Prior to the construction of the Tyne and Wear Metro, there was a British Rail station at Byker, which was located to the north of Shields Road.

[2] Heading west from the station, the route crosses the 815 m (2,674 ft) Byker Viaduct over the Ouseburn Valley, then running alongside the East Coast Main Line, before heading underground, to Manors.

The S-shaped viaduct was constructed for the Tyne and Wear Metro by Ove Arup, with work on the structure commencing in 1976, with completion in 1979.

[3][4] In 2021, a montage was added with works from the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.

The station is equipped with ticket machines, a sheltered waiting area, seating, next train information displays, timetable posters, and an emergency help point on both platforms.