Felling Metro station

Felling is a station on the Tyne and Wear Metro, serving Felling in Gateshead. Originally opened in September 1839, the station joined the Tyne and Wear Metro in November 1981, following the network's extension from Haymarket to Heworth.

Felling
Tyne and Wear Metro station
LocationFelling, Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead
England
Coordinates54°57′11″N 1°34′18″W
Grid referenceNZ275621
Transit authorityTyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive
Platforms2
Tracks2
Construction
Parking27 spaces
Bicycle facilities
  • 4 cycle lockers
  • 4 cycle pods
Disabled accessStep-free access to platform level
Other information
Station codeFEL
Fare zoneA and B
History
Original companyBrandling Junction Railway
Pre-groupingNorth Eastern Railway
Post-grouping
Key dates
5 September 1839Opened
5 November 1979Closed for conversion
15 November 1981Reopened
Passengers
2017/180.38 million[1]
Services
Preceding station Metro Following station
Heworth
towards South Hylton
 Green Line Gateshead Stadium
towards Airport
Heworth
towards South Shields
 Yellow Line Gateshead Stadium
towards St. James via Whitley Bay
Location

An estimated 383,698 passenger journeys were made from the station during 2017–18.

History

The station was originally built for the Brandling Junction Railway, opening in September 1839. In November 1896, the station was replaced, and moved to the site of the present station. The original Brandling Junction Railway station building is still extant on the north side of the line.[2]

In November 1979, British Rail stations at Felling and Pelaw were closed, following the opening of the new interchange station at Heworth. At this time, British Rail trains were concentrated on the formerly freight-only northern pair of tracks here, leaving the southern pair available for use by the Tyne and Wear Metro. Felling re-opened as part of the Tyne and Wear Metro network in November 1981, with Pelaw re-opening in September 1985 – almost six years after the closure of the British Rail station.[3][4]

Clearing up after the 1907 derailment.

On 26 March 1907, the 10:52 express passenger train from Leeds to Newcastle Central, was derailed while running between Heworth signal box and Felling Station. Eight people were seriously injured, two of whom later died.[5]

Facilities

Step-free access is available at all stations across the Tyne and Wear Metro network, with ramps providing step-free access to platforms at Felling. The station was refurbished in 2015, along with Gateshead Stadium, and is branded in the new black and white corporate colour scheme.[6] The station is equipped with ticket machines, waiting shelter, seating, next train information displays, timetable posters, and an emergency help point. Ticket machines are able to accept payment with credit and debit card (including contactless payment), notes and coins.[7][8] The station is also fitted with smartcard validators, which feature at all stations across the network.[9][10]

A small car park is available, on Sunderland Road, with 27 parking spaces, plus 3 accessible spaces. There is also the provision for cycle parking, with 4 cycle pods and 4 cycle lockers available for use.[11]

Service and frequency

Felling is served by the  Green Line , which operates between South Hylton and Airport, and the  Yellow Line , which operates between South Shields and St. James.

Services commence between 05:00 and 06:00 (between 06:00 and 07:00 on Sunday), with frequent trains running across the network until around midnight. The  Green Line  and  Yellow Line  both operate up to every 12 minutes during the day (Monday to Saturday), and up to every 15 minutes during the evening and on Sunday.

This allows for a combined frequency of up to every 6 minutes (Monday to Saturday), and up to every 7–8 minutes during the evening and on Sunday, between Pelaw and South Gosforth. Additional trains run during morning and evening peak hours (Monday to Friday) between Pelaw and Regent Centre or Monkseaton, providing a peak time frequency of up to every 3 minutes between Pelaw and South Gosforth.[11]

References
  1. "Tyne & Wear Metro usage figures". 2017–2018. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  2. "Tyne and Wear Metro: Stations: Felling". TheTrams. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  3. "Felling (3rd site)". Disused Stations. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  4. "Disused Stations: Pelaw Station (3rd site)". Disused Stations. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  5. Druitt, Lieut. Col. E. (12 April 1907). Accident at Felling on 26th March 1907. Board of Trade.
  6. Marsh, Michael (13 November 2015). "Gateshead Stadium and Felling Metro stations revamped as part of modernisation programme". Chronicle Live.
  7. "Metro passengers feel the benefit of contactless payment". Nexus. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  8. "Revamp for Metro ticket machines". BBC News. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  9. "City Metro stations get new smart ticket machines and gates". Nexus. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  10. "Pop card validators at Metro stations are put through their paces". Nexus. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  11. "Timetables and stations: Felling". Nexus. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
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