The changing of the guard on the Tyne and Wear Metro has been seen in action again over recent days with one of the new Stadler built trains entering service before another of the original fleet went to Shildon for scrapping.
555 009 is the Stadler built unit which has now been used in passenger service for the first time, with it being used on Wednesday 30th July 2025. This particular train had arrived in northeast England on 21st February 2025 along with 555 008 which had entered service over a month earlier, on 27th June 2025.
The entry into service of 555 009 means that 13 have now carried passengers, although not all of these are currently available.
Then just a day after this development came the departure of another train for scrapping. This was 4036 which went off to Shildon on Thursday 31st July 2025. The usual move of it being dragged to Howdon by still operational sisters and then collected by road transport took place once again.
This now means 29 of the original Metrocars have gone for scrapping.