Longbenton Metro station
Encyclopedia
Longbenton Metro station is a station on the Tyne and Wear Metro
network. It is set amongst the residential streets of the Longbenton
area of Newcastle upon Tyne
, although is probably more utilised due to its proximity to St Mary's RC Comprehensive School and the HMRC
office complex, which the station was originally built to serve.
, the predecessor of the Metro's Yellow line (see Tyneside Electrics
).
Longbenton station closed in January 1978 for Metro conversion work. The necessary alterations included shortening of the platforms, construction of a new footbridge with ramps to improve wheelchair access, and installation of new signage and ticket machines. Metro service began in August 1980.
The structure and interior of the station remained largely unchanged until 2001, when extensive refurbishment work took place. GWK Chartered Architects, a Newcastle-based company, provided designs for a new Ticket Hall and the eastbound line entrance. The term Ticket Hall harks back to the old station, as Metro's ticketing system is fully automated. The westbound section of the station was upgraded and refurbished.
In recent years, a small confectionery store (also selling newspapers and, more recently, hot food) has been introduced in the south side of the station, proving popular with schoolchildren, local residents and civil servants.
tickets, which means that for a number of journeys a Transfare may actually be cheaper than a standard Metro-only ticket.
Tyne and Wear Metro
The Tyne and Wear Metro, also known as the Metro, is a light rail system in North East England, serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland. It opened in 1980 and in 2007–2008 provided 40 million public journeys on its network of nearly...
network. It is set amongst the residential streets of the Longbenton
Longbenton
Longbenton is a district of North Tyneside, England. It is largely occupied by an extensive estate originally built as municipal housing by Newcastle City Council in the 1950s and 1960s. It is served by the Tyne and Wear Metro stations Longbenton Metro station and Four Lane Ends Metro Station...
area of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, although is probably more utilised due to its proximity to St Mary's RC Comprehensive School and the HMRC
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs is a non-ministerial department of the UK Government responsible for the collection of taxes and the payment of some forms of state support....
office complex, which the station was originally built to serve.
History
The station itself predates the Metro light rail system; it was opened in July 1947 by the LNER, which operated electric suburban passenger services on the North Tyneside LoopNorth Tyneside Loop
The North Tyneside Loop refers to the railway lines in North Tyneside from Newcastle upon Tyne via Wallsend, North Shields, Whitley Bay, Backworth, Benton and South Gosforth back to Newcastle...
, the predecessor of the Metro's Yellow line (see Tyneside Electrics
Tyneside Electrics
The Tyneside Electrics refers to the suburban railways on Tyneside that were electrified by the North Eastern Railway and the London and North Eastern Railway. The North Tyneside loop was electrified from 1904 onwards and formed one of the earliest suburban electric networks, the South Tyneside...
).
Longbenton station closed in January 1978 for Metro conversion work. The necessary alterations included shortening of the platforms, construction of a new footbridge with ramps to improve wheelchair access, and installation of new signage and ticket machines. Metro service began in August 1980.
The structure and interior of the station remained largely unchanged until 2001, when extensive refurbishment work took place. GWK Chartered Architects, a Newcastle-based company, provided designs for a new Ticket Hall and the eastbound line entrance. The term Ticket Hall harks back to the old station, as Metro's ticketing system is fully automated. The westbound section of the station was upgraded and refurbished.
In recent years, a small confectionery store (also selling newspapers and, more recently, hot food) has been introduced in the south side of the station, proving popular with schoolchildren, local residents and civil servants.
Station artwork
The station gained some art in June 2001, when Tag-Tile,a specially commissioned work by Rob Belilios and Simon Jones, was unveiled by Eddie Darke, the North Tyneside Councillor for Longbenton at the time. Both artists have local connections, although they are also known on a national level. The artwork was created in collaboration with local young people, as part of an initiative in response graffiti. The station also features Journey's Echo, artwork created in collaboration with 6th Form students from St Mary's Comprehensive School.Ticketing anomalies
Different zonal fare systems are used for Metro single tickets and inter-modal TransfareTransfare
A Transfare is an inter-modal ticket available for a single journey within Tyne and Wear.- Rail :Transfare tickets are valid on:* All Tyne and Wear Metro services.* Northern Rail services between Newcastle and Sunderland via Heworth....
tickets, which means that for a number of journeys a Transfare may actually be cheaper than a standard Metro-only ticket.
| Station | Network Zone | Metro Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Ilford Road Ilford Road Metro station Ilford Road Metro station is located mid-way between the Newcastle upon Tyne suburbs of Jesmond and Gosforth. The station opened in August 1980 and is served by the Tyne and Wear Metro service... |
17 | A |
| West Jesmond West Jesmond Metro station West Jesmond Metro station is one of two Tyne and Wear Metro stations that serve the suburb of Jesmond in Newcastle upon Tyne. West Jesmond is the busiest suburban station on the Metro network, with 966,467 annual passenger boardings in 1995-96, which has further increased to over 1 million in... |
17 | A |
External links
- Train times and station information for from NexusTyne and Wear Passenger Transport ExecutiveThe Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive using the brandname of Nexus, is the Passenger Transport Executive for the Tyne and Wear region of North East England....