Wallsend Metro station explained

Wallsend
Style:Tyne and Wear Metro
Type:Tyne and Wear Metro station
Address:Wallsend, North Tyneside
Country:England
Coordinates:54.9896°N -1.5327°W
Map Type:United Kingdom Tyne and Wear
Grid Name:Grid reference
Bus Stands:3
Transit Authority:Tyne and Wear PTE
Platform:2
Tracks:2
Zone:B
Parking:24 spaces
Bicycle:8 cycle pods
Accessible:Step-free access to platform
Original:Newcastle and North Shields Railway
Pregroup:North Eastern Railway
Postgroup:
Years:22 June 1839
Events:Opened as Carville
Years1:1864
Events1:Renamed Wallsend
Years2:11 August 1980
Events2:Closed for conversion
Years3:14 November 1982
Events3:Reopened
Passengers:0.50 million[1]
Pass Year:2017/18
Code:WSD

Wallsend is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the town of Wallsend, North Tyneside in Tyne and Wear, England. It joined the network on 14 November 1982, following the opening of the fourth phase of the network, between Tynemouth and St James via Wallsend.

History

The station stands on the site of the former Wallsend station, which opened in 1839, as part of the Newcastle and North Shields Railway. This later became part of the North Tyneside Loop, served by the North Eastern Railway. Following closure for conversion in the early 1980s, the station was demolished and re-built.

Wallsend is the only station in the United Kingdom which has signage in Latin.[2] [3] This is a nod to the station's location, near to the Segedunum Roman Fort at the end of Hadrian's Wall.

Facilities

Step-free access is available at all stations across the Tyne and Wear Metro network: ramps provide step-free access to both platforms at Wallsend. The station is equipped with ticket machines, sheltered waiting area, seating, next-train information displays, timetable posters, and an emergency help point on both platforms. Ticket machines accept payment with credit and debit card (including contactless payment), notes and coins.[4] [5] The station is also fitted with smartcard validators, like all stations across the network.[6] [7]

There is a small free car park available at the station, with 24 spaces. There is also provision for cycle parking: eight cycle pods are available.[8]

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.[8]

Bus station

Wallsend Bus Station opened in July 1982, preceding the adjacent Metro station.[9] It is served by Go North East and Stagecoach North East's local bus services, with frequent routes serving Newcastle upon Tyne and North Tyneside. The bus station has three departure stands (lettered A–C), each of which is fitted with a waiting shelter, seating, next-bus information displays, and timetable posters. The bus station was refurbished in 2009 at a cost of £130,000.[10]

Art

Michael Pinsky's Pontis art project was commissioned for the station in 2003, and featured photographs of the local area, digitally altered so that words appeared in Latin.[11] [12] It has since been replaced by a new artwork, which consists of images of Hadrian's Wall, by photographer Graeme Peacock.[13] [14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tyne and Wear Metro usage figures 2017–18. . 21 August 2019 .
  2. News: 13 March 2003 . Latin lessons for Tyneside travellers . BBC News . 25 May 2020.
  3. News: Stokes . Paul . 14 March 2003 . Metro passengers find their way to the vomitorium . The Telegraph . London . 25 May 2020.
  4. Metro passengers feel the benefit of contactless payment . 13 January 2014 . Nexus . 25 May 2020.
  5. News: 11 December 2011 . Revamp for Metro ticket machines . BBC News . 25 May 2020.
  6. City Metro stations get new smart ticket machines and gates . 22 October 2012 . Nexus . 25 May 2020.
  7. Pop card validators at Metro stations are put through their paces . 21 March 2013 . Nexus . 25 May 2020.
  8. Web site: Timetables and stations: Wallsend . 30 March 2021 . .
  9. News: 1982-07-28. Minister opens new bus station. 6. Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 2021-07-29.
  10. Nexus gives Wallsend Bus Station a facelift . 1 September 2009 . Nexus . 25 May 2020.
  11. Web site: 'Pontis' by Michael Pinsky . 25 May 2020 . Nexus.
  12. Web site: Stokes . Paul . Pontis . Michael Pinsky . 2021-12-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210509155635/https://www.michaelpinsky.com/portfolio/pontis/ . 2021-05-09 . live.
  13. Web site: 12 April 2013 . Metro's 'Roman' station has a modern new feel . 25 May 2020 . Nexus.
  14. News: Henderson . Tony . 13 April 2013 . Roman heritage artwork unveiled at Wallsend Metro station . The Journal . Newcastle upon Tyne . 22 May 2016.