(22 Nov 2025, 8:07 pm)BusEnthusiast.com wrote Hi all idk whether this is the correct forum channel or not but id like to ask who are going to be operating the metro replacement 901 between Newcastle airport and regent centre this Wednesday-Sunday as im just curious to see who will operate it.

(27 Dec 2025, 1:16 pm)deanmachine wrote It's getting to the point now that whenever I get the metro it's a new one, and will only see one or two old metrocars knocking about en route.

(27 Dec 2025, 6:27 pm)Andreos1 wrote Got my first one the other day. 

Glad it was only a short trip.

Im not the biggest bloke in the world, but those sideways seats weren't designed for sitting between two big blokes. 

Dear me. 
Not very pleasant at all.

(12 Feb 2026, 1:35 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Does anyone know who is operating the Metro replacements next week between St James' and Shiremoor? I'm guessing JH Coaches. Just if anyone knows, I would appreciate it.

(12 Feb 2026, 2:43 pm)Nerd4321 wrote Believe its split between Jh & GNE though I could be wrong. Think the reason is cause only Newcastle & North Tyneside schools are off for that week so no 1 company could run it but I could be wrong

(21 Feb 2026, 1:36 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Have all of the old Metros been scrapped now? If not, does anyone know if specific trains can be tracked or what running boards they are usually on?

(21 Feb 2026, 7:28 pm)Arriva7446 wrote No, there are still a few old sets around. They can't be tracked officially, but there is a Discord Group you can join called Tyne and Wear Transport Community where people post sightings each day. People also sometimes post on Facebook Tyne and Wear Metro Photography Group or on the RailUK forums. 

They don't seem to be regular running boards either. It changes daily. The number of sets running also changes daily, sometimes as low as zero (but I think that has only happened during engineering work), other times 5 or 6 sets out.

(27 Feb 2026, 10:02 am)S830OFT wrote For anybody interested, the remaining Metrocars include:
4009
4015 - In storage
4024
4027
4029 - In storage
4035
4041
4050 - In storage
4060 - In storage
4061 - In storage
4065
4068
4069 - In storage
4071
4078
4079
4081
4085

4026/4042 both went for scrap this week.
4020/4087 also in storage, but are presumed withdrawn pending scrap.

Two sets are on the Green Line, which presumably is now the only line they seem to be allocated to now.

(28 Feb 2026, 3:10 pm)S830OFT wrote I have travelled aboard the new Class 555 Metro's several times now, and unfortunately no matter what I can simply not adjust to them, with them being very much what I feel to be enclosed, anxiety provoking & providing an increasingly stressful journey.

The seating is just too close together, and with the sideways seating forces people to directly face each other. This ends up creating very much awkward situations, where many people simply do not know where to look as trying to look out of the window involves facing the direction of the people facing you.

Standing seems to be more of a better alternative for a larger proportion of journeys, albeit providing the service not being majorly overcrowded. However, the lack of grab rails simply makes that slightly harder when the service gets busier.

It also isn't helpful that Anti Social Behaviour continues to be a big issue, alongside the rise of other unhealthy habits that a proportion of passengers think is acceptable, such as drinking alcohol, then leaving their waste on-board amongst other things, alike vaping & the smell of drugs, which unfortunately tends to be a daily occurring thing now, not just on the Metro either.

The fact that Metro services are increasingly busier, although the peak services still have not returned, delays continue frequently, and the free car parking at all Metro car parks comes to an end on April 1st. Nexus really know how to improve the passenger experience, NOT!

For anybody with sensory issues, hidden disability or social anxiety, these trains are an absolute nightmare. I'm sure I won't be the only one looking for alternatives, such as bus or train where possible, even if it means slightly longer journeys...