Cullercoats Metro station

Cullercoats
Tyne and Wear Metro station
General information
Location	Cullercoats, North Tyneside England
Coordinates	55°02′06″N1°26′11″W / 55.0349990°N 1.4363669°W / 55.0349990; -1.4363669 Coordinates: 55°02′06″N1°26′11″W / 55.0349990°N 1.4363669°W / 55.0349990; -1.4363669
Grid reference	NZ361712
Transit authority	Tyne and Wear PTE
Platforms	2
Tracks	2
Construction
Parking	22 spaces
Bicycle facilities	6 cycle pods
Disabled access	Step-free access to platform
Other information
Station code	CUL
Fare zone	C
History
Original company	Blyth and Tyne Railway
Pre-grouping	North Eastern Railway
Post-grouping	London and North Eastern Railway British Rail (Eastern Region)
Key dates
27 June 1864	Opened
3 July 1882	Resited
10 September 1979	Closed for conversion
11 August 1980	Reopened
Passengers
2017/18	0.33 million [1]
Services
Preceding station Tyne and Wear Metro Following station Whitley Bay towards South Shields via  Whitley Bay Yellow Line Tynemouth towards St James
Location
Cullercoats Location in Tyne and Wear, England

Cullercoats is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the suburbs of Cullercoats and Marden, North Tyneside in Tyne and Wear, England. It joined the network on 11 August 1980, following the opening of the first phase of the network, between Haymarket and Tynemouth via Four Lane Ends.

History

The original Cullercoats station was opened under the North Eastern Railway on 27 June 1864, and was located further inland than the current site. This station, in the area now occupied by housing on Sedbergh Road, was closed when the line was re-routed to be closer to the North Sea coast. ^[2]

The replacement station was built by the North Eastern Railway, as part of the North Tyneside Loop, opening in July 1882. While built on a smaller scale than neighbouring Tynemouth and Whitley Bay stations, it still proved popular with commuters and visitors alike – with 271,939 tickets being issued in 1911. ^[3]

Most of the original station structures are still present, the only major architectural changes being alterations to the verandahs, dating from the 1920s (although the original ironwork was retained), and the demolition of the station master's house in the early 1970s. The station's adjoining signal box has also been demolished. ^[3]

The station closed for conversion in September 1979, ahead of opening as part of the Tyne and Wear Metro network, re-opening in August 1980. Conversion work saw only minor modifications made to the station buildings and platforms, consisting mainly of new signage and restoration work.

Cullercoats was refurbished, along with Monkseaton and West Monkseaton, in 2018, as part of the Metro: All Change programme. The refurbishment involved the installation of new seating and lighting, resurfaced platforms, and improved security and accessibility. The station was also painted in to the new black and white corporate colour scheme. ^{[4] [5]}

Facilities

Step-free access is available at all stations across the Tyne and Wear Metro network, with level access to both platforms. Step-free access between platforms is by the Mast Lane bridge, which is located about 150 m (490 ft) to the south of the station. The station is equipped with ticket machines, waiting shelter, seating, next train information displays, timetable posters, and an emergency help point on both platforms. Ticket machines are able to accept payment with credit and debit card (including contactless payment), notes and coins. ^{[6] [7]} The station is also fitted with smartcard validators, which feature at all stations across the network. ^{[8] [9]} The station houses a shop, on the southbound platform (trains towards St. James), specialising in pet accessories, which opened in January 2015. ^[10]

There is a small free car park available, with 22 spaces. There is also the provision for cycle parking, with six cycle pods available for use. ^[11]

Services

As of April 2021 ^[update] , the station is served by up to five trains per hour on weekdays and Saturday, and up to four trains per hour during the evening and on Sunday. ^[12]

Rolling stock used: Class 599 Metrocar

Art

The installation The Day Before You Looked Through Me by British artist, Cathy de Monchaux, was commissioned for the station in 1998, and features in the ticket area of the southbound platform. ^[13] In 2011, Paul William Llewellyn Jones's Whitley Bay in Colour was installed at the station, showcasing a number of images of the North Tyneside coastline. ^[14]

References

1. "Tyne & Wear Metro usage figures". 2017–2018. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
2. "Disused Stations: Cullercoats Station (First site)". Disused Stations. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
3. "Disused Stations: Cullercoats Station (Second site)". Disused Stations. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
4. Seddon, Sean (22 February 2018). "Three Metro stations to get £700,000 refurbishment after years of wear and tear". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
5. "North Tyneside Metro stations are to undergo refurbishments". Nexus. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
6. "Metro passengers feel the benefit of contactless payment". Nexus. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
7. "Revamp for Metro ticket machines". BBC News. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
8. "City Metro stations get new smart ticket machines and gates". Nexus. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
9. "Pop card validators at Metro stations are put through their paces". Nexus. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
10. Keighley, Tom (19 January 2015). "North Tyneside mum opens specialist alternative dog treatments shop". The Journal. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
11. "Timetables and stations: Cullercoats". Nexus. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
12. "Timetables and stations: Cullercoats". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive . Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
13. "'The Day Before You Looked Through Me' by Cathy de Monchaux". Nexus. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
14. "Local photographer brings summer sun to Cullercoats". Nexus. Retrieved 30 May 2020.

External links

• Media related to Cullercoats Metro station at Wikimedia Commons
• Timetable and station information for Cullercoats