MetroCentre railway station
{{short description|Railway station in Tyne and Wear, England}}
{{for|the Washington Metro station|Metro Center station}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox station
| name = MetroCentre
| symbol_location = gb
| symbol = rail
| image = Metrocentre railway station MMB 01 142084.jpg
| address =
| borough = Metrocentre, Gateshead
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|54.9588888|-1.6649320|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|NZ215627|25|NZ215627}}
| owned = Network Rail
| manager = Northern Trains
| platforms = 2
| tracks = 2
| code = MCE
| transit_authority = Tyne and Wear PTE
| original = British Rail (Eastern Region)
| years = {{start date|1987|08|03|df=y}}
| events = Opened as Gateshead MetroCentre
| years1 = 17 May 1993
| events1 = Renamed MetroCentre
| mpassengers =
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2019/20 |passengers={{decrease}} 0.299 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2020/21 |passengers={{decrease}} 61,036}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2021/22 |passengers={{increase}} 0.287 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2022/23 |passengers={{increase}} 0.321 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2023/24 |passengers={{increase}} 0.519 million}}
| footnotes = Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road
}}
MetroCentre is a railway station on the Tyne Valley Line, which runs between {{rws|Newcastle}} and {{rws|Carlisle}} via {{rws|Hexham}}. The station, situated {{convert|3|mi|39|chain|abbr=out|sigfig=3|mi km}} west of Newcastle, serves Metrocentre, Gateshead in Tyne and Wear, England. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains.
History
The station was opened on 3 August 1987 by British Rail, and was initially named Gateshead MetroCentre.{{Cite book |last=Butt |first=R.V.J. |title=The Directory of Railway Stations |publisher=Patrick Stephens Ltd |year=1995 |isbn=1-85260-508-1 |location=Yeovil |page=102 |id=R508 }} The station's name was later shortened to MetroCentre on 17 May 1993.GB National Rail Timetable, 1993-94 Edition, Table 48
The station is situated on a section of line built by the North Eastern Railway, which was constructed in sections between 1893 and 1909.Body, G Railways of the Eastern Region Volume 2, 1988, Patrick Stephens Ltd, Wellingborough, {{ISBN|1-85260-072-1}}, p.133 It linked the lines over the newly commissioned King Edward VII Bridge with the original Newcastle and Carlisle Railway freight route to Redheugh and Dunston Coal Staiths, dating back to 1837.{{Cite web|last=Marsden|first=Richard|title=The North Eastern Railway: Bridges around Newcastle|url=https://www.lner.info/co/NER/newcastle/bridges.php|access-date=21 October 2020|website=LNER Encyclopedia|archive-date=24 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024135136/https://www.lner.info/co/NER/newcastle/bridges.php|url-status=live}}
= Refurbishment =
Between January and February 2020, the platforms at the station were extended ahead of the introduction of upgraded rolling stock, as part of the Great North Rail project.{{Cite web|date=14 January 2020|title=Upgrade at MetroCentre station will mean more seats for passengers|url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/upgrade-at-metrocentre-station-will-mean-more-seats-for-passengers/|access-date=21 October 2020|website=Network Rail Media Centre|language=en-GB|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026083317/https://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/upgrade-at-metrocentre-station-will-mean-more-seats-for-passengers/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Collings|first=Katie|date=2020-01-14|title=Metrocentre station platform extended to make way for trains with more seats|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/metrocentre-station-platform-extended-make-17563343|access-date=2020-10-21|website=ChronicleLive|language=en|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026081847/https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/metrocentre-station-platform-extended-make-17563343|url-status=live}}
Facilities
The station has two platforms, both of which have seating, a waiting shelter, next train audio and visual displays and an emergency help point. There is a footbridge linking the station with the Metrocentre, which provides step-free access to both platforms.{{Cite web |title=MetroCentre Station Train Tickets, Departures and Timetables |url=https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/stations/metrocentre |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023042315/https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/stations/MCE |archive-date=23 October 2020 |access-date=20 October 2020 |website=Northern Trains |language=en-gb}}
MetroCentre has recently joined the Northern Trains penalty fare network, as new ticket machines were installed at the station in December 2020.{{Cite web|title=Penalty Fares Map|url=https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/legal/penalty-fares|access-date=20 October 2020|website=Northern Trains|language=en-gb|archive-date=19 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019150640/https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/legal/penalty-fares|url-status=live}}
Services
{{Northern (train operating company) route 4|collapse=true}}
As of the December 2023 timetable change, there are three trains per hour between {{rws|Newcastle}} and {{rws|Hexham}}, two of which continue to {{Rws|Carlisle}}. On Sundays, there are three trains per hour between Newcastle and MetroCentre, one of which continues to Carlisle. Many trains extend to {{rws|Morpeth}} or {{rws|Nunthorpe}} via {{rws|Hartlepool}}. All services are operated by Northern Trains.{{NRtimes|December 2023|42}}
Rolling stock used: Class 156 Super Sprinter and Class 158 Express Sprinter
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{commons-inline}}{{stn art lnk|MCE}}
{{rail start}}
{{rail line
|previous={{rws|Dunston}}
towards {{rws|Newcastle}}
|next={{rws|Blaydon}}
towards {{rws|Carlisle}}
|route=Northern Trains
Tyne Valley Line
|col={{Northern colour}}}}
{{rail end}}
{{Tyne and Wear railway stations}}
{{Railway stations served by Northern Trains}}
Category:Railway stations in Tyne and Wear
Category:Railway stations opened by British Rail