Benton Metro station

{{short description|Tyne and Wear Metro station in North Tyneside}}

{{Infobox station

| name = Benton

| style = Tyne and Wear Metro

| type = Tyne and Wear Metro station

| image = Benton Metro Station from footbridge (geograph 4745097).jpg

| address = Benton, North Tyneside

| country = England

| coordinates = {{coord|55.0139029|-1.5676297|format=dms|region:GB_type:railwaystation|display=inline,title}}

| map_type = United Kingdom Tyne and Wear

| map_caption = Location in Tyne and Wear, England

| grid_name = Grid reference

| grid_position = {{gbmapscaled|NZ277688|25|NZ277688}}

| other =

| transit_authority = Tyne and Wear PTE

| platform = 2

| tracks = 2

| zone = B

| parking = 10 spaces

| bicycle = 5 cycle pods

| accessible = Step-free access to platform

| original = Blyth and Tyne Railway

| pregroup = North Eastern Railway

| postgroup = {{plainlist|

}}

| years = 27 June 1864

| events = Line opened

| years1 = 1 March 1871

| events1 = Station opened

| years2 = 23 January 1978

| events2 = Closed for conversion

| years3 = 11 August 1980

| events3 = Reopened

| passengers = 0.35 million{{cite web |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/tyne_and_wear_passenger_numbers_2 |title=Tyne & Wear Metro usage figures |author= |date=2017–2018 |website= |publisher= |access-date=21 August 2019 |quote=}}

| pass_year = 2017/18

| code = BTN

| services = {{Adjacent stations|system1=Tyne and Wear Metro

|line1=yellow|left1=Four Lane Ends|right1=Palmersville

}}

Benton is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, and former British Rail station, serving the suburb of Benton, North Tyneside in Tyne and Wear, England. It was opened in 1871, closed in 1978 for conversion to become part of the Tyne and Wear Metro, and joined that network in 1980.

It should not be confused with a previous station, on the site of the current Four Lane Ends Interchange, which opened in 1864, closed in 1871, and was variously called Benton, Long Benton and Longbenton. Nor should it be confused with Forest Hall station on the East Coast Main Line, which opened in 1856, closed in 1958, and was known as Benton until 1874.

History

The line through the station was opened on 27 June 1864 by the Blyth and Tyne Railway, but there was no station at the site until 1 March 1871, when the earlier Benton station, on the site now occupied by the Four Lane Ends Interchange, was closed and replaced by a station at the current site. On the same date, the short-lived Forest Hall station, situated on the Blyth and Tyne some {{convert|0.5|mi}} to the east, also closed.{{Cite web |title=Disused Stations: Benton Station (2nd site) |url=http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/benton_second/ |website=Disused Stations |access-date=2024-10-02}}{{Cite web |title=Disused Stations: Forest Hall (B & T) |url=http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/f/forest_hall/index.shtml |website=Disused Stations |access-date=2024-10-02}}

Benton station was acquired by the North Eastern Railway (NER) in 1874, along with the rest of the Blythe and Tyne Railway. The first electric train called at the station on 29 March 1904.

The station was closed on 23 January 1978 to enable the conversion of the line to become part of the Tyne and Wear Metro. It reopened on 11 August 1980, following the opening of the first phase of the metro, between Haymarket and Tynemouth via Four Lane Ends. Prior to the network's extension to Wearside in March 2002, Benton was a terminus station of the former Red Line, which operated between Pelaw and Benton, as well as an intermediate station on the Yellow Line.{{cite needed|date=October 2024}}

During conversion, some of the station's structures were retained. The original station building on the westbound platform now serves as a private residence. The brick-built slate roofed shelter on the north platform (eastbound) has been retained from the original station and features "iron columns and decorative iron finials on the roof." The shelter is now part of the Tyne and Wear Historic Environment Record.{{cite web | url = https://sitelines.newcastle.gov.uk/SMR/1093 | title = Station (Benton Metro Station) | work = Tyne and Wear HER | access-date = 1 October 2024}}

The station was used by 348,120 passengers in 2017–18.

Facilities

The station has two side platforms, with the main, level, access to the southern (westbound) platform. Access between the platforms is by the station footbridge, with both stairs and lifts to each platform. There is also a steep ramped access to the northern (eastbound) platform.{{Cite web|title=Upgrade to Benton station will provide lift|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/upgrade-benton-station-provide-lift-1421817|date=2010-10-26|website=ChronicleLive|access-date=2020-05-27}}{{Cite web|title=Anger over Benton Metro Station bridge delay|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/anger-over-benton-metro-station-1400301|last=Butcher|first=Joanne|date=2011-06-10|website=ChronicleLive|access-date=2020-05-27}}{{Cite web|title=Timetables and stations: Benton |url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/timetables-and-stations/benton |access-date=2 October 2024 |website=Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive}}

A small free car park is available, adjacent to the southern entrance, with ten spaces, plus two accessible spaces. There is also the provision for cycle parking, with five cycle pods available for use.{{Cite web |title=Timetables and stations: Benton |url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/timetables-and-stations/benton |url-status=live |access-date=30 March 2021 |website=Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505220914/https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/timetables-and-stations/benton |archive-date=5 May 2021 }}

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.{{Cite web|title=Metro passengers feel the benefit of contactless payment|url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/metro-passengers-feel-benefit-contactless-payment|date=13 January 2014|website=Nexus|language=en|access-date=27 May 2020}}{{Cite news|date=2011-12-11|title=Revamp for Metro ticket machines|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-16126081|access-date=27 May 2020}} The station is also fitted with smartcard validators, which feature at all stations across the network.{{Cite web|title=City Metro stations get new smart ticket machines and gates|url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/city-metro-stations-get-new-smart-ticket-machines-and-gates|date=22 October 2012|website=Nexus|language=en|access-date=25 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Pop card validators at Metro stations are put through their paces|url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/pop-card-validators-metro-stations-are-put-through-their-paces|date=21 March 2013|website=Nexus|language=en|access-date=25 May 2020}}

Services

{{As of|2024|October}}, 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. In the eastbound direction, trains run to {{stl|Tyne and Wear Metro|St James}} via {{stl|Tyne and Wear Metro|Whitley Bay}}. In the westbound direction, trains run to {{stl|Tyne and Wear Metro|South Shields}} via {{stl|Tyne and Wear Metro|Monument}}.

Rolling stock used: Class 599 Metrocar

References

External links

{{commons-inline}}
[https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/timetables-and-stations/benton Timetable and station information] for Benton

Category:Metropolitan Borough of North Tyneside

Category:1871 establishments in England

Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1871

Category:1980 establishments in England

Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1980

Category:Tyne and Wear Metro Yellow line stations

Category:Transport in Tyne and Wear

Category:Former North Eastern Railway (United Kingdom) stations

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