MetroCentre station serves the MetroCentre shopping and leisure complex in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. The station was opened by British Rail in 1987 and was initially called Gateshead MetroCentre. Although a modern build, the station sits on the original 1837 Tyne Valley Line from Newcastle to Carlisle, which runs alongside the River Tyne. The MetroCentre mainly serves shoppers from Newcastle Central with trains every fifteen minutes. The station also serves Sunderland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough via the Durham Coast Line.
Inspired by North American malls, the MetroCentre opened in 1986 and over the years it has helped to create a retail revolution in the north of England. In 2013, the Central Mall was transformed into the Platinum Mall, with chandeliers and a luxury shopping section. The centre also boasts a 12-screen cinema, amusement arcade and 10-pin bowling alley, making it one of the most popular recreational sites in northeast England.