South Shields Interchange
{{Short description|Tyne and Wear Metro and bus interchange in South Tyneside}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox station
| name = South Shields
| style = Tyne and Wear Metro
| type = Tyne and Wear Metro station
| image = South Shields interchange station 2020 02.jpg
| address = South Shields, South Tyneside
| country = England
| coordinates = {{coord|54.9971852|-1.4330314|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|NZ325651|25|NZ325651}}
| footnotes = {{centre|Connection with the Shields Ferry (11px 480m).}}
| bus_stands = 15
| other =
| transit_authority = Tyne and Wear PTE
| platform = 1
| tracks = 1
| zone = C
| bicycle = 4 cycle lockers
| accessible = Step-free access to platform
| original = North Eastern Railway
| pregroup = North Eastern Railway
| postgroup = {{plainlist|
}}
| years = 2 June 1879
| events = Opened
| years1 = 1 June 1981
| events1 = Closed for conversion
| years2 = 24 March 1984
| events2 = Resited and reopened
| years3 = 8 July 2019
| events3 = Closed
| years4 = 4 August 2019
| events4 = Resited and reopened
| passengers = 0.59 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
| services = {{Adjacent stations|system1=Tyne and Wear Metro
|line1=yellow|left1=|right1=Chichester
}}
}}
South Shields Interchange is Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive's transport hub in the coastal town of South Shields, South Tyneside in Tyne and Wear, England.
History
{{For|more information about the former North Eastern Railway station|South Shields railway station}}
The station, which was originally located on Mile End Road, was opened on 2 June 1879 by the North Eastern Railway; it later became a part of the Tyneside Electrics railway network. It closed in June 1981, for conversion to part of the Tyne and Wear Metro system.
Conversion work saw the station relocated about {{Convert|200|m|ft|abbr=on}} up the line from the former British Rail station, with the construction of a new facility on a bridge over King Street.{{Cite web|title=Disused Stations: South Shields Metro Station|url=http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/s/south_shields_metro/index.shtml|access-date=2020-06-06|website=Disused Stations}} The original Grade II listed station building, located near to Mile End Road, remained following conversion but was demolished in the late 1990s after falling into disrepair.
It joined the network as a terminus station on 24 March 1984, following the opening of the fifth phase of the network between Heworth and South Shields.
The original Metro station was closed on 8 July 2019 and was resited around {{Convert|100|m|ft|abbr=on}} to the south-east. On 4 August 2019, the station reopened as part of the new South Shields Interchange.
{{Gallery
|width=215 |height=150
|align=centre
|1=Station, South Shields, Co. Durham - geograph.org.uk - 466518.jpg|2=A Class 101 DMU at the original North Eastern Railway station, photographed in August 1977, around four years prior to the station's closure.|3=South Shields metro station (16266736153).jpg|4=A Class 599 Metrocar at the original Tyne and Wear Metro station, photographed in February 2015.|5=South Shields Metro station, Tyne & Wear (geograph 6673106).jpg|6=The current (resited) Metro station, photographed in August 2019, shortly after reopening.|footer=}}
Maintenance and Renewals Skills Centre
In July 2018, Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive announced an £8.4{{nbsp}}million project to construct a Maintenance and Renewals Skills Centre.{{Cite web|date=24 July 2018|title=Work starts on £8.4m Nexus Learning Centre in South Shields|url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/work-starts-ps84m-nexus-learning-centre-south-shields|access-date=6 June 2020|website=Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=22 March 2018|title=Nexus' £8.4m rail training centre in South Shields gets the green light|url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/nexus-ps84m-rail-training-centre-south-shields-gets-green-light|access-date=6 June 2020|website=Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=28 November 2017|title=Nexus to build £8.4m rail training centre in South Shields|url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/nexus-build-ps84m-rail-training-centre-south-shields|access-date=6 June 2020|website=Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive|language=en}} The three-storey building, which houses a training hub, as well as stabling facilities for up to two trains, opened in September 2020.
Facilities
Step-free access is available at all stations across the Tyne and Wear Metro network, with two lifts providing step-free access to platforms at South Shields. The station is equipped with ticket machines, sheltered waiting area, seating, next train information displays, timetable posters, and an emergency help point. Ticket machines 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=6 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=6 June 2020}} The station is fitted with automatic ticket barriers, which were installed at 13 stations across the network during the early 2010s, as well as smartcard validators, which feature at all stations.{{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=6 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=6 June 2020|website=Nexus|language=en}} The station houses a Greggs outlet as well as a now disused Nexus TravelShop,{{Cite web|title=South Shields TravelShop|url=https://www.nexus.org.uk/travelshops/south-shields-travelshop|access-date=2020-06-06|website=Nexus|language=en}} both of which are located within the bus concourse.
The large bus interchange is located on the lower level, providing frequent connections throughout the local Tyne and Wear area as well as a half-hourly service reaching Durham. The bus station has 14 departure stands (lettered A–P), with an additional stand used by long-distance coach services. Each stand is fitted with seating, next bus information displays, and timetable posters. There is also a taxi rank located just outside the main Keppel Street entrance and secure cycle lockers at the south entrance.
Tyne and Wear Metro services
The station is the eastern terminus of the Yellow line; services run to {{metro|St James}}, via {{metro|Newcastle Central}} and {{metro|Whitley Bay}}. There are up to five trains per hour on weekdays and Saturdays, with up to four trains per hour during evenings and on Sundays.{{Cite web |title=Timetables and stations |work=Nexus |date=2023 |access-date=6 November 2023 |url= https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/timetables-stations |quote=}}
Rolling stock used: Class 599 Metrocar
Bus services
File:Stagecoach_in_South_Shields_37308-SK15_HFB.jpg
Bus services that call at South Shields Interchange are operated by Go North East and Stagecoach North East. Routes link the town with Sunderland, Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne and locations in South Tyneside and County Durham.{{Cite web |title=South Shields Bus Services |work=Bus Times |date=2023 |access-date=13 November 2023 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/south-shields |quote=}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commons-inline}}
- [https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/timetables-and-stations/south-shields Timetable and station information] for South Shields
{{Tyne and Wear Metro network}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:South Shields Metro station}}
Category:Buildings and structures in the Metropolitan Borough of South Tyneside
Category:Transport in South Shields
Category:1984 establishments in England
Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1984
Category:2019 establishments in England
Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 2019
Category:Tyne and Wear Metro Yellow line stations