Nexus has announced that the Class 599 electric units, which have operated on the Tyne and Wear Metro since its inauguration in August 1980, will be withdrawn by the end of June 2026.

With only a small number of the 90-strong 599 class in service, the final few are set to bow out on the evening of Friday 26 June, having served 46 years on the Tyne and Wear Metro system with an estimated 1.7 billion journeys made on these trains covering over 621 billion miles throughout their careers as a collective fleet.

During the last week of service, commencing on Monday 22 June, the final class 599s will operate the 09:33 from South Gosforth to South Hylton, the 10:58 South Hylton to Airport and the 12:17 Airport to South Gosforth on the Green Line. They will also operate the 13:42 South Gosforth to St James and the 14:43 St James to South Shields on the Yellow Line.

On the final day of service, Friday 26 June, two additional services will run, the 16:19 South Shields to Airport and the 17:22 Airport to Regent Centre.

It will mark the end of an era in North East England’s Metro Heritage, when the final train arrives at Regents Centre on Friday, 26 June.

Some of the class will be seen on the network in yards and sidings for a few weeks following the final trains, before heading to a scrapyard in County Durham, where they will be recycled. Three units will survive, two heading for preservation, while the other will become a training asset at the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.

The 599 replacements, the 46-strong class 555 fleet are all due to be in service by the end of the year. Since their launch in 2023, they have proven popular with passengers and staff. They include onboard mobile charging, air con, sliding steps for accessibility, and linear seating.

 “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.”

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness 

“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.”  

Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus