Brockley Whins is a station on the Tyne and Wear Metro, serving Brockley Whins in South Tyneside. The station joined the network in March 2002, following the opening of the extension from Pelaw to South Hylton. The station originally opened in June 1839, under the Brandling Junction Railway, and was named Boldon Colliery between March 1925 and July 1991. Along with other stations on the line between Fellgate and South Hylton, the station is fitted with vitreous enamel panels designed by artist, Morag Morrison. Each station uses a different arrangement of colours, with strong colours used in platform shelters and ticketing areas, and a more neutral palate for external elements. The station was used by 216,060 passengers in 2017–18, making it the fourth-least-used station on the Wearside extension.
History
The original station opened in June 1839, as part of the Brandling Junction Railway, and consisted of only one platform, located on the line towards Newcastle. This meant that trains towards Sunderland were required to cross over onto the opposite track, in order to allow passengers to board and alight – an arrangement quite common on other railways in the area, such as. This arrangement resulted in an accident on 6 December 1870, causing five deaths. The subsequent investigation led to changes in the law, as well as the construction of a second platform, to the east of the existing one, to serve Sunderland-bound trains. When the station was converted for use by the Tyne and Wear Metro, the westbound platform was relocated opposite the newer eastbound platform. The station was originally a busy junction, as the former Stanhope and Tyne Railway route from Tyne Dock to Consett and Waskerley via Washington crossed the Brandling Junction Railway on the level, just to the east of the station at Pontop Crossing, with various curves being laid in to connect the two routes. Since the 1850s, passenger traffic has only taken place on the present east–west route, however the former north–south line was used by freight traffic as late as 1966. The station was renamed Boldon Colliery by the London and North Eastern Railway in March 1925, but reverted to its original name in July 1991. As well as Seaburn, East Boldon and Heworth, Brockley Whins was formerly served by rail services operating along the Durham Coast Line between Sunderland and Newcastle. Following the introduction of Tyne and Wear Metro services to Wearside in March 2002, Heworth is now the only remaining intermediate station served by rail services operating between Sunderland and Newcastle.
Facilities
Step-free access is available at all stations across the Tyne and Wear Metro network, with ramped access to platforms at Brockley Whins. The station is also 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, notes and coins. The station is also fitted with smartcard validators, which feature at all stations across the network. There is no dedicated car parking available at this station. There is the provision for cycle parking, with 5 cycle pods available for use.
Service and frequency
Brockley Whins is served by the, which operates between South Hylton and Airport, with an end-to-end journey time of 64 minutes. The station is also bypassed by Northern Trains services operating along the Durham Coast Line between Newcastle and Middlesbrough. Services from platform 1 operate towards South Hylton, with the first train departing at 05:34. Services from platform 2 operate towards Airport, with the first train departing at 06:02. Trains run frequently across the network, at intervals of up to every 12 minutes, and every 15 minutes, with the last trains departing at around midnight. Journey times from Brockley Whins are:
