The original Class 599 Tyne and Wear Metro trains have officially retired after 46 years of service, with special farewell services running from June 22 to June 26, 2026. Over their lifetime, the fleet travelled half a billion kilometres and carried 1.7 billion customers, serving both the Yellow and Green lines across the region.
Farewell Week and Tributes
Nexus, the transport authority, operated special services during the final week to give passengers a guaranteed ride on the old trains for the last time. The week was marked by mixed emotions among staff and the public, with many paying tribute to the iconic fleet.
Nexus managing director Cathy Massarella said: "These old trains have been loyal servants to the region for nearly 50 years now, but it's time to move to our new fleet, and say goodbye, and a very big thank you, for all that they have done for the region. Anyone who lives in Tyne and Wear will have a Metro memory, and they are really sewn into the consciousness of the region, as one of the most famous brands."
Driver's Perspective
Richard Turner, 57, who drove the final official service and has been a train driver for 26 years, shared his thoughts: "The old Metro fleet is a legacy, and as a child, I went on the test track, never knowing that one day I would be driving them for real. It is a privilege to have been part of the process and involved in multiple areas, including going to Switzerland to test the new trains as well."
Turner added: "There are definitely certain parts of these old trains that I will miss, but the heat is not one of them, and I am very pleased that the new ones have air conditioning. They are for the future, and it is important for the people in the region to be able to get around that they are fully brought in. It will definitely be sad to see them go, but we know that we have to go forward, and next week for me, normal service resumes on the new ones. One thing I wish is that my father was here, he passed away a few years ago, and he would be so proud of me for doing this."
New Fleet and Legacy
The retirement of the Class 599 trains paves the way for a new fleet featuring technological advancements, including air-conditioning, which was a notable absence in the old trains. The new trains are expected to carry on the legacy of the original fleet, which has been a symbol of the region for decades.
Massarella noted that thousands of people have worked on the trains over the years, cementing their status as an icon of the region. The final service terminated at Regent Centre in Newcastle, where hundreds of passengers gathered to send off the train.
The photographs from the final week capture the emotional send-off, with passengers reveling in the atmosphere on board the last journeys. The images serve as a tribute to a fleet that has been integral to the daily lives of millions in Tyne and Wear.
