Its been a case of more change for the Tyne and Wear Metro over the past few days as the train fleet continues to evolve (as it will for the next couple of years). Of course, it’s Metrocars which has gone off for the scrap with one of the new Stadler vehicles also entering service.
The first Metrocar which has gone for scrap is 4031. It departed the Tyne and Wear Metro network for the last time on Tuesday 11th March and as with all recent scrappings was sent to J Denham Metals in Shildon who will do the deed of scrapping the train.
The train was hauled by rail from Gosforth Depot to the facility at Howdon where it was then picked up by road to be transported to Shildon. Online reports suggest this particular Metrocar – which is the unlucky thirteenth to be scrapped – last operated around December 2024.
Then scrapping number fourteen took place as 4082 also went to Shildon. It was transported in exactly the same way, with departure from Shildon coming on Thursday 13th March.
And then just one day later, Friday 14th March, it was the turn of 4084 to make the move for scrapping. Once more it was towed to Howdon from where it was picked up by low loader and headed to Shildon for its final journey.
But whilst on the one hand there is bad news of units having gone for scrap there is good news as well with another of the Stadler built trains entering service – also on Tuesday 11th March.
This time its 555 004 which has entered service, and of note is that it has taken exactly two years for it to enter service with it being delivered to northeast England on 11th March 2023 (another single delivery as opposed to the double deliveries we’ve become more accustomed to seeing recently).
It now means that five of the new modern trains have carried passengers: 555 002, 555 004, 555 005, 555 020 and 555 021.