Sunderland railway station

SAFCTEES

Central Defender
After the development of the Vaux site. Surely the next thing on the councils list for development is the train station?

An absolute shit hole in it's current state. An awful first impression for people arriving in the city. Dont even think it has any public toilets?!

Could it be moved up to where the civic currently is?
 


After the development of the Vaux site. Surely the next thing on the councils list for development is the train station?

An absolute shit hole in it's current state. An awful first impression for people arriving in the city. Dont even think it has any public toilets?!

Could it be moved up to where the civic currently is?

I don’t think it can relocate to the civic site as the train forks at this point and the tracks are on a radius so unsure whether train platforms can be built here or if they were able to they may only be able to provide two platforms unless the tracks were realigned. Others with more knowledge of trains may know better.

the problem with the current train station is that it is owned by network rail - council have no control over it other than passing them cash to rebuild it.
 
As a first impression to people arriving it’s an embarrassment. A total clip.I’d imagine it’d be a small fortune to fix up into something decent. Plus would it not have to be closed to the public for a canny long time to get it sorted ?

I imagine it would as work to it can only take place when trains are not operating.
 
It used be by the civic centre as Burdon House (where Yates is) is the former signalling box for the original station.
I've always maintained a station entrance/exit coming out onto Mowbray Park would give visitors a better initial perception of Sunderland instead of Specsavers and the Bookies.
The problem is the council do not own the station it belong to Network Rail and it would need a significant business case to move it.
 
It used be by the civic centre as Burdon House (where Yates is) is the former signalling box for the original station.
I've always maintained a station entrance/exit coming out onto Mowbray Park would give visitors a better initial perception of Sunderland instead of Specsavers and the Bookies.
The problem is the council do not own the station it belong to Network Rail and it would need a significant business case to move it.


yeah I’ve thought about that but can you create the platforms at this point as do the rail tracks begin to cross at this location?
 
As a first impression to people arriving it’s an embarrassment. A total clip.I’d imagine it’d be a small fortune to fix up into something decent. Plus would it not have to be closed to the public for a canny long time to get it sorted ?
I agree, makes us look small time.
Don't know if, or how it could be done, but first impressions really are important, and an upgrade would make a big difference to how we are perceived.
 
I don’t think it can relocate to the civic site as the train forks at this point and the tracks are on a radius so unsure whether train platforms can be built here or if they were able to they may only be able to provide two platforms unless the tracks were realigned. Others with more knowledge of trains may know better.

the problem with the current train station is that it is owned by network rail - council have no control over it other than passing them cash to rebuild it.
You can move it forward on the straight under the road, would be significant remodelling but you can get a third platform and make the platforms longer to accommodate larger trains.

You could demolish the brick building currently in front of the entrance and put a glass structure over it a bit like Birmingham New Street station.
 
I agree, makes us look small time.
Don't know if, or how it could be done, but first impressions really are important, and an upgrade would make a big difference to how we are perceived.

the issue is that without an increased number of London trains or connection to say Manchester or similar is there really a business case for an improved station? Whilst we all want it and think we should there is probably little need or desire from Network Rail or Central Government.
You can move it forward on the straight under the road, would be significant remodelling but you can get a third platform and make the platforms longer to accommodate larger trains.

You could demolish the brick building currently in front of the entrance and put a glass structure over it a bit like Birmingham New Street station.

yeah I agreed its just the cost of acquiring that building and then demolishing it which I imagine would cost a small fortune. Also unsure if the below ground structure sits over the tracks, whether it narrows or if it’s a consistent width all the way through, it narrows to the north I believe but unsure about the south.

I think the best location is monkwearmouth station as they could use the old sidings to get an additional tracks plus the tracks are fairly straight at that point and small number of cheap buildings on the stadium side. Suspect the riverside Sunderland development will stop that however.
 
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Inal
the issue is that without an increased number of London trains or connection to say Manchester or similar is there really a business case for an improved station? Whilst we all want it and think we should there is probably little need or desire from Network Rail or Central Government.


yeah I agreed its just the cost of acquiring that building and then demolishing it which I imagine would cost a small fortune. Also unsure if the below ground structure sits over the tracks, whether it narrows or if it’s a consistent width all the way through, it narrows to the north I believe but unsure about the south.

I think the best location is monkwearmouth station as they could use the old sidings to get an additional tracks plus the tracks are fairly straight at that point and small number of cheap buildings on the stadium side. Suspect the riverside Sunderland development will stop that however.
The other issue to solve from a business case point of view is how to connect additional services to the East Coast Mainline, Sunderland to Durham/Newcastle etc. I doubt there would be much appetite for a provider to deliver this service.

I agree on the points about services to the other main business cities.
 

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