Benton Metro station

Coordinates: 55°00′50″N 1°34′03″W / 55.0139029°N 1.5676297°W / 55.0139029; -1.5676297
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Benton
Tyne and Wear Metro station
General information
LocationBenton, North Tyneside
England
Coordinates55°00′50″N 1°34′03″W / 55.0139029°N 1.5676297°W / 55.0139029; -1.5676297
Grid referenceNZ277688
Transit authorityTyne and Wear PTE
Platforms2
Tracks2
Construction
Parking10 spaces
Bicycle facilities5 cycle pods
AccessibleStep-free access to platform
Other information
Station codeBTN
Fare zoneB
History
Original companyBlyth and Tyne Railway
Pre-groupingNorth Eastern Railway
Post-grouping
Key dates
27 June 1864Opened
1 March 1871Resited
23 January 1978Closed for conversion
11 August 1980Reopened
Passengers
2017/180.35 million[1]
Services
Preceding station Tyne and Wear Metro Following station
Four Lane Ends Yellow Line Palmersville
towards St James via Whitley Bay
Location
Benton is located in Tyne and Wear
Benton
Benton
Location in Tyne and Wear, England

Benton is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the suburb of Benton, 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[edit]

The station originally opened on 27 June 1864 under the Blyth and Tyne Railway. It was resited on 1 March 1871 by the North Eastern Railway. Following closure for conversion in the late 1970s, the original station building on the westbound platform was retained, and now serves as a private residence.[2]

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. The station still serves as a terminus for Yellow Line trains from Pelaw during peak hours. However, following the opening of Northumberland Park in December 2005, many of these trains now continue to Monkseaton.

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

Facilities[edit]

Step-free access is available at all stations across the Tyne and Wear Metro network, with ramped access to platforms. Two lifts, which were installed in 2011, provide step-free access over the footbridge between platforms.[3][4] 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.[5][6] The station is also fitted with smartcard validators, which feature at all stations across the network.[7][8]

A small free car park is available, with ten spaces, plus two accessible spaces. There is also the provision for cycle parking, with five cycle pods available for use.[9]

Services[edit]

As of April 2021, 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 Benton or Monkseaton at peak times.[10]

Rolling stock used: Class 599 Metrocar

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Tyne & Wear Metro usage figures". 2017–2018. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Disused Stations: Benton Station (2nd site)". Disused Stations. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Upgrade to Benton station will provide lift". ChronicleLive. 26 October 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  4. ^ Butcher, Joanne (10 June 2011). "Anger over Benton Metro Station bridge delay". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Metro passengers feel the benefit of contactless payment". Nexus. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Revamp for Metro ticket machines". BBC News. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  7. ^ "City Metro stations get new smart ticket machines and gates". Nexus. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Pop card validators at Metro stations are put through their paces". Nexus. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Timetables and stations: Benton". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Timetables and stations: Benton". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.

External links[edit]