The original station opened in June 1839, as part of the
Brandling Junction Railway, and consisted of only one platform, located on the line towards Newcastle. This meant that trains towards Sunderland were required to cross over onto the opposite track, in order to allow passengers to board and alight – an arrangement quite common on other railways in the area, such as . This arrangement resulted in an accident on 6 December 1870, causing five deaths. The subsequent investigation led to changes in the law, as well as the construction of a second platform, to the east of the existing one, to serve Sunderland-bound trains. When the station was converted for use by the Tyne and Wear Metro, the westbound platform was relocated opposite the newer eastbound platform. The station was originally a busy junction, as the former
Stanhope and Tyne Railway route from
Tyne Dock to
Consett and
Waskerley via
Washington crossed the Brandling Junction Railway
on the level, just to the east of the station at Pontop Crossing, with various curves being laid in to connect the two routes. Since the 1850s, passenger traffic has only taken place on the present east–west route; however, the former north–south line was used by freight traffic as late as 1966. The station was renamed Boldon Colliery by the
London and North Eastern Railway in March 1925, but reverted to its original name in July 1991. As well as
Seaburn,
East Boldon and
Heworth, Brockley Whins was formerly served by rail services operating along the
Durham Coast Line between
Sunderland and
Newcastle. Following the introduction of Tyne and Wear Metro services to
Wearside in March 2002, Heworth is now the only remaining intermediate station served by rail services operating between Sunderland and Newcastle. ==Facilities==