West Jesmond is a station on the Tyne and Wear Metro, serving Jesmond in Newcastle upon Tyne. The station joined the network in August 1980, following the opening of the line between Haymarket and Tynemouth – the first stage of the network to open. Originally, the station opened in December 1900, under the North Eastern Railway. The station platforms are on opposite sides of the line and are linked by an underground pedestrian subway. Platforms originally had glass awnings to shelter passengers, but these were removed in the 1970s. The remnants of these awnings can still be seen attached to the station buildings. The station closed for conversion in August 1978, ahead of opening as part of the Tyne and WearMetro network, re-opening in August 1980. The original station buildings were retained, but the platforms were shortened, with a new accessible footbridge was built over the line. West Jesmond was used by 1,108,339 passengers in 2017–18, making it the sixth-most-used station on the network.
Facilities
Step-free access is available at all stations across the Tyne and Wear Metro network, with level access to platform 1, and ramped access to platform 2. Between platforms, there is a ramped footbridge. 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, 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
West Jesmond is served by the, which operates between South Hylton and Airport, with an end-to-end journey time of 64 minutes, and the, which operates between South Shields and St. James, with an end-to-end journey time of 83 minutes. Services from platform 1 operate towards South Hylton and South Shields, with the first trains departing at 05:10 and 05:03. Services from platform 2 operate towards Airport and St. James via Whitley Bay, with the first trains departing at 06:01 and 05:52. 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. Combined, trains run at intervals of up to every 6 minutes, and every 7–8 minutes between Pelaw and South Gosforth. Additional trains run during morning and evening peak hours between Pelaw and Regent Centre or Monkseaton. This provides a train up to every 3 minutes through the station at peak times. Journey times from West Jesmond are:
Notable landmarks
The former Jesmond Picture House stood adjacent to the station, and was clearly visible from passing Metro trains. This suburban cinema opened in 1921 and survived well into the multiplex age. Made in America was the last film to be screened there when it finally closed its doors in October 1993. The cinema was demolished in 2009 to make way for a new office and shopping complex, after standing derelict for nearly 16 years. Plans were approved by the local council in 2008. The new building, named The Jesmond, finally opened in March 2016.
