Metro is exhibited in a museum and buyers are being sought for the old fleet

A Metro carriage that has carried millions of passengers since it entered service in 1980 has officially moved to its new home at Glasgow’s Transport Museum.

With the introduction of 17 new trains to the Glasgow Subway system underway, the 43-year-old fleet will disappear from the passenger schedule.

The Riverside Museum was the first to respond to the call in 2016 for new homes for the iconic orange carriages with car 128 now on display at the site.

The remainder of the carriages are for sale, with potential buyers responsible for collection and collection fees.

SPT chairman Stephen Dornan said: “We have no doubt about the importance of these carriages to Glasgow’s transport history, so it is only right and fitting that it goes to Riverside where it can be put on display for city visitors. , and much further afield, to enjoy.

“The old fleet had been in service for many years and some carriages were well past their last legs. But because we have been working with the museum for some time to discuss the transfer, safe transport and future preservation of car 128, we have been able to arrange for the best available train to be donated to the museum, where it will hopefully remain for many years to come. to see.”

John Messner, curator of transport and technology at the Riverside Museum – part of Glasgow Life Museums – added: “For 44 years, Car 128 has been a vital part of the city’s transport infrastructure. From the moment they were introduced in 1980, the new trains became local icons.

“The ‘Clockwork Orange’ trains – as they were soon nicknamed – hold fond memories for many Glasgow residents, as well as visitors to the city, and Glasgow Life Museums are proud to have one of these much-loved carriages with the help of the team at SPT, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.”

Car 128 becomes the fourth Glasgow Subway carriage in the collections of Glasgow Life Museums, joining three others from the original fleet, which was in service from 1896 to 1977.

In addition to the Subway carriages, Glasgow Life Museums’ collections also include material from the old Merkland Street station, as well as tickets, staff uniform and archives relating to Glasgow Subway.

Stadler, who is responsible for the disposal of the old carriages, encourages interested parties to contact us.

A spokesperson said: “Any organization or individual wishing to express an interest in purchasing an old Glasgow Subway train should contact Stadler.

“We would be happy to discuss what is involved when purchasing a legacy vehicle, including the logistics arrangements.

A spokesperson for SPT added: “SPT put out a call through some railway industry magazines a while ago asking interested parties to take over an old carriage to get in touch. At that time, a number of museums made it clear that they could not take an old subway car, partly because of space availability and because they could not make room for something new at their current location.

“The decommissioning of the trains is a contractual responsibility of ANSTA, the modernization consortium. When we have received correspondence with questions about the existing fleet, we have indicated who to contact within the consortium.

“Anyone interested in purchasing an old carriage should be responsible for the costs of lifting and retrieving the carriage from the Subway depot by a licensed contractor who specializes in this type of work.”