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Four Lane Ends Interchange
The Four Lane Ends Interchange is a multimodal transport hub in the borough of North Tyneside in the English metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear. It includes a station on the Tyne and Wear Metro, a bus station and a multi-storey car park. The metro station opened on 11 August 1980, but it is situated on the site of a previous station that opened in 1864, closed in 1871, and was variously called Benton, Long Benton and Longbenton. The interchange serves the suburbs of Benton and Longbenton. Nearby employment sites include Benton Park View to the west, Tyneview Park to the south east, and Quorum Business Park to the north. HistoryThe original Blyth and Tyne Railway station at this site opened on 26 June 1864, with the opening of the line, but closed on 1 March 1871, with the opening of the new station that became Benton Metro station. It is referred to as Long Benton in its owner's timetables, as Longbenton on their map, and as Benton in Bradshaw's Guide. The last remains of this station disappeared during the construction of the metro station. It should not be confused with the much later station, on a different site, that became Longbenton Metro station.[2] The current station opened on 11 August 1980 with the opening of the first phase of the metro, between Haymarket and Tynemouth. The station is located at the junction of Benton Lane (A188), Benton Park Road (A191) and Front Street (A191). The crossroads has historically been important for traders, cattle drivers, and those transporting local salts and lime towards the shipyards and factories in Newcastle.[citation needed] Unlike neighbouring Longbenton and Benton, Four Lane Ends was purpose-built for the Tyne and Wear Metro network. These purpose-built stations, such as Four Lane Ends, Heworth and Regent Centre, had a definite corporate look of rectangular blocks, light enamelled wall panels, and black roofing.[citation needed] The interchange was redeveloped in 2004, to include a 475 space multi-storey car park, as well as improved passenger facilities.[citation needed] As part of the Metro: All Change programme, new lifts were installed at Four Lane Ends in 2012,[3] with new escalators installed in 2015.[4] FacilitiesThe interchange comprises the metro station, a bus station, a taxi rank, and a multi-storey car park that has 457 spaces plus 22 accessible spaces. There is also the provision for cycle parking, with five cycle pods, five cycle lockers, and 18 cycle spaces. The interchange also houses a small number of shops and services, including a newsagents, sandwich shop and hairdressers. There are public and disabled toilet facilities.[5][6] The metro station is at the lowest level of the interchange, is fully covered by the buildings above, and has two side platforms. Step-free access is available, with lifts, as well as stairs and escalators, providing step-free access between the platforms and the interchange building above. Each platform is equipped with seating, next train information displays, timetable posters, and an emergency help point.[5]  The interchange is equipped with ticket machines, which are able to accept payment with credit and debit card (including contactless payment), notes and coins.[7][8] The interchange is also fitted with smartcard validators, which feature at all stations across the network.[9][10] The bus station is located above the metro station and surrounding the interchange building. It is served by Arriva North East, Go North East and Stagecoach in Newcastle's local bus services, with frequent routes serving Newcastle upon Tyne and North Tyneside. The bus station has seven departure stands (lettered A–G), each of which is fitted with seating, next bus information displays, and timetable posters.[5][6] ServicesAs of September 2024[update], 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.[5] Rolling stock used: Class 599 Metrocar Art InstallationsFour Lane Ends houses two art installations, both of which were commissioned in the early 2000s. Andrew Stonyer's Pulse (2000) features in the station's courtyard, adjacent to the ticket concourse, and consists of a 6 m (20 ft) diameter corten steel ring, with a circle of bright neon red.[11] Cath Campbell's Detour (2003) features on the south and west elevations of the station's multi-storey car park, creating an "animated" and "dynamic" surface, describing movement and journeys through space.[12] References
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