Metrocar updates and withdrawals - Tyne & Wear Metro

[phillogie@tisc]

Comparing notes with a friend there's a few units we've not seen for a while.

4031 Nov
4045 Oct
4054 Nov
4059 Oct
4082 Nov
4084 Nov

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Feb 2025 ==

4056 is back in service, paired with 4042 this afternoon.

 

[rg177]

I'm informed that 4076 has also gone off for scrap.

 

[Paul_10]

Just another 79 to go which seems alot when you consider the time frames Nexus want the whole fleet replaced by.

Either 4007/10 or 4040 you imagine might be next although 4056 could be a surprise candidate like 4052 was. Wonder how long it will be until the next one leaves.

 

[rg177]

Just another 79 to go which seems alot when you consider the time frames Nexus want the whole fleet replaced by.

Either 4007/10 or 4040 you imagine might be next although 4056 could be a surprise candidate like 4052 was. Wonder how long it will be until the next one leaves.

4056 is actually back in service as of yesterday so that won't be next.

 

[Tramfan]

Comparing notes with a friend there's a few units we've not seen for a while.

4031 Nov
4045 Oct
4054 Nov
4059 Oct
4082 Nov
4084 Nov

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Feb 2025 ==

4056 is back in service, paired with 4042 this afternoon.

4059 is in service today, don't believe any of the others are currently runners though

 

[Phil Scott]

Does anyone know where 4037 and 4076 were sent for scrap please? Thanks

 

[DanNCL]

I will get round to updating the list in the opening post to reflect recent changes but I’ve been incredibly busy so it’s not been my top priority.

Does anyone know where 4037 and 4076 were sent for scrap please? Thanks

J Denham Metals in Shildon.

 

[DustyBin]

J Denham Metals in Shildon.

They’ve all gone there so far have they not?

I expect they don’t remain there (intact) for very long as it’s quite a compact site. I was surprised when the first one went there to be honest, it’s not the most obvious final destination!

 

[Tramfan]

They’ve all gone there so far have they not?

I expect they don’t remain there (intact) for very long as it’s quite a compact site. I was surprised when the first one went there to be honest, it’s not the most obvious final destination!

Seem to remember seeing pictures of 4002 being broken up the same day it arrived

 

[DanNCL]

They’ve all gone there so far have they not?

I expect they don’t remain there (intact) for very long as it’s quite a compact site. I was surprised when the first one went there to be honest, it’s not the most obvious final destination!

55 and 62 went to EMR at Tyne Dock, everything since then to J Denham.

Seem to remember seeing pictures of 4002 being broken up the same day it arrived

It’s a very quick process. Leaves Gosforth at about 09:00, by 18:00 there’s nothing left of the unit.

 

[DustyBin]

55 and 62 went to EMR at Tyne Dock, everything since then to J Denham.

Ah ok, thanks.

 

[DanNCL]

List updated.

In addition to those mentioned in recent posts, 50 has also returned to service.

77 units carried passengers in 2024 which is more than I expected. 70 units have so far carried passengers in 2025, this number may increase but will not reach 2024’s number.

 

[bramling]

Source tells me 4007 was seen on a low-loader today, presumably going for scrap then.

 

[rg177]

Source tells me 4007 was seen on a low-loader today, presumably going for scrap then.

That'd be correct - I did notice there was a path operating today to Howdon with the number usually allocated to the scrap run.

 

[Jmore]

Hearing word that 4082 will not return to service

 

[DanNCL]

With there now being two 555 diagrams on weekdays and that number is only going to increase, I've added a diagram list to the opening post to show which diagrams are still booked to be worked by Metrocars. I'll endeavor to keep this updated along with the fleet list.

Hearing word that 4082 will not return to service

I've heard that suggested too but after the surprise returns of 4020 and 4060 to service I'm hesitant to mark anything as withdrawn (as opposed to stored) unless it's 100% confirmed that it will not return to use.

That said, with scrap moves needing to ramp up rapidly in the very near future to make room for more 555s to arrive, it wouldn't surprise me if we're almost at the point (if not already there) where units that are stopped with faults or run out of miles before an exam are simply withdrawn rather than put in the maintenance queue.

 

[GDKEnts]

On an official Facebook post - they took delivery of another two units last night. Don't know any fleet numbers etc as I'm not that technically minded.

 

[MetroTyler]

On an official Facebook post - they took delivery of another two units last night. Don't know any fleet numbers etc as I'm not that technically minded.

Units 8 and 9. More info on this thread.

 

[GDKEnts]

Disappointed that they new stock don't do weekends. I have to go to Newcastle tomorrow and wanted to sample one.

 

[hopperelec]

Disappointed that they new stock don't do weekends. I have to go to Newcastle tomorrow and wanted to sample one.

I've heard a rumour that T121 will actually be running on Saturday. Emphasis on rumour, but I'll be going out to try and catch it, so I'll try and remember to post here if it turns out to be true! Keep in mind that the timetables are all different on a Saturday, though. So, I've attached the timetable it will be running to if it actually happens.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Mar 2025 ==

I'm on T121 now, sadly 4021+4025 not a 555. I spoke to the driver and she said she didn't see any 555s on the allocations this morning but that they might swap it later. 4021 doesn't sound very healthy, so maybe they'll change it to a 555 if this one fails.

 

[GDKEnts]

Currently on 4089 and I feel like I'm in a furnace. Not good. Sooner these get to scrap the better. I'm not a regular user and I only live 5 mins from a station but this is one of the reasons I don't.

 

[Willie Bee]

Currently on 4089 and I feel like I'm in a furnace. Not good. Sooner these get to scrap the better. I'm not a regular user and I only live 5 mins from a station but this is one of the reasons I don't.

I too was on the Metro today from Palmersville (12:30) to Monkseaton and it was also like a furnace.

A couple of days ago, I travelled from Whitley Bay to Monument and the carriage was freezing

 

[rg177]

I've heard a rumour that T121 will actually be running on Saturday. Emphasis on rumour, but I'll be going out to try and catch it, so I'll try and remember to post here if it turns out to be true! Keep in mind that the timetables are all different on a Saturday, though. So, I've attached the timetable it will be running to if it actually happens.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Mar 2025 ==

I'm on T121 now, sadly 4021+4025 not a 555. I spoke to the driver and she said she didn't see any 555s on the allocations this morning but that they might swap it later. 4021 doesn't sound very healthy, so maybe they'll change it to a 555 if this one fails.

As the Saturday version of 121 is out all day, it's very unlikely that a 555 will be put on it today. In any case, there is a thread for the 555 introduction you'd be better off using as doubtless when one does drop into service on a Saturday, you'd be first to know from information in there.

As for heating on the old units - it's worth reporting (either on help points or the 66777 number) with as much detail as possible - staff would be sent out to check. However, the heating is either on or it's off and is controlled at the depot - so the only outcome would be withdrawal from service for a replacement set.

 

[Jmore]

Hearing 4031 has now had its pantograph removed, looks dire for the unit

 

[Riv]

Hearing 4031 has now had its pantograph removed, looks dire for the unit

It looked externally in a state, no pantograph, nor windows, and stood with the 3 shunters either end when I passed the depot earlier today.

 

[Tramfan]

4031 had noticeably bad flats last time I was on it in November.

It's probably not a coincidence that a number of trains were stopped during the autumn period - prime season for wheel flats and there's a limit to how much you can cut the wheels on the lathe before they require replacement

 

[steve_k_67]

I had a couple of hours on the system on Friday afternoon in the hope of catching my last unit for haulage, 4072 but sadly it evaded me despite seeing almost all the diagrams.

Here's what was running:
101 - 4039/4047
103 - 4075/4026
104 - 4057/4073
105 - 4009/4023
106 - 4017/4030
107 - 4003/4021
108 - 4008/4087
109 - 4058/4050
110 - 4063/4004
111 - 4043/4013
112 - 4079/4027
122 - 4014/4090
123 - 4020/4086
124 - 4042/4068
125 - 4034/4074
126 - 4016/4006
127 - 4078/4066
128 - 4038/4053
129 - 4056/4081
130 - 4015/4028
131 - 4035/4005
132 - 4024/4019
133 - 4071/4089
134 - 4080/4069
135 - 4067/4060
136 - 4061/4011

555020 was working an Airport service which could of been diagram 102?

Does anyone know if 4072 was out working on Friday?

Cheers
Steve

 

[Tramfan]

4072 was not out on Friday - it is still active though

 

[DanNCL]

4031 went for scrap today.

 

[7522]

Fairly quick turnaround on 4031, well compared to some that have been stopped a couple of years.