This was opened by the North Eastern Railway on 1 July 1909, closing on 20 September 1915, as part of an economy measure during the First World War.

[2][5] In 2011, Palmersville was the first station on the network to be fitted with new ticket machines and smartcard validators, as part of the Metro: All Change programme.

The single National Rail track runs behind the northern (eastbound) platform.

[2][9] The station is equipped with ticket machines, waiting shelter, seating, next train information displays, timetable posters, and an emergency help point on both platforms.

In the eastbound direction, trains run to St James via Whitley Bay.