The station was originally built for the Brandling Junction Railway, opening in September 1839. In November 1896, the station was replaced, and moved to the site of the present station. The original Brandling Junction Railway station building is still extant on the north side of the line. In November 1979, British Rail stations at Felling and Pelaw were closed, following the opening of the new interchange station at Heworth. At this time, British Rail trains were concentrated on the formerly freight-only northern pair of tracks here, leaving the southern pair available for use by the Tyne and Wear Metro. Felling re-opened as part of the Tyne and Wear Metro network in November 1981, with Pelaw re-opening in September 1985 – almost six years after the closure of the British Rail station. On 26 March 1907, the 10:52 express passenger train from Leeds to Newcastle Central, was derailed while running between Heworth signal box and Felling Station. Eight people were seriously injured, two of whom later died.
Facilities
Step-free access is available at all stations across the Tyne and Wear Metro network, with ramps providing step-free access to platforms at Felling. The station was refurbished in 2015, along with Gateshead Stadium, and is branded in the new black and white corporate colour scheme. The station is equipped with ticket machines, waiting shelter, seating, next train information displays, timetable posters, and an emergency help point. 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. A small car park is available, on Sunderland Road, with 27 parking spaces, plus 3 accessible spaces. There is also the provision for cycle parking, with 4 cycle pods and 4 cycle lockers available for use.
Service and frequency
Felling is served by the, which operates between South Hylton and Airport, and the, which operates between South Shields and St. James. Services commence between 05:00 and 06:00, with frequent trains running across the network until around midnight. The and both operate up to every 12 minutes during the day, and up to every 15 minutes during the evening and on Sunday. This allows for a combined frequency of up to every 6 minutes, and up to every 7–8 minutes during the evening and on Sunday, between Pelaw and South Gosforth. Additional trains run during morning and evening peak hours between Pelaw and Regent Centre or Monkseaton, providing a peak time frequency of up to every 3 minutes between Pelaw and South Gosforth.
