Gateshead Interchange

"Gateshead station" redirects here. For the former main-line railway station near the High Level Bridge, see Gateshead railway station.
Gateshead
Tyne and Wear Metro

The main circulating area between the two platforms at Gateshead Metro station, giving an indication of the unusually wide island platform underground.
Location
Place Gateshead town centre
Local authority Gateshead
Fare zone information
Network One zone 1
Metro zone A
Original (1979) zone 26
Station code GHD
History
Opened 1981-11-15
List of stations
Gateshead Interchange Bus interchange
Location Interchange Centre, West Street, Gateshead
Gateshead
Operated by Nexus
Bus stands 13
Bus operators Go North East, Stagecoach North East
Connections Gateshead Metro station (adjacent)
History
Opened November 1981

Gateshead Interchange is a transport interchange in the centre of the town of Gateshead, England. It is served by the Tyne and Wear Metro, whose station is underground, as well as local bus services. In the period 2008-9 the metro station was used by over 2 million passengers whilst the bus concourse was used by over 3.8 million passengers, making it the busiest bus station in Tyne and Wear.[1]

The interchange opened in 1981, as part of the third stage of the Tyne and Wear Metro system, which included the main underground sections in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge across the River Tyne. In March 2004, the interchange redevelopment around the existing Metro station was completed by Jefferson Sheard Architects, and the large-scale sculpture "Opening Line", by Danny Lane was unveiled.[2] The redeveloped interchange was officially opened by Alistair Darling who was then Transport Secretary.[3]

Gateshead Interchange is the only underground station in Gateshead however it may not be once new stations are built at the Gateshead Quays and the Metrocentre. There is a sub surface station at Heworth.

Metro station

The Metro station at the Interchange is situated below ground and is situated on both the Yellow and Green Lines. There is a regular service northbound towards Newcastle over the sixth Tyne Bridge crossing. Trains go onwards towards Newcastle Airport (Green line) and the Coast (Yellow line). Southbound services head towards Sunderland (Green line) and South Shields (Yellow Line).

The design of the station is very different from the underground stations in central Newcastle, due to the different rock structure south of the River Tyne. The running tunnels are square rather than circular in cross-section, and Gateshead station was excavated as a box.

Lighting in the station was improved by the installation of brighter and more energy efficient light bulbs in July 2014.[4]

Bus station

When opened, the bus station (including the travel centre) was operated by Northern General rather than Tyne and Wear PTE, despite being finished in PTE house style. Since then, the bus station has been completely rebuilt.

Express bus route X66 links Gateshead Interchange with Gateshead's MetroCentre. There is a regular Q1 QuayLink bus service that goes from the Interchange, to other local attractions such as The Sage and The Baltic Centre and onwards to Newcastle City Centre.

References

  1. ↑ NEXUS Business Intelligence Report
  2. ↑ Maev Kennedy. "Gateshead unveils latest huge artwork". the Guardian. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  3. ↑ nechronicle Administrator (30 March 2004). "Bill Jacobs in the house". nechronicle. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "New lighting transforms Gateshead Interchange". Nexus. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
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Coordinates: 54°57′42″N 1°36′15″W / 54.9617°N 1.6041°W / 54.9617; -1.6041

Preceding station   Tyne and Wear Metro   Following station
towards St James via the Coast
Yellow line
towards South Shields
towards Airport
Green line
towards South Hylton
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