Bank Foot Metro station explained

Bank Foot
Style:Tyne and Wear Metro
Type:Tyne and Wear Metro station
Address:Kenton Bank Foot
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country:England
Coordinates:55.0139°N -1.6781°W
Map Type:United Kingdom Newcastle-upon-Tyne#Tyne and Wear
Grid Name:Grid reference
Transit Authority:Tyne and Wear PTE
Platform:2
Tracks:2
Zone:B
Parking:62 spaces
Bicycle:8 cycle pods
Accessible:Step-free access to platform
Original:Tyne and Wear Metro
Years:10 May 1981
Events:Opened as terminus of line
Years1:17 November 1991
Events1:Line extended to Airport
Passengers:0.11 million[1]
Pass Year:2017/18
Code:BFT

Bank Foot is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the suburbs of Woolsington and Kenton in the English city of Newcastle upon Tyne. It opened as a single platform terminal station in 1981, with the opening of the second phase of the metro, between South Gosforth and Bank Foot. It was restructured as a two platform through station in 1991, with the opening of the extension to Newcastle Airport.

History

The Metro station is located at the site of the former Kenton Bank station, which opened on 1 June 1905 as part of the Gosforth and Ponteland Light Railway. The line closed to passengers on 17 June 1929, with goods services operating from the station until January 1966. The line through the station however remained open to serve the explosives depot at ICI Callerton, situated between and stations, where explosives were transferred from rail to road for onward transport to quarries in Northumberland.[2] [3]

The Metro station opened on 10 May 1981.[2] As opened, the approach from the east was single track opening out into three tracks. On the south side was the platform line, serving the stations single platform (now used by trains towards Airport), On the north side there was a siding used by the Metro, and in the middle a non-electrified through line for freight services to ICI Callerton. The ownership boundary between the Tyne and Wear Metro and British Rail was the level crossing on Station Road, to the west of the station.October 2024.

In March 1989, ICI Callerton closed, and freight services through the station ceased. The following year, the construction of the extension of the Metro from Bank Foot to Newcastle Airport commenced, after funding had been secured from the European Economic Community (now the European Union). The extension used the alignment of the former freight line to the west of Bank Foot, ownership of which was transferred to the Metro.[2] [4]

At the same time, the single-track bridge to the east of the station was re-built as double track, with Bank Foot station re-modelled as a double track station. A second platform was built on the north side (now used for trains towards South Hylton). The level crossing was also re-built in the same style as the other open level crossings on the system. Following the opening of the 3.5km (02.2miles) line between Bank Foot and Airport on 17 November 1991, the station opened to through services.[4]

During the construction of the line, a dedicated bus service operated between Bank Foot and Newcastle International Airport.[5]

In October 2012, traffic enforcement cameras were installed at the level crossings at Bank Foot and Kingston Park.[6] Similar cameras were installed at Callerton Parkway in 2008.[7]

The station was used by 0.11 million passengers in 2017–18, making it the third-least-used station on the network, after St Peter's and Pallion.[1]

In 2018, the station, along with others on the Airport branch, were refurbished as part of the Metro: All Change programme. The project saw improvements to accessibility, security and energy efficiency, as well as the re-branding of the station to the new black and white corporate colour scheme.[8]

Facilities

The station has two platforms, with separate step-free ramped access to each platform from the street. A pay and display car park is available, with 62 spaces. There is also the provision for cycle parking, with eight cycle pods available for use.[9]

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.[10] [11] The station is also fitted with smartcard validators, which feature at all stations across the network.[12] [13]

Services

, 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 southbound direction, trains run to via and . In the northbound direction, trains run to .[9] [14]

Rolling stock used: Class 599 Metrocar

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tyne & Wear Metro usage figures . . 2017–2018 . 21 August 2019 .
  2. Web site: Disused Stations: Kenton Bank Station. Disused Stations. 2020-05-24.
  3. Web site: Ponteland Light Railway & Darras Hall Branch. Northumbrian Railways. usurped. https://web.archive.org/web/20080403041850/http://www.northumbrian-railways.co.uk/ponteland.html. 3 April 2008. 3 April 2008.
  4. Web site: Metro's airport extension celebrates its 25th year . 17 November 2016 . Nexus . 2024-10-12.
  5. Web site: 3 May 1990. OK for airport. 2020-05-24. Commercial Motor. 25.
  6. Web site: Safety cameras for Metro level crossings. 16 October 2012. Nexus. en. 2020-05-24.
  7. News: 2008-04-19. Cameras for Metro train crossing. en-GB. BBC News. 23 March 2014.
  8. Web site: £300k scheme to improve access at five Newcastle metro stations. Peskett. Joe. 2017-10-03. Access and Mobility Professional. en-US. 2020-05-24. 5 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201205142953/https://www.accessandmobilityprofessional.com/300k-scheme-improve-access-five-newcastle-metro-stations/. dead.
  9. Web site: Timetables and stations: Bank Foot . . 15 October 2024.
  10. Web site: Metro passengers feel the benefit of contactless payment. 13 January 2014. Nexus. en. 24 May 2020.
  11. News: 2011-12-11. Revamp for Metro ticket machines. en-GB. BBC News. 24 May 2020.
  12. Web site: City Metro stations get new smart ticket machines and gates. 22 October 2012. Nexus. en. 24 May 2020.
  13. Web site: Pop card validators at Metro stations are put through their paces. 21 March 2013. Nexus. en. 24 May 2020.
  14. Web site: Timetables and stations: Bank Foot . live . 30 March 2021 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20201119170923/https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/timetables-and-stations/bank-foot . 19 November 2020 .