The Last Metrocar

On 26th June 2026, the final Metrocar was officially withdrawn. Introduced in 1980 with the opening of the Tyne and Wear Metro, these trains have become a familiar sight to everyone in the north east. For their final week in service, a special diagram was put on which saw the train visit every station on the network. I rode it on Wednesday before rushing up to northern Newcastle after work on Friday to catch the final Metrocar into Regent Centre. The new Class 555 trains were introduced in December 2024 and offer a welcome upgrade to passengers, including greater capacity (through the use of only longitudinal seating), air conditioning (very welcome on Wednesday), more wheelchair bays and a much smoother ride (though that may just be because they're new). On Monday 29th June 2026, 4024 and 4078 were pressed into service on the yellow line, but they didn't last long, failing at North Shields.