The Tyne and Wear Metro is preparing to say a historic goodbye to its original trains, with the final weeks of guaranteed passenger service now confirmed.
Metro operator Nexus announced today, Tuesday 2 June, that the original fleet of Class 599 Metrocars is nearing complete withdrawal after more than 46 years at the heart of everyday life across the region.
Just a handful of the original 599 trains remain in service, out of the 88 originally introduced, with the final units due to be withdrawn later this summer. Their retirement will mark the end of an era not only for the Metro, but for North East England’s proud railway heritage.
Final Week of Guaranteed Service Confirmed
Nexus has confirmed that the last guaranteed week of passenger service for the Class 599 fleet will be the week commencing Monday 22 June.
During that week, an original train will operate on both the Yellow and Green lines, running between 9.30am and 5.30pm each day, through to the early evening of Friday 26 June. While customers may still see an occasional 599 in service beyond this date, this week will represent the final guaranteed opportunity to travel on one.
Since entering service in August 1980, the original Metro fleet has carried an estimated 1.7 billion passenger journeys and clocked up around half a billion kilometres.
Political and Industry Leaders Mark the Moment
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness described the fleet’s withdrawal as a major milestone for the region.
“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, paid tribute to the role the trains have played in transforming public transport across the North East.
“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.”
New Stadler Fleet Takes Over Full Operations
The retirement of the Class 599s clears the way for the full transition to the new £362 million Stadler-built Metro fleet, the largest and most complex project in the system’s history.
Stadler has now delivered all 46 new trains, with Nexus remaining on track to have the full fleet available for service by the end of 2026. Almost all daily Metro services are already operated by the new trains, and once the final old unit is withdrawn, the entire timetable will be delivered by the Stadler fleet.
Designed following an extensive customer consultation involving more than 23,000 responses, the new trains feature:
- Linear seating
- Mobile device charging points
- Climate control
- 44 CCTV cameras per train
- Battery technology
- New accessibility standards, including automatic sliding steps for level boarding
Two of the original Metro trains have been retained for heritage purposes, while another has been donated to Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service for firefighter training. The remaining units are being recycled at a specialist breakers yard in County Durham.
Image credits: Nexus
