#4416

Tyne and Wear Metrocar

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by Metro-Cammell· from 1980· initial rolling stock for Tyne and Wear metro

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. 11.02.25 Whitley Bay 4081+4079 (54323163323): Phil Richards from London, UK· CC BY-SA 2.0
2. Metrocar 4020, Tyne and Wear Metro depot open day, 8 August 2010: djminisite· CC BY-SA 2.0
3. Metrocar 4028, Tyne and Wear Metro depot open day, 8 August 2010: djminisite· CC BY-SA 2.0
4. Metrocar 4070, Tyne and Wear Metro depot open day, 8 August 2010: djminisite· CC BY-SA 2.0
5. Metrocar 4073, Tyne and Wear Metro depot open day, 8 August 2010: djminisite· CC BY-SA 2.0
6. Metrocar passes over the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, Newcastle 040725 (54633419823): Foulger Rail Photos from Basingstoke, UK· CC BY-SA 4.0
7. Prototype Metro Cars - Birmingham Factory (8692558512): Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums· No restrictions
8. Tyne and Wear Metro train 4001 at South Hylton 01: Chris McKenna· CC BY-SA 4.0
9. Tyne and Wear Metro train 4001 at Pelaw 01: Chris McKenna ( Thryduulf )· CC BY-SA 4.0
10. Tyne and Wear Metro - prototype door buttons: Thryduulf· CC BY-SA 4.0

what is it?

The Tyne and Wear Metrocar is a light rail vehicle used on the Tyne and Wear Metro in North East England. Ninety units were manufactured between 1978 and 1981 by Metro-Cammell and are designated on TOPS as the British Rail Class 599. Trains were refurbished between 1996 and 2000, and between 2010 and 2015.

who runs it

Nexus Tyne and Wear Metro

base stats

speed 80 km/htop speed
power 185 kWpower output
weight 40 tin working order
seats 188passengers
built 90made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

First built 46 years ago, in 1980.
Weighs about as much as 7 African elephants (~6 t each).
27.8 m long: about 6 cars parked nose to tail.
Seats 188: 4 full city buses (~50 seats each).
Served for 46 years (1980–2026).

metro: Urban rapid transit: frequent, high-capacity trains, often underground.

spec sheet

built: 1980
in service from: 1980
retired: 2026
status: retired
number built: 90
kind: Electric multiple unit
traction: electric
origin: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders: Metro-Cammell
operators: Nexus, Tyne and Wear Metro
top speed: 80 km/h
power: 185 kW
electric system: overhead lines
formation: Two carriages
length: 27.8 m
weight: 40 t
capacity: 188 passengers

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q7860506, Wikipedia: Tyne and Wear Metrocar (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.