGH 1]

4024+4050 are out on T125

Good news, thank you.

 

[jh64]

I got on it earlier and the heating was stuck on! I only lasted a couple of stops before bailing, I certainly won't miss that.

 

[Tramfan]

4050 has had all of the internal advert cards replaced with images of the fleet over the years which is a nice touch

 

[390Trains]

For those who are interested, I've attached them to this post.

 

[Egg Centric]

No doubt this is its 100% last week coming up right and nothing else running ever again, right? (This may be elsewhere in the thread, sorry if I've missed it, checked back a couple of pages). Or are there any railtours or extensions planned? I did check BLS as the only relevant thing I'm a member of and no luck.

Kicking myself cause I'm not at home.

 

[NorthEastern]

For those who are interested, I've attached them to this post.

Thanks for doing that!

 

[7522]

At least 5 of the posters had already been stolen when I got on. Probably more later. 4050 was the nicer of the 2 as 4024 had heating stuck on.

 

[D1537]

No doubt this is its 100% last week coming up right and nothing else running ever again, right?

I think the phrase we reach for is "probably". The exact phrase used by Nexus was "The last few trains will be in service week commencing 22 June until 5.30pm on the Friday 26 June. Customers may still see the occasional 599 around the Metro system after this date, but this is their last guaranteed chance to travel on one."

 

[Egg Centric]

I think the phrase we reach for is "probably". The exact phrase used by Nexus was "The last few trains will be in service week commencing 22 June until 5.30pm on the Friday 26 June. Customers may still see the occasional 599 around the Metro system after this date, but this is their last guaranteed chance to travel on one."

Thanks yes I'd seen words to that effect. It's quite peculiar phraseology isn't it? You can read it in a glass half full or half empty way...

 

[D1537]

4068+4078 - T107
4024+4050 - T128

 

[Barnsley]

4068+4078 - T107
4024+4050 - T128

Beauty! Hope they are still out when I get to Newcastle at 1530!

 

[Paul_10]

4050 has had all of the internal advert cards replaced with images of the fleet over the years which is a nice touch

Bit of ashame that quite a good number of them being taken away by the enthusiasts but perhaps not surprisingly that turned out to be the case. The reaction on the discord group is comical though, it's a bit of card guys, no one is going to get hurt by it.

On a side note I was up on Tyneside a few weeks ago and was pleased to catch a ride on the metrocars for the final time with 4024 being the last unit I officially will have travelled on.

I thought some of the 555 units felt a bit on the warm side and the lack of hopper windows made it feel worse but I was perhaps more disappointed too see paint(probably deliberately) being stripped off some of the poles(555001 was the worse I saw). If it's not deliberate and it's a already a sign of wear and tear then that would be disappointing.

 

[D1537]

Beauty! Hope they are still out when I get to Newcastle at 1530!

T128 has been pulled. T107 is still out.

 

[Barnsley]

T128 has been pulled. T107 is still out.

Just got to Newcastle now, I will look for 107

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Jun 2026 ==

Looks like it’s due at central in 21 mins, I’m off there!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Jun 2026 ==

On 107, front seat in 4068!