Howdon Metro station

Howdon
Tyne and Wear Metro station
General information
Location	Howdon, North Tyneside England
Coordinates	54°59′45″N 1°29′39″W
Grid reference	NZ324669
Transit authority	Tyne and Wear PTE
Platforms	2
Tracks	2
Construction
Bicycle facilities	5 cycle pods
Accessible	Step-free access to platform
Other information
Station code	HOW
Fare zone	B
History
Original company	Newcastle and North Shields Railway
Pre-grouping	North Eastern Railway
Post-grouping	London and North Eastern Railway British Rail (Eastern Region)
Key dates
18 June 1839	Opened as Howdon
1 December 1875	Renamed Howdon-on-Tyne
11 August 1980	Closed for conversion
14 November 1982	Reopened as Howdon
Passengers
2017/18	0.38 million[1]
Services
Preceding station Tyne and Wear Metro Following station Percy Main towards South Shields via Whitley Bay Yellow Line Hadrian Road towards St James
Location Howdon Location in Tyne and Wear, England

Howdon is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the suburb of Howdon, North Tyneside in Tyne and Wear, England. It joined the network on 14 November 1982, following the opening of the fourth phase of the network, between Tynemouth and St James via Wallsend.

History

The station was opened on 22 June 1839 by the Newcastle and North Shields Railway.[2] This later became part of the North Tyneside Loop, served by the North Eastern Railway. On 1 December 1875, the station was renamed Howdon-on-Tyne, to prevent it being confused with a station of a similar name station in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Following closure for conversion in the early 1980s, the station was demolished and almost entirely re-built. Only the eastbound platform (trains towards Whitley Bay), clearly identifiable by its stone construction, remained from the original station. The westbound platform was re-built and sited on the opposite side of the level crossing on Howdon Lane, creating a staggered platform arrangement.

A pedestrian subway was built to allow passengers to cross the line, however, it does not have ramps for improved wheelchair or pushchair access. The North Eastern Railway footbridge was removed, and is now located at Goathland on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.[3]

The station was refurbished in 2011, along with nearby Meadow Well. The refurbishment project involved the installation of white vitreous enamel panels, new seating and lighting, and improved security and accessibility, as well as resurfaced platforms. The station was also painted in the new black and white corporate colour scheme.[4]

Facilities

Step-free access is available at all stations across the Tyne and Wear Metro network, with ramps providing step-free access to both platforms at Howdon. 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.[5][6] The station is also fitted with smartcard validators, which feature at all stations across the network.[7][8]

There is no dedicated car parking available at the station. There is the provision for cycle parking, with five cycle pods available for use.[9]

Services

As of April 2021^[update], 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.[10]

Rolling stock used: Class 599 Metrocar

References

1. "Tyne and Wear Metro usage figures 2017–18". Retrieved 21 August 2019.
2. Young, Alan (1999). Suburban Railways of Tyneside. Martin Bairstow. p. 57. ISBN 1-871944-20-1.
3. Hutchinson, Ken (2019). Wallsend at Work: People and Industries Through the Years. Stroud: Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1-445686-13-4.
4. "Howdon and Meadow Well Metro stations get bright new look". Nexus. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
5. "Metro passengers feel the benefit of contactless payment". Nexus. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
6. "Revamp for Metro ticket machines". BBC News. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
7. "City Metro stations get new smart ticket machines and gates". Nexus. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
8. "Pop card validators at Metro stations are put through their paces". Nexus. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
9. "Timetables and stations: Howdon". Nexus. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
10. "Timetables and stations: Howdon". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. Retrieved 30 March 2021.

External links

• Media related to Howdon Metro station at Wikimedia Commons
• Timetable and station information for Howdon