Bede Metro station

Bede is a Tyne and Wear Metro station, serving the town of Jarrow, South Tyneside in Tyne and Wear, England. It joined the network on 24 March 1984, following the opening of the fifth phase of the network, between Heworth and South Shields.

The station is named after the Venerable Bede – a monk who established the nearby St. Paul's Monastery during the seventh century.

History
Unlike nearby Hebburn and Jarrow, which were converted from former British Rail stations, Bede was purpose-built for Tyne and Wear Metro network in the early 1980s.

Bede serves an area consisting mainly of industrial estates, with the station located adjacent to the J. Barbour and Sons clothing factory. The station also serves the 1st Cloud Arena, the home ground of South Shields F.C.

Future developments
During the 2020 Budget, the UK Government announced an investment of £95million towards the £103million Metro Flow project, which aims to increase capacity by up to 30,000 passenger journeys per day, and improve reliability on the branch line between Pelaw and South Shields. From September 2022, the project will include upgrading and electrifying a currently freight-only line, doubling three sections of single track between Pelaw and Bede, and purchasing four extra trains in addition to the 42 which have already been funded.

Facilities
The station has two platforms (situated at either side of a small bridge over Monksway), both of which have ticket machines (which accept cash, card and contactless payment), smartcard validators, sheltered waiting area, seating, next train audio and visual displays, timetable and information posters and an emergency help point. There is step-free access to both platforms by ramp, with platforms also accessed by stairs. There is cycle storage at the station, with two cycle pods.

Services
, the station is served by up to five trains per hour on weekdays and Saturday, and up to four trains per hour during the evening and on Sunday between South Shields and St James via Whitley Bay.

Rolling stock used: Class 599 Metrocar

Accidents and incidents

 * On 17 December 1915, at nearby St Bede's Junction, 18 people were killed and a further 81 injured, when a passenger train crashed into a banking engine in the early morning fog.