The NER electric units were electric multiple units that ran on the Tyneside Electrics, a suburban system based on the English city of Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1904 the North Eastern Railway electrified suburban services on Tyneside with a third rail at 600 V DC and built saloon cars that ran in 3-car to 8-car formations.

More cars were built between 1908 and 1915 to cope with increased traffic. In 1918 a fire at Walkergate car shed destroyed 34 cars and replacement cars were built in 1920.  In 1938, to allow the extension of electrification to South Shields, the 1904–15 stock was replaced by the LNER electric units. The 1920 stock was refurbished and operated the South Shields service until 17 May 1955 when they were replaced by British Rail built Class 416 units.

The two 1904 parcel vans were converted into de-icing vans and withdrawn in 1966. As of July 2012 one of these vans is in the National Railway Museum collection and on loan to the Stephenson Railway Museum.