# Longbenton Metro station

Longbenton is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, and former British Rail station, in the English metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear. It was originally opened on 14 July 1947 by the North Eastern Railway, and became part of the Tyne and Wear Metro on 11 August 1980. It should not be confused with a previous station, on the site of the current Four Lane Ends Metro station, that opened in 1864, closed in 1871, and was variously called Benton, Long Benton and Longbenton.
The railway at this point forms the boundary between the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the borough of North Tyneside, with the southern entrance to the station in Newcastle and the northern entrance in North Tyneside. The station serves the government offices at Benton Park View and the Freeman Hospital, both in Newcastle, and the North Tyneside suburb of Longbenton.

## History

The line through Longbenton was opened in 1864 by the Blyth and Tyne Railway, but no station was provided at this location. By the late 1940s, this line was part of the London and North Eastern Railway's North Tyneside Loop, carrying a third rail electric service known as the Tyneside Electrics. At the time, the government was planning the construction of new offices for the Ministry of National Insurance in the area and requested that a new station be provided to improve access.
The station was opened on 14 July 1947. The original station building was constructed in dull red brick to the neoclassical style that was believed to have been influenced by Charles Holden's stations for the London Underground. It was joined by a covered concrete footbridge and waiting rooms in the late 1950s, all of which were frequent targets for vandals by the 1970s.
Following closure for conversion to the Tyne and Wear Metro on 23 January 1978, a number of alterations were made to the station, including the shortening of platforms, construction of a new footbridge with spiral ramps to improve wheelchair access, and installation of new signage and ticket machines. 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.
After the initial conversion work, the station buildings remained largely unchanged until 1999, when extensive refurbishment work took place. A new ticket hall was added on the eastbound platforms, and related aesthetic changes were made to the original footbridge constructed by the London and North Eastern Railway. The 1940s station building on the westbound platforms of the station was also upgraded and refurbished.
In 2001, Tag-Tile, an artwork designed by Rob Belilios and Simon Jones, was commissioned for the station. The artwork was created with the involvement of local young people, in response to graffiti issues at the station. The station also features Journey's Echo, a collection of artwork created in collaboration with sixth form students from the nearby secondary school, which was commissioned in 1999.

## Facilities

The station has two side platforms, with separate step free access to both. The westbound platform has level access from Lealholm Road, whilst the eastbound platform is accessed by a footpath and ramp from Chesters Avenue. There is a stepped footbridge between the platforms within the station, and an external ramped footbridge at the eastern end. There is no dedicated car parking available at the station. There is provision for cycle parking, with five cycle pods available for use.
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. The station is also fitted with smartcard validators, which feature at all stations across the network.
A small newsagent's shop is housed within the station building, on the westbound platform (trains towards South Shields).

## Services

As of September 2024, the station is served by up to five trains per hour per direction on weekdays and Saturday, and up to four trains per hour during the evening and on Sunday. In the eastbound direction, trains run to St James via Whitley Bay. In the westbound direction, trains run to South Shields via Monument.
Rolling stock used: Class 599 Metrocar