Benton Metro station explained

Benton
Style:Tyne and Wear Metro
Type:Tyne and Wear Metro station
Address:Benton, North Tyneside
Country:England
Coordinates:55.0139°N -1.5676°W
Map Type:United Kingdom Tyne and Wear
Grid Name:Grid reference
Transit Authority:Tyne and Wear PTE
Platform:2
Tracks:2
Zone:B
Parking:10 spaces
Bicycle:5 cycle pods
Accessible:Step-free access to platform
Original:Blyth and Tyne Railway
Pregroup:North Eastern Railway
Postgroup:
Years:27 June 1864
Events:Opened
Years1:1 March 1871
Events1:Resited
Years2:23 January 1978
Events2:Closed for conversion
Years3:11 August 1980
Events3:Reopened
Passengers:0.35 million[1]
Pass Year:2017/18
Code:BTN

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

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

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

, 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 and Benton or at peak times.[10]

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: Benton Station (2nd site). Disused Stations. 2020-05-27.
  3. Web site: Upgrade to Benton station will provide lift. 2010-10-26. ChronicleLive. 2020-05-27.
  4. Web site: Anger over Benton Metro Station bridge delay. Butcher. Joanne. 2011-06-10. ChronicleLive. 2020-05-27.
  5. Web site: Metro passengers feel the benefit of contactless payment. 13 January 2014. Nexus. en. 27 May 2020.
  6. News: 2011-12-11. Revamp for Metro ticket machines. en-GB. BBC News. 27 May 2020.
  7. Web site: City Metro stations get new smart ticket machines and gates. 22 October 2012. Nexus. en. 25 May 2020.
  8. Web site: Pop card validators at Metro stations are put through their paces. 21 March 2013. Nexus. en. 25 May 2020.
  9. Web site: Timetables and stations: Benton. live. 30 March 2021. Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210505220914/https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/timetables-and-stations/benton . 5 May 2021 .
  10. Web site: Timetables and stations: Benton. live. 30 March 2021. Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210505220914/https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/timetables-and-stations/benton . 5 May 2021 .