Description
The Gateshead Railway Station was originally opened by the Newcastle and Darlington Junction Railway on 18 June 1844. On 1 December 1868, the Team Valley Line from Gateshead to Durham via Chester-le-Street commenced passenger services, leading to the construction of a second set of platforms at Gateshead, known as Gateshead West. The original platforms were subsequently named Gateshead East. Initially, both stations had modest facilities, but the North Eastern Railway (NER) later added train sheds to provide shelter from the wind. The roof at Gateshead West was built before its opening, while Gateshead East received one during a reconstruction between 1884 and 1886.
During the NER and LNER eras, both stations were well-served. Gateshead East had over 100 daily departures to Sunderland and South Shields, while Gateshead West managed around 30 trains per day to Durham and Blackhill via Consett. Their convenient location near industrial and residential hubs led to high passenger numbers, with over 491,000 tickets issued in 1911. The London and North Eastern Railway electrified the lines through Gateshead East in 1938 as an extension of the suburban electric system north of the River Tyne.
Between 1948 and 1953, the station name was simplified to Gateshead as services at Gateshead West had dwindled, with almost none remaining by 1951. The decline continued into the 1960s when British Railways ceased electric services to South Shields in 1963, citing high renewal costs and declining passenger usage. Gateshead West’s platforms officially closed on 1 November 1965. Gateshead East lost its trainshed in 1968 but remained operational through the 1970s. However, with the introduction of the Tyne and Wear Metro, Gateshead station was closed on 23 November 1981, replaced by the new underground Gateshead Metro station located about 400 meters to the southeast. The old Gateshead East platforms and buildings stood intact until the late 1980s but were demolished in 1990 following a fire. The West platforms remain visible today, though they were decommissioned and singled in 1991 as part of the Newcastle area re-signalling project.
Early Rivalry and Railway Development
The rivalry between Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead dates back centuries, with Newcastle even attempting to annex Gateshead during Queen Elizabeth I’s reign. In railway history, Gateshead appeared on the map before Newcastle when the Newcastle & Carlisle (N&C) Railway opened its eastern terminus at Redheugh on 1 March 1837. A ferry linked it to a rail-less ‘station’ in Newcastle. Redheugh remained a passenger terminus after the N&C reached Newcastle but operated intermittently before closing on 30 August 1850. Meanwhile, the Newcastle & Darlington Junction Railway opened a terminus at Oakwellgate on 5 September 1839, which closed on 2 August 1844 after services moved to the newly built Greenesfield terminus, which opened on 19 June 1844.
The Newcastle & Berwick Railway was under construction in the late 1840s, but delays in building the High Level Bridge over the River Tyne threatened through-running services. To prevent disruption, George Hudson extended the bridge scaffolding to create a temporary wooden viaduct, allowing trains to cross from August 1848. The High Level Bridge officially opened on 28 September 1849, with the lower road deck following in early 1850. Some trains may have stopped at the Gateshead end of the temporary bridge for passenger access.
Gateshead East’s Evolution
When the High Level Bridge enabled full mainline service, Gateshead’s earlier termini at Greenesfield and Redheugh closed, replaced by a station southeast of the bridge. Initially, this was a basic island platform between the tracks on a narrow viaduct. In 1862, a trainshed was added to provide shelter at this exposed location. This station later became Gateshead East after the construction of Gateshead West in 1868.
Gateshead West and Its Impact
The NER, formed through mergers including the York, Newcastle & Berwick Railway, opened the Team Valley line to Newcastle via the High Level Bridge in 1868. As part of this project, two new platforms—known as Gateshead West—were added adjacent to the existing station. Though often treated as one station, Gateshead East and West had combined ticket sales. Gateshead West featured a sandstone office and waiting room with rounded-arch windows and a low-pitched roof trainshed. The down platform had a screen wall with arched openings supporting the shed. On 15 January 1872, East Coast Main Line trains were routed through Gateshead West after the opening of the Durham–Ferryhill line, replacing the previous Leamside route.
Gateshead East’s Reconstruction (1884-1886)
Between 1884 and 1886, Gateshead East was rebuilt. The viaduct was widened to accommodate two timber-built side platforms, replacing the original island platform. A substantial station building, housing all passenger facilities, was constructed behind the up platform, featuring segmental-arched windows. A trainshed, distinct from Gateshead West’s ridged design, covered part of the station, while an extended down platform was sheltered by a canopy. Passengers entered from Wellington Street, passing under the tracks through a viaduct arch before ascending stairs to the up platform. Elegant iron barriers controlled entry, and additional access points were located at Half Moon Lane and Hills Street.
Gateshead East and West Services
While Newcastle Central remained the principal hub for inter-city and regional travel, Gateshead East and West stations played a significant role in serving local industries and residents. By 1911, ticket sales exceeded 491,000. Gateshead East handled over 100 daily departures, serving South Shields, Sunderland, and Washington–Leamside, while Gateshead West managed 30 daily departures to Durham, Consett, and Blackhill.
The opening of the King Edward Bridge on 1 October 1906 allowed East Coast Main Line trains to bypass the High Level Bridge, reducing services at Gateshead West. By the late 1930s, the station still had a reasonable number of departures, but by 1948, Blackhill trains no longer called, and services dwindled. From 1951, southbound trains ceased stopping at Gateshead West entirely.
Meanwhile, Gateshead East remained well-served, with 160 daily departures, including a frequent 20-minute interval electric service to South Shields. Though Newcastle–South Shields electrification was recommended in the early 20th century, it wasn’t implemented until 14 March 1938. Initially, the route used 1920/22-built electric trains from North Tyneside, replaced in 1955 by Southern Region units from Eastleigh.
Gateshead station’s importance declined over the decades, leading to its eventual closure in 1981, as the Tyne and Wear Metro took over key commuter routes.
