Metrocar updates and withdrawals - Tyne & Wear Metro

Tramfan said:

They're very much only in reserve now as 36 of the 555s have been cleared for passenger service, and there are currently a maximum of 28 diagrams requireed to run the timetable. Even on Radio 1 Big Weekend Friday/Saturday where 31 diagrams were required, they were all 555s.

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390Trains said:

For the second consecutive day:

Metrocar update - 2nd June 2026

T110 (Green) - 4078+4081

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390Trains said:

For the second consecutive day:

Metrocar update - 2nd June 2026

T110 (Green) - 4078+4081

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RyanT15 said:

4065 also going for scrap today however low loader hasnt showed up yet

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DanNCL said:

Nexus have just announced 26th June as the last ‘guaranteed’ day of Metrocar operations. A set is planned to be out on both lines each day 22nd-26th June between 0930 and 1730.

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DanNCL said:

Nexus have just announced 26th June as the last ‘guaranteed’ day of Metrocar operations. A set is planned to be out on both lines each day 22nd-26th June between 0930 and 1730.

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2 June 2026
The Tyne and Wear Metro’s old trains are entering their final weeks in service, as the region gets ready to say an historic farewell to a fleet which transformed the face of local public transport.
The original trains are now close to being phased out, after being part of everyday life for over 46 years.
Only a handful of the 599 trains remain in service with the last ones being removed this summer.
It will mark the end of an era for Metro and for North East England’s proud railway heritage.
The fleet’s last official week of service will be the week commencing Monday 22 June, with an old train operating on both the Yellow and Green Metro lines from 9.30am to 5.30pm all week, up until the early evening of Friday 26 June. Customers may still see the occasional 599 around the Metro system after this date but this week marks the last guaranteed week to travel on one.
Metro’s original Class 599 trains have carried 1.7 billion customer journeys since entering service in August 1980 and have clocked up half a billion kilometres.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “After giving our region 46 years of service, I’m pleased to confirm the original Metro train fleet will soon be phased out completely. I promised that by summer every single journey people made would be on a new train, and that's what we've done.
“This is a really significant milestone for our region, one that I’ve no doubt will generate a lot of nostalgia and fond memories for many. It’s great that people will have one last chance to travel on them before they go.
“It’s the end of an era for Metro, but it's time we look ahead. I want a better, cheaper, and more reliable transport network - one that works for everyone and makes it easier for local people to get to work, to school and out to socialise. That's why we'll continue to improve our Metro network, with an extension to Washington, a new signalling system and improvements to even more stations.”
Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus, said: “The old Metro trains have given us sterling service over the last 46 years, but we’re now getting ready to say that historic farewell.
“We’re in the final few weeks where customers are guaranteed a journey on the few that remain running. They have been replaced gradually by the new Metro fleet since the end of 2024.
“These trains helped to change the face of public transport in our region in 1980, and over the four decades that followed. They have served us well, surpassing their expected life expectancy. They’ve now come to the end of the line. They’re making way for the new generation of trains, which are delivering a bright future for the Tyne and Wear Metro.
“The coming weeks will be the final time that customers will get the chance to travel on the old carriages on our system. We’ve developed this special timetable for the 599s to run in service throughout the week to ensure those that want one last journey can do so.
“It’s undoubtedly the case that these familiar Class 599 Metrocars are assured of their place in North East England’s railway heritage.
“When the last train leaves it’ll be a poignant moment in the storied history of our Metro system.”
The old Metro trains are being replaced by the new £362m Stadler fleet – which is the biggest and most complex project in Metro’s history.
Stadler, the Swiss train manufacturer, has now supplied the full order of 46 new Metro trains.
We remains on course to have all 46 new trains available for service by the end of 2026.
Almost all of the daily services on Metro are new trains.
When the final old train is retired it will mean that the full Metro timetable will be operated by the new fleet. They are already transforming the Metro customer experience since they began entering service at the end of 2024.
Designed by customers following an extensive customer consultation which resulted in over 23,000 responses, the new Metro trains include linear seating, mobile charging points, climate control, 44 CCTV cameras, battery technology, and new accessibility standards, including an automatic sliding step at each set of doors to allow for seamless boarding.
Two of Metro’s old trains have been retained for heritage purposes, while another was donated to the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service to support firefighter training.
The rest are all being sent to a specialist breakers yard in County Durham where they are recycled.

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Paul_10 said:

I do like that they added a caveat that a 599 may run after the official retirement date, feels like covering their backs but I'll be amazed if there is not enough 555s to cover all the diagrams by then.

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S Lowes said:

One on Yellow line 127 4078 & 4081

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RyanT15 said:

4065 also going for scrap today however low loader hasnt showed up yet

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DGH 1 said:

Thanks for the update.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jun 2026 ==


Has the grim reaper transport turned up today?

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RyanT15 said:

4069 also went gor scrap today. With 24 and 50 taking them again

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DGH 1 said:

Thanks again Ryan, so did 65 go yesterday?

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geordiesouth said:

Are any of the MetroCars going for preservation?

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swt_passenger said:

Well there are posts in this thread about 4001 going to the Stephenson Railway, and possibly one going into store at Beamish for future use when they ever get round to the ‘1980s town’. Also 4019 has gone to the local fire & rescue service, but does that count as preservation if they use it for crash or fire training?

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D1537 said:

It went this morning I believe.

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swt_passenger said:

Well there are posts in this thread about 4001 going to the Stephenson Railway, and possibly one going into store at Beamish for future use when they ever get round to the ‘1980s town’.

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hopperelec said:

Beamish are no longer able to take it, and it will be going to a different museum that has yet to be named instead. This was (finally...) confirmed by LDRS on Tuesday, such as in this Chronicle article.

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Paul_10 said:

It's only speculation but I would not be surprised if one of those metrocars could be 4010, not seen that one for a good while whilst on visits up there and it does not seem to of been photographed/videoed.

Another one could be 4076, I saw a photo on the main metro Facebook group of 4076 and 4001 in the old heavy lifting shop with a notice in the window(same with 4001) which suggests spare parts have been removed so this one could be withdrawn.

There was a metrocar I noticed in the video of the new unit being shunted into the depot with door buttons missing, could be either of the 2 above or another unit.

With 555004 coming in soon, in theory this is the last new unit that can come in without any old trains leaving if my maths is right and if the plan is still of 1 in and 2 out.

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RyanT15 said:

Thursday 4th June Metrocars
Green Line
T105 - 4050+4024
Yellow Line
T133 - 4078+4081

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