The original North Shields station opened in 1839, on the Newcastle and North Shields Railway. Although originally a terminus station, the line was extended to Tynemouth in 1847, by the digging of a tunnel under North Shields. The original station were replaced by the North Eastern Railway in 1890, by new booking offices constructed over the platforms. These survived until the mid-1960s, when they were replaced with a prefabricated structure by British Rail. During this time, the station roof was replaced with individual canopies over each platform. Following closure for conversion in the early 1980s, the platform-level canopies and ramps from the entrance to the platform were retained, with the 1960s station entrance being replaced by a new structure. By the end of the 2000s, the station structure was again becoming dated. Nexus drew up plans to replace it with facilities which would provide "a visually striking new gateway to the town centre". The new station was fully completed in September 2012, with changes including passenger lifts, wave-shaped canopies for each platform, and a new black, white and bluecolour scheme. The ramps that had formerly provided access to the platforms were replaced with stairs. Prior to refurbishment, the station had three platforms – consisting of two through platforms, and a bay platform at the south west of the station. The former bay platform, located at the south-west of the station, was used by services operating between North Shields and St. James. Following the network's extension to Wearside in March 2002, these services were withdrawn.
Facilities
Step-free access is available at all stations across the Tyne and WearMetro network, with two lifts and ramps providing step-free access to platforms at North Shields. The station is equipped with ticket machines, sheltered waiting area, 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 fitted with automatic ticket barriers, which were installed following the station's refurbishment in 2012, as well as smartcard validators, which feature at all stations. The station also houses a Nexus TravelShop, which is located to the right of the station entrance. There is no dedicated car parking available at the station. A taxi rank is located off Nile Street. There is the provision for cycle parking, with 5 cycle pods available for use.
Service and frequency
North Shields is served by 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 Shields via Whitley Bay, with the first train departing at 06:09. Services from platform 2 operate towards St. James, with the first train departing at 05:31. 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 North Shields are:
