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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Airport Metro Station (Tyne And Wear)

Airport (also known as Newcastle Airport) is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving Newcastle International Airport in the English city of Newcastle upon Tyne. It opened as a terminus station in 1991, following the opening of the extension from Bank Foot to Airport.

History

Construction of the extension of the Metro from Bank Foot to Newcastle Airport began in 1990, after funding had been secured from the European Economic Community (now the European Union). The majority of the route of the extension uses the alignment of the Ponteland Railway, with a short (around 0.2 miles or 0.32 kilometres) section of new right-of-way at the airport end. The Ponteland Railway opened in June 1905, closing to passenger services in June 1929, with goods services operating into the late 1960s.

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

The extension and station opened on 17 November 1991, at a cost of £12 million. The new station at the airport had a pyramid design, and was linked to both platforms and the main airport terminal by covered walkways. As well as the airport station, a new intermediate station was built at Callerton Parkway, and a second platform was added to Bank Foot station.

In 2014, a survey conducted by the Consumers Association found that the Tyne and Wear Metro service from the Airport was one of the highest rated airport rail links in the country for customer satisfaction – scoring 85%. Only the rail link serving Birmingham International Airport was rated higher.

In November 2024, the track on the second platform at the station was removed after lying unused for a number of years.

Facilities

The only access to the station is through the main terminal building of the airport. Step-free covered walkways link the terminal building to the ticket hall, and the ticket hall to the station's island platform. There is no dedicated car or bicycle parking available at the station, with car parking controlled and operated by the airport. A taxi rank is located at the front of the terminal building.

The station is equipped with ticket machines, waiting shelter, seating, next train information displays, timetable posters, and an emergency help point. Ticket machines accept payment with credit and debit cards (including contactless payment), notes and coins. 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.

Services

As of October 2024, 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. Trains run to South Hylton via Newcastle and Sunderland.

Rolling stock used: Class 599 Metrocar

References

  1. ^ "Tyne & Wear Metro usage figures". 2017–2018. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Metro's airport extension celebrates its 25th year". Nexus. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Disused Stations: Ponteland Station". Disused Stations. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  4. ^ "OK for airport". Commercial Motor. 3 May 1990. p. 25. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  5. ^ Houlison, Sam (16 November 2016). "The Metro to the airport opened 25 years ago". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Metro rail link to Newcastle Airport hailed as one of country's best". The Northern Echo. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  7. ^ "Regional new - 27 Nov 2024 - Rail Magazine - Readly". gb.readly.com. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Timetables and stations: Airport". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Metro passengers feel the benefit of contactless payment". Nexus. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Revamp for Metro ticket machines". BBC News. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  11. ^ "City Metro stations get new smart ticket machines and gates". Nexus. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Pop card validators at Metro stations are put through their paces". Nexus. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2020.