"Part of our heritage" - Watch Royal Metro Train take pride of place in new home at Land Sea and Air Museum

The Metro train Queen Elizabeth II travelled on when she officially opened the system in 1981 has been donated to Washington’s North East Land Sea and Air Museum (NELSAM), ensuring a major part of the region’s locomotive history is preserved in Tyne & Wear where the train carried passengers for 45 years.

The 40 tonne 4020 train and carriage was officially handed over today (July 1) and unveiled by volunteers at the museum.

The Nexus train is known as the ‘Royal Train’ after transporting Queen Elizabeth II when she also used the Metro system during a follow-up visit to the region and was also used to transport the now reigning monarch, King Charles.

As the train took pride of place amongst the planes at the museum, trustee Victoria Richardson said: “Nexus made us aware of the possibility of being donated the train and we were only too keen to accept.

“This train is of even greater significance, having been used by Queen Elizabeth when she opened the network. We are really please to welcome the arrival of the Metro train here today. This is a significant part of our history and it’s very important we keep it alive.”

Admin manager Jutta Barker added: “In ten years time, children won’t be aware of these trains and so it’s vital to keep this memory and heritage alive for future generations.”

As well as carrying Royalty, 4020 was transporting passengers across Tyne and Wear until just two months ago. She was removed from service as the first generation of Metro trains were phased out to be replaced by a new £362 million Stadler train fleet.

Trains from the original fleet officially ceased to operate on Friday (June 26), but Nexus had made a commitment to keep two original trains for heritage purposes, “meaning they can still be seen by the public for generations to come”.

There to witness the handover was Nexus’s Stakeholder Relations Officer, Jamie Robson.

Jamie said: “These Metro trains have been an important part of our way of life and we are delighted have been able to donate this train to the North East Land Sea and Air Museum so people can enjoy these original Metro trains after they‘ve retired.

“The service has had a massive impact on our lives and it’s very important to have our history and heritage on display at a museum here in Tyne & Wear.”

Metro’s first ever train, carriage 4001, was donated to the Stephenson Steam Railway in North Tyneside, in 2025.

Cathy Massarella, Managing Director of Nexus, added: “We’re over the moon that a museum has been able to take this train and put it on display. It’s part of the region’s proud railway heritage. We’ve achieved our commitment to keep two original trains for heritage purposes, meaning they can still be seen by the public for generations to come.”

The train was yesterday (June 30) transported by Immediate Transportation from Gosforth to Washington in a major operation which saw a combined weight of 100 tonnes being moved down the A1.

David Charles, Chair of Trustees at the museum, said: “The arrival of the Metro unit at the museum marks the completion of the transition from an aircraft museum to a transport museum.

“The Royal Metro is a nationally significant rail item and cements the importance of the museum as a regional heritage location. The delivery marks the end of a journey that started three years ago to add this significant item to the collection.

“The trustees are honoured to be chosen by Nexus and the Rail Heritage Board to be custodians of the Metro train. It will form the centrepiece of a new Metro experience to keep alive the memory of the first light railway system in the country.”

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The current Metro system is due to be extended to Washington and be operational by 2033.

Jamie said: “4020 is the first of many trains which will arrive in Washington.”

You can find out more about the exhibits on display on the NELSAM website.