The branch line, which was designed to more closely follow the shoreline of the Tyne, serving the rapidly developing industries and communities, was authorised in 1871.

[4] The delay in opening the line reflected the scale of the engineering works required to build the many tunnels, cuttings and retaining walls.

In the late 1940s, passenger services on the branch were reduced to peak hours only, catering primarily for commuter traffic from the shipyards along the River Tyne.

Along with the rest of the electric network in North Tyneside, the line was de-electrified in 1967, and converted to diesel multiple unit operation.

The station was, in part, replaced by Hadrian Road on the Tyne and Wear Metro network, which opened on 14 November 1982.