South Shields Interchange

South Shields is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the coastal town of South Shields, South Tyneside in Tyne and Wear, England. 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.

South Shields
Tyne and Wear Metro station
General information
LocationSouth Shields, South Tyneside
England
Coordinates54°59′50″N 1°25′59″W
Grid referenceNZ325651
Transit authorityTyne and Wear PTE
Platforms1
Tracks1
Bus stands15
Construction
Bicycle facilities4 cycle lockers
Disabled accessStep-free access to platform
Other information
Station codeSSS
Fare zoneC
History
Original companyNorth Eastern Railway
Pre-groupingNorth Eastern Railway
Post-grouping
Key dates
2 June 1879Opened
1 June 1981Closed for conversion
24 March 1984Resited and reopened
8 July 2019Closed
4 August 2019Resited and reopened
Passengers
2017/180.59 million[1]
Services
Preceding station Metro Following station
Terminus Yellow Line Chichester
towards St James via Whitley Bay
Location
South Shields
Location in Tyne and Wear, England
Notes
Connection with the Shields Ferry ( 480m).

The station closed on 8 July 2019, following the construction of a new station, which opened on 4 August 2019. As of April 2021, it is the only station to have been closed in the network's 41-year history.[2][3]

History
For more information about the former North Eastern Railway station, see 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. It closed for conversion in June 1981, ahead of opening as part of the Tyne and Wear Metro network.

Conversion work saw the station re-located about 200 m (660 ft) from the former British Rail station, with the construction of a new station on a bridge over King Street.[4] 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.

The first Tyne and Wear Metro station was closed in July 2019, and re-sited around 100 m (330 ft) to the south east. In August 2019, the station re-opened, as part of the new South Shields Interchange.

Station chronology

Maintenance and Renewals Skills Centre

In July 2018, Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive announced an £8.4 million project to construct a Maintenance and Renewals Skills Centre.[5][6][7] 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.[8][9] 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.[10][11] The station houses a bakery and a Nexus TravelShop,[12] both of which are located within the bus concourse.

There is no dedicated car parking available at the station, however there are a number of pay and display car parks operated by South Tyneside Council located nearby. A taxi rank is located on Keppel Street. There is the provision for cycle parking, with four cycle lockers available for use. A large bus interchange is located on the lower level, providing frequent connections in and around South Tyneside and Sunderland.[13]

Services

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.[14]

Rolling stock used: Class 994 Metrocar

Bus Station

A bus station is located below the Tyne and Wear Metro station. It opened in August 2019, having replaced the former bus station on Keppel Street.[15][16][17]

It is served by Go North East and Stagecoach North East's local bus services, with frequent routes serving South Tyneside, Sunderland, Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne. 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.

References
  1. "Tyne & Wear Metro usage figures". 2017–2018. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  2. "South Shields Metro station closes to make way for new transport interchange". Nexus. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  3. Collings, Katie (7 July 2019). "Nexus to shut Metro station for first time ever as new South Shields interchange is built". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  4. "Disused Stations: South Shields Metro Station". Disused Stations. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  5. "Work starts on £8.4m Nexus Learning Centre in South Shields". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. "Nexus' £8.4m rail training centre in South Shields gets the green light". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. "Nexus to build £8.4m rail training centre in South Shields". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. "Metro passengers feel the benefit of contactless payment". Nexus. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  9. "Revamp for Metro ticket machines". BBC News. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  10. "City Metro stations get new smart ticket machines and gates". Nexus. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  11. "Pop card validators at Metro stations are put through their paces". Nexus. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  12. "South Shields TravelShop". Nexus. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  13. "Timetables and stations: South Shields". Nexus. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  14. "Timetables and stations: South Shields". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. Retrieved 30 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. Murray, Kieran (30 July 2019). "First look inside South Shields' new transport interchange ahead of opening". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  16. "South Shields bus and metro interchange 'best in country'". BBC News. 4 August 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  17. "Bus services in South Shields switch to the town's new transport interchange". Nexus. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
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