We may now have come to an end of updates of new trains being delivered, but that doesn’t mean that changes to the Tyne and Wear Metro fleet are over – far from it! The past week has seen another of the Stadler trains enter service for the first time, whilst for outgoing fleet another couple have headed off for scrap.
The two latest units to be scrapped are 4026 and 4042. They both went the usual way being moved to Howdon and then once there collected by road trailer to be loaded onto and then moved to J Denham Metals in Bishop Auckland.
4026 was the first of the pair to go on 25th February 2026 and then 26th February 2026 saw 4042 go the same the way.
When acknowledging the arrival of the last of the new trains, Nexus have said that they expect the last of the old trains to be taken out of service in late Spring to early Summer and that more details of their final weeks in service will be shared in the coming weeks.
Whilst two of the old trains have gone for scrap, we have also seen another of the Stadler units carry its first passengers. That is 555 037 which entered service on 27th February 2026.
555 037 was delivered on 11th October 2025. It came in the same consist as 555 034 (which entered service on 12th February 2026) and 555 043 (which has yet to enter service).
31 of the Stadler trains have now entered service, leaving just 15 to go. Those yet to have carried passengers are 555 022–555 026, 555 029, 555 030, 555 032, 555 033, 555 036, 555 042–555 046.