Four Lane Ends Interchange
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{short description|Tyne and Wear Metro station and bus interchange in North Tyneside}}
{{for|the road junction in Lancashire|Four Lane Ends, Lancashire}}
{{Infobox station
| name = Four Lane Ends Interchange
| style = Tyne and Wear Metro
| type = Multimodal transport hub including Tyne and Wear Metro station
| image = Four Lane Ends metro station - geograph.org.uk - 580193.jpg
| caption = Interchange concourse before redevelopment in 2004
| address = Longbenton, North Tyneside
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|55.0101640|-1.5785049|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|NZ270684|25|NZ270684}}
| bus_stands = 7
| other =
| transit_authority = Tyne and Wear PTE
| platform = 2
| tracks = 2
| zone = B
| parking = 475 spaces
| bicycle = {{plainlist|
- 5 cycle lockers
- 5 cycle pods
}}
| accessible = Step-free access to platform
| original = Blyth and Tyne Railway
| years = 26 June 1864
| events = Opened
| years1 = 1 March 1871
| events1 = Closed
| years2 = 11 August 1980
| events2 = Re-opened
| passengers = 0.46 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 = FLE
| services = {{Adjacent stations|system1=Tyne and Wear Metro
|line1=yellow|left1=Longbenton|right1=Benton
}}
}}
The Four Lane Ends Interchange is a multimodal transport hub in the borough of North Tyneside in the English metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear. It includes a station on the Tyne and Wear Metro, a bus station and a multi-storey car park. The metro station opened on 11 August 1980, but it is situated on the site of a previous station that opened in 1864, closed in 1871, and was variously called Benton, Long Benton and Longbenton.
The interchange serves the suburbs of Benton and Longbenton. Nearby employment sites include Benton Park View to the west, Tyneview Park to the south east, and Quorum Business Park to the north.
History
The original Blyth and Tyne Railway station at this site opened on 26 June 1864, with the opening of the line, but closed on 1 March 1871, with the opening of the new station that became Benton Metro station. It is referred to as Long Benton in its owner's timetables, as Longbenton on their map, and as Benton in Bradshaw's Guide. The last remains of this station disappeared during the construction of the metro station. It should not be confused with the much later station, on a different site, that became Longbenton Metro station.{{cite web |url=http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/benton_first/index.shtml |title=Benton Station (1st site) |work=Disused Stations |access-date=13 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910110810/http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/benton_first/index.shtml |archive-date=10 September 2024 |url-status=live}}
The current station opened on 11 August 1980 with the opening of the first phase of the metro, between Haymarket and Tynemouth. The station is located at the junction of Benton Lane (A188), Benton Park Road (A191) and Front Street (A191). The crossroads has historically been important for traders, cattle drivers, and those transporting local salts and lime towards the shipyards and factories in Newcastle.{{cite needed|date=September 2024}}
Unlike neighbouring Longbenton and Benton, Four Lane Ends was purpose-built for the Tyne and Wear Metro network. These purpose-built stations, such as Four Lane Ends, Heworth and Regent Centre, had a definite corporate look of rectangular blocks, light enamelled wall panels, and black roofing.{{cite needed|date=September 2024}}
The interchange was redeveloped in 2004, to include a 475 space multi-storey car park, as well as improved passenger facilities.{{cite needed|date=September 2024}} As part of the Metro: All Change programme, new lifts were installed at Four Lane Ends in 2012,{{Cite web|date=4 July 2012|title=New passenger lifts for Heworth and Four Lane Ends|url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/new-passenger-lifts-heworth-and-four-lane-ends|access-date=2020-06-04|website=Nexus|language=en}} with new escalators installed in 2015.{{Cite web|date=8 March 2015|title=New escalators for Heworth and Gateshead|url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/new-escalators-heworth-and-gateshead|access-date=2020-06-04|website=Nexus|language=en}}
Facilities
The interchange comprises the metro station, a bus station, a taxi rank, and a multi-storey car park that has 457 spaces plus 22 accessible spaces. There is also the provision for cycle parking, with five cycle pods, five cycle lockers, and 18 cycle spaces. The interchange also houses a small number of shops and services, including a newsagents, sandwich shop and hairdressers. There are public and disabled toilet facilities.{{Cite web |title=Timetables and stations: Four Lane Ends |url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/timetables-and-stations/four-lane-ends |access-date=13 September 2024 |website=Nexus |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Four Lane Ends bus station |url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/bus/bus-stations-and-stops/four-lane-ends-bus-station |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=Nexus}}
The metro station is at the lowest level of the interchange, is fully covered by the buildings above, and has two side platforms. Step-free access is available, with lifts, as well as stairs and escalators, providing step-free access between the platforms and the interchange building above. Each platform is equipped with seating, next train information displays, timetable posters, and an emergency help point.
File:Four Lane Ends Interchange.jpg
The interchange is equipped with ticket machines, which are able to accept payment with credit and debit card (including contactless payment), notes and coins.{{Cite web|date=13 January 2014|title=Metro passengers feel the benefit of contactless payment|url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/metro-passengers-feel-benefit-contactless-payment|access-date=4 June 2020|website=Nexus|language=en}}{{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=4 June 2020}} The interchange is also fitted with smartcard validators, which feature at all stations across the network.{{Cite web|date=22 October 2012|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|access-date=4 June 2020|website=Nexus|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=21 March 2013|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|access-date=4 June 2020|website=Nexus|language=en}}
The bus station is located above the metro station and surrounding the interchange building. It is served by Arriva North East, Go North East and Stagecoach in Newcastle's local bus services, with frequent routes serving Newcastle upon Tyne and North Tyneside. The bus station has seven departure stands (lettered A–G), each of which is fitted with seating, next bus information displays, and timetable posters.
Services
{{As of|2024|September}}, the station is served by up to five trains per hour per direction 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
Art Installations
Four Lane Ends houses two art installations, both of which were commissioned in the early 2000s. Andrew Stonyer's Pulse (2000) features in the station's courtyard, adjacent to the ticket concourse, and consists of a {{Convert|6|m|ft|abbr=on}} diameter corten steel ring, with a circle of bright neon red.{{Cite web|title='Pulse' by Andrew Stonyer|url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/art-transport/commissions/pulse-andrew-stonyer|access-date=2020-06-04|website=Nexus|language=en}} Cath Campbell's Detour (2003) features on the south and west elevations of the station's multi-storey car park, creating an "animated" and "dynamic" surface, describing movement and journeys through space.{{Cite web|title='Detour' by Cath Campbell|url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/art-transport/commissions/detour-cath-campbell|access-date=2020-06-04|website=Nexus|language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commons-inline}}
- [https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/timetables-and-stations/four-lane-ends Timetable and station information] for Four Lane Ends
{{Tyne and Wear Metro network}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Four Lane Ends Metro station}}
Category:Metropolitan Borough of North Tyneside
Category:1980 establishments in England
Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1980
Category:Tyne and Wear Metro Yellow line stations