A new £21m transport interchange in South Shields opens its doors for the first time today, on Sunday, August 4, heralding a transformation in facilities for local public transport users.
Nexus, the public body which owns and manages the Tyne and Wear Metro, takes over the management of the new interchange when it opens. The first Metro trains will depart from there at 7am on Sunday.
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| Photo © South Tyneside Council |
Nexus expects the new interchange to be used by 7.5m passengers a year.
The interchange will give the town the best new bus and railway station in Britain.
The facilities are a step change in quality compared to what was there before. It will transform what is offered to public transport users, with all bus and Metro services now under the same roof.
The landmark building, clad in a striking copper shingle, brings bus and Metro services under the same roof in a modern new environment on Fowler Street and Keppel Street.
Access to the bus services will be ground floor level with the Metro gate lines and platform above on the first floor.
A large new concourse will include a Nexus TravelShop, a café, two lifts, escalators, and stairs to provide improved access to the Metro platform.
A new Greggs outlet, which will feature café-style seating, is planned to open on Friday 23 August, bringing new jobs to the town centre.
A new Greggs outlet, which will feature café-style seating, is planned to open on Friday 23 August, bringing new jobs to the town centre.
The transport Interchange will provide a new, striking point of arrival into South Shields for both residents and visitors to the town, as well as enhancing connectivity to the various key areas of South Shields.
Sunday’s opening marks a major milestone in the £100m South Shields 365 regeneration masterplan which is being delivered by South Tyneside Council and partner Muse Developments.
The landmark building was designed by The Harris Partnership and constructed by Bowmer and Kirkland, who also built award-winning cultural venue The Word.
Demolition of the existing Metro station and further public realm work will be completed following the opening.
The project received £9.4m from the Local Growth Deal through the North East Local Enterprise Partnership. The Local Growth Deal is supporting major capital investments to promote innovation, economic and skills infrastructure and sustainable transport across the North East LEP area.
