Byker Metro station is located in Byker, an area in the east end of Newcastle upon Tyne. The station is on the Yellow line of the Tyne and Wear Metro system, and opened in 1982. In 2008-9, the station was used by around 430,000 passengers. Heading west from Byker station, the route crosses the dramatic 800 m Byker Viaduct constructed by Arup specifically for the Metro. Prior to the Metro being built, there was a British Rail railway station called Byker north of Shields Road on the Riverside Branch but it closed to passengers in 1954.