West Monkseaton Metro station

West Monkseaton
Tyne and Wear Metro station
General information
Location	Monkseaton, North Tyneside England
Coordinates	55°02′26″N1°28′34″W / 55.0405469°N 1.4759796°W / 55.0405469; -1.4759796
Grid reference	NZ336719
Transit authority	Tyne and Wear PTE
Platforms	2
Tracks	2
Construction
Bicycle facilities	3 cycle lockers 5 cycle pods
Accessible	Step-free access to platform
Other information
Station code	WMN
Fare zone	C
History
Original company	London and North Eastern Railway
Post-grouping	London and North Eastern Railway British Rail (Eastern Region)
Key dates
20 March 1933	Opened
10 September 1979	Closed for conversion
11 August 1980	Reopened
Passengers
2017/18	0.38 million [1]
Services
Preceding station Tyne and Wear Metro Following station Shiremoor towards South Shields Yellow Line Monkseaton towards St James via  Whitley Bay
Location
West Monkseaton Location in Tyne and Wear, England

West Monkseaton is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the village of Earsdon and suburb of Monkseaton, 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

Monkseaton had been served by a station since 1864. ^[2] However, the development of new housing in the area adjoining the line led the London and North Eastern Railway to construct an additional station, about 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) west along the line from the station at Monkseaton.

The station opened in March 1933, as part of the London and North Eastern Railway, with the station building constructed in Art Deco style. The station's platforms took just a month to build after plans were approved.

The reinforced concrete Art Deco station building is attributed to the London and North Eastern Railway architect, H. H. Powell. ^[3] Work on the station building, however, did not begin until 1934. Staircases and ramps led down from this building to two timber platforms, both of which featured waiting rooms. The westbound platform featured a concrete canopy, which was added by the London and North Eastern Railway, following the construction of the waiting rooms. ^[4]

Prior to the station's closure for conversion in the late 1970s, the station generally received a service every 20 minutes in both directions, on the Coast Circle route. The service from West Monkseaton to Newcastle via South Gosforth was removed in January 1978, in order to facilitate conversion work on the stations to the west. This meant that the station was briefly a terminus for trains from Newcastle via Tynemouth, with trains reversing using a crossover to the west of the station.

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. ^[5] Conversion work saw the loss of the wooden station buildings at platform level, as well as the replacement of the timber platforms with shorter concrete ones. The canopy on the westbound platform (trains towards St. James) was retained, while a smaller canopy in a similar style was added to the eastbound platform (trains towards South Shields).

The original street-level entrance building remains, and was refurbished in 1999, along with the original London and North Eastern Railway platform canopy. As part of this refurbishment, an art installation by Richard Talbot, Bridge, was commissioned. It features a number of coloured stained glass windows, and is located in the station's ticket hall, overlooking the track and platforms. ^[6]

West Monkseaton was recently refurbished, along with Cullercoats and 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. ^{[7] [8]}

Facilities

Step-free access is available at all stations across the Tyne and Wear Metro network, with ramped access to both 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. ^{[9] [10]} The station is also fitted with smartcard validators, which feature at all stations across the network. ^{[11] [12]}

There is no dedicated car parking available at the station. There is the provision for cycle parking, with three cycle lockers and five cycle pods available for use. ^[13]

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 Monkseaton at peak times. ^[14]

Rolling stock used: Class 599 Metrocar

References

1. "Tyne & Wear Metro usage figures". 2017–2018. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
2. "Disused Stations: Monkseaton (First site)". Disused Stations. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
3. Lawrence, David (2018). British Rail Architecture 1948–97. Crecy Publishing Ltd. p. 26. ISBN   978-0860936855.
4. "Disused Stations: West Monkseaton". Disused Stations. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
5. "Disused Stations: West Monkseaton". Disused Stations.
6. "'Bridge' by Richard Talbot". Nexus. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
7. Seddon, Sean (22 February 2018). "Three Metro stations to get £700,000 refurbishment after years of wear and tear". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
8. "North Tyneside Metro stations are to undergo refurbishments". Nexus. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
9. "Metro passengers feel the benefit of contactless payment". Nexus. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
10. "Revamp for Metro ticket machines". BBC News. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
11. "City Metro stations get new smart ticket machines and gates". Nexus. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
12. "Pop card validators at Metro stations are put through their paces". Nexus. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
13. "Timetables and stations: West Monkseaton". Nexus. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
14. "Timetables and stations: West Monkseaton". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive . Retrieved 30 March 2021.

External links

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