A new era has begun for Glasgow Subway as the famed 1980 Metro-Cammell trains operate for the very last time on the network.
Taking to their social media, Glasgow Subway said: “After 44 years of service, today marks the final day our legacy fleet will be in operation.” The final legacy trains took their last journey around the subway earlier today on each circle between 1pm and 4pm for their final run of passenger service and one last shoogle.
For Glaswegians of a certain vintage, they will remember these trains being introduced into the system back in April 1980 with it being estimated that the last two of the original 33 trains have each completed 400,600 loops of the system - which equates to roughly 2.6 million miles.
One car has already been preserved in the Riverside Museum with Labour MSP Paul Sweeney working to save some of the others from the scrapyard.
He said: “We have around a dozen potential homes for the old Subway cars, but Swiss contractor Stadler wants £5,000 in scrap value for each of them. Originally, they were offered for free as long as transport costs were covered. I'm pressing Stadler to stop effectively holding them ransom.”
Here is a look back at the changing face of the Glasgow Subway overs the years.
1. Copland Road
Two workers pictured on the platform of Copland Road station which is now called Ibrox. | Glasgow Subway
2. St Enoch
Work being carried out on St Enoch subway station as we now know it. The building pictured was the former entrance to the subway on St Enoch Square. | Glasgow Subway
3. Buchanan Street
The entrance to Buchanan Street subway pictured back in the day before there was a cover over the escalators. | Glasgow Subway
4. West Street
West Street subway station pictured sometimes during the 1980s. | Glasgow Subway