Tyne and Wear Metro old trains retire after 46 years

Tyne and Wear Metro old trains are being retired as Nexus moves the network fully toward its new Stadler fleet.

Tyne and Wear Metro old trains complete final week

Nexus⁠, which owns and operates the Tyne and Wear Metro network, said June 26 was the final day for the old trains in regular operation. Their last week in commercial service ran from June 22 to June 26, closing a 46-year period for the metro system in northeastern England.

During that final week, trains from the original fleet operated on the Yellow and Green lines between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The last scheduled services were due to finish at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 26.

The final operating days also gave passengers one more opportunity to sit at the front of the railcars and experience the well-known “view from the driver’s cab.” Over the fleet’s long service life, those front seats had become one of the network’s recognizable features.

The original Class 599 fleet entered service in 1980. Over 46 years, it carried about 1.7 billion passengers and covered more than 500 million kilometers, making it a lasting part of the region’s rail heritage.

The withdrawal of the old trains formally ends their role on the Tyne and Wear Metro as the system switches to modern Stadler units.

Cathy Masarella, CEO of Nexus, said:

“This is the end of an era for the Metro. The old fleet has served us well for 46 years, but now it’s time to look to the future and the new fleet,”

The withdrawal of the old fleet fits into a staged transition that began before the final week of service. Nexus says the first new Metro train entered customer service on 18 December 2024, while the wider introduction process includes testing against 60 stations and 77 kilometres of track. Its fleet process also lists 90,000 individual tests, 19,000 hours of training time and 480 staff to train. The replacement programme is supported by a separate £70m Gosforth depot investment, where Stadler was named to service and maintain the new trains for 35 years.

Nexus fleet renewal with Stadler trains

The replacement program began in January 2020, when Nexus ordered 42 new trains from Stadler to renew the Tyne and Wear Metro rolling stock. That contract was valued at GBP 362 million, or EUR 423 million. In September 2021, Nexus ordered four more trains worth GBP 95 million, or EUR 111 million.

In total, Nexus invested EUR 534 million in 46 new trains as part of the Metro Modernization Program (Metro Flow program).

Stadler delivered the final train in February 2026⁠. Deliveries had started in February 2023.

New trains bring low-floor access and lower energy use

The new fleet consists of lightweight, five-car articulated trains⁠ designed for efficient and cost-effective operation. Their low-floor layout and retractable steps allow level boarding across the network.

Compared with the Class 599 trains dating from 1980, the new units are designed to use considerably less energy. This is supported by a lighter structure, efficient braking energy recovery, and modern high-performance traction conversion equipment.

The trains have also been prepared for the possible installation of an energy storage system. This would allow them to run on any extensions that may be added to the network in the near future.

Inside the vehicles, dedicated spaces are provided for wheelchairs, strollers, luggage, and bicycles. Passenger safety is supported by CCTV coverage, door-operation safety systems, and clear warning signals.

The new trains have a maximum speed of 80 km/h. They operate on the Tyne and Wear Metro network, which serves Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside, and Sunderland in the Tyne and Wear area.