All bogies are also equipped with a pair of emergency magnetic track brakes, which can be used to bring a train to a complete stand in as little as 150 m (492 ft) from the maximum service speed of 80 km/h (50 mph).

Many features of the Metrocar are operated by compressed air which is stored in a reservoir under the driving cab at the front of the train.

Features operated by air include: air-operated disk brakes, horn, windscreen wipers and passenger doors, as well as being used to raise the pantograph.

As the section between Pelaw and Sunderland on which they operate is part of the Network Rail system, the units were allocated TOPS class 599 in January 2002.

The prototype cars were also fitted with two different types of block coupling equipment (one at each end), allowing the two designs to be thoroughly tested.

The prototypes featured small cabs and central end doors similar to London Underground stock, to allow evacuation of trains in a tunnel.

[11][page needed] The small cabs remained in the series vehicles with a passenger seat beside offering a forward view.

In order to increase the clarity of the announcement (especially for individuals not fluent in English) the phrase was replaced with "doors closing" in 2004.

In 2011, the "doors closing" recording was replaced in post-refurbishment Metrocars with a simple beeping noise, similar to that used on London Underground trains.

[18] In June 2010, Wabtec Rail was awarded a contract to perform a three-quarter life refurbishment at Doncaster Works, which included making them compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

After an accident at Gosforth in March 2017, 4022 was taken to Bristol Barton Hill TMD for assessment, before moving to the Nemesis Rail facility at Burton upon Trent in October 2019 for scrapping.

[27] After receiving feedback from 23,000 people, Nexus added an additional 12 tip-up seats, handrails in the wheelchair areas, brighter markings and changes to the interior design of the trains.

[30] In March 2023, it was announced that 4001 would be preserved at the Stephenson Railway Museum in North Shields, on the site of the original Metro test track.