Longbenton Metro station

Longbenton
Tyne and Wear Metro station
General information
Location	Longbenton, North Tyneside England
Coordinates	55°00′32″N1°35′30″W / 55.0089239°N 1.5916006°W / 55.0089239; -1.5916006 Coordinates: 55°00′32″N1°35′30″W / 55.0089239°N 1.5916006°W / 55.0089239; -1.5916006
Grid reference	NZ262683
Transit authority	Tyne and Wear PTE
Platforms	2
Tracks	2
Construction
Bicycle facilities	5 cycle pods
Disabled access	Step-free access to platform
Other information
Station code	LBN
Fare zone	B
History
Original company	London and North Eastern Railway
Post-grouping	London and North Eastern Railway British Rail (Eastern Region)
Key dates
14 July 1947	Opened
23 January 1978	Closed for conversion
11 August 1980	Reopened
Passengers
2017/18	0.80 million [1]
Services
Preceding station Tyne and Wear Metro Following station South Gosforth towards South Shields Yellow Line Four Lane Ends towards St James via  Whitley Bay
Location
Longbenton Location in Tyne and Wear, England

Longbenton is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the Freeman Hospital and suburb of Longbenton, 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 station originally opened in July 1947, under the London and North Eastern Railway, which operated electric suburban passenger services on the North Tyneside Loop – known as the Tyneside Electrics . The original neoclassical station building was joined by a covered concrete footbridge and waiting rooms in the late 1950s, all of which were frequent targets for vandals by the 1970s. ^[2]

Following closure for conversion in the late 1970s, a number of alterations were made to the station, including the shortening of platforms, construction of a new footbridge with spiral ramps to improve wheelchair access, and installation of new signage and ticket machines.

After the initial conversion work, the station buildings remained largely unchanged until 1999, when extensive refurbishment work took place. A new ticket hall was added on the eastbound platforms, and related aesthetic changes were made to the original footbridge constructed by the London and North Eastern Railway. The 1940s station building on the westbound platforms of the station was also upgraded and refurbished. ^[3]

In 2001, Tag-Tile, an artwork designed by Rob Belilios and Simon Jones, was commissioned for the station. ^[4] The artwork was created with the involvement of local young people, in response to graffiti issues at the station. ^[5] The station also features Journey's Echo, a collection of artwork created in collaboration with sixth form students from the nearby secondary school, which was commissioned in 1999. ^[6]

Facilities

Step-free access is available at all stations across the Tyne and Wear Metro network, with ramped access to platforms. Ramps also provide step-free access over the footbridge between platforms. 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. ^{[7] [8]} The station is also fitted with smartcard validators, which feature at all stations across the network. ^{[9] [10]} A small newsagent's shop is housed within the station building, ^[11] on the westbound platform (trains towards South Shields).

There is no dedicated car parking available at the station. There is the provision for cycle parking, with five cycle pods available for use. ^[12]

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. Additional services operate between Pelaw and Benton or Monkseaton at peak times. ^[13]

Rolling stock used: Class 599 Metrocar

References

1. "Tyne & Wear Metro usage figures". 2017–2018. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
2. "Disused Stations: Longbenton Station".
3. "Disused Stations: Longbenton Station". Disused Stations. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
4. "'Tag Tile' by Simon Jones & Rob Belilios". Nexus. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
5. "A North Tyneside railway station - and Longbenton Aggro Boys had left their mark - Chronicle Live". 30 June 2021.
6. "'Journey's Echo' by Elinor Eastwood". Nexus. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
7. "Metro passengers feel the benefit of contactless payment". Nexus. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
8. "Revamp for Metro ticket machines". BBC News. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
9. "City Metro stations get new smart ticket machines and gates". Nexus. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
10. "Pop card validators at Metro stations are put through their paces". Nexus. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
11. "Longbenton Metro Station | Friends Action North East".
12. "Timetables and stations: Longbenton". Nexus. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
13. "Timetables and stations: Longbenton". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive . Retrieved 30 March 2021.

External links

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