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Sunderland railway station.


Will e said:
Mate, I'd bet because it's Sunderland railway station they don't give a F**k, or a mag is in charge of maintenance.

Is there someone to direct complaints to?
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Network rail I guess , absolutely don't care in the slightest

Had council and MP talk to them and nothing has changed
 
Brett said:
Network rail I guess , absolutely don't care in the slightest

Had council and MP talk to them and nothing has changed
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Northern manage the station don't they? No lift or escalator means the station isn't fully accessible. I'd be hammering them about breaching the Equality Act for failing to provide an accessible route to and from the platforms - it surely qualifies as a failure to provide 'reasonable adjustments'. Them being out of order for a day or so is acceptable. Consistently failing to fix the issue is a joke.
 
James said:
Northern manage the station don't they? No lift or escalator means the station isn't fully accessible. I'd be hammering them about breaching the Equality Act for failing to provide an accessible route to and from the platforms - it surely qualifies as a failure to provide 'reasonable adjustments'. Them being out of order for a day or so is acceptable. Consistently failing to fix the issue is a joke.
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Complain to both , if this was Newcastle it would be fixed in a day
 
YorkMackem said:
With the lift AND escalator out I'd have thought they be breaking accessibility laws. My widmfe is disabled and went to visit her sister in hospital by train a few weeks ago. She had a right chew on and almost fell trying to get down the stairs.
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You'd think one of these Youtube auditor gonks with a bodycam might actually be useful in highlighting cases like this but no to them it's all about causing confrontation for the likes and subscribes.
 
Will e said:
AFAIK they have been out of order for quite a while, more than likely network Rail, how does no one repair them within a few days, no information saying anything about it or even apologising, as you say ineptitude and zero accountability.
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What if you are in a wheelchair
Can the council not use some leverage
It’s a gateway to the city
James said:
Northern manage the station don't they? No lift or escalator means the station isn't fully accessible. I'd be hammering them about breaching the Equality Act for failing to provide an accessible route to and from the platforms - it surely qualifies as a failure to provide 'reasonable adjustments'. Them being out of order for a day or so is acceptable. Consistently failing to fix the issue is a joke.
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I would too
Problem is how do you complain
Loads of big companies have atrocious complaints procedures
BT for example you have to ring a number or write a letter
 
Last edited:
When I emailed Network Rail they advised me that the station is managed by Northern rail.

They’re a joke of a company, but do reply to complaints! You’ll get a complimentary pass for your troubles, but they’ll do nothing about the station.

I’ve emailed them several times and they’ve done nothing.


Other ways to make a complaint:

  • Call us: 0800 200 6060 6am - 11pm
  • Email us: [email protected]
  • Write to us: FREEPOST. Northern Railway
 
SAFCTEES said:
When I emailed Network Rail they advised me that the station is managed by Northern rail.

They’re a joke of a company, but do reply to complaints! You’ll get a complimentary pass for your troubles, but they’ll do nothing about the station.

I’ve emailed them several times and they’ve done nothing.


Other ways to make a complaint:

  • Call us: 0800 200 6060 6am - 11pm
  • Email us: [email protected]
  • Write to us: FREEPOST. Northern Railway
Click to expand...
Mp next step? Or Kim I’ll fix it
 
Update from MP Lewis Atkinson

SUNDERLAND STATION UPDATE

After months of working on this, I’m pleased some overdue improvements are now starting to happen. Details below.

The situation in the station just hasn’t been good enough. Since the new station opened, passengers have faced broken facilities and something that feels more like a warehouse than a fitting gateway to our proud city.

Sunderland deserves better, which is why in Parliament and in private meetings I’ve been pushing government bodies like Northern Rail (who manage the station) and Network Rail (who own it and were responsible for the new build) to get their acts together.

An underlying issue I have uncovered is that some key pieces of work (such as the lifts and escalators) were never fully signed off from the initial build and therefore were not handed over by Network Rail to Northern for ongoing maintenance and operation. These issues are thankfully now being sorted, but frankly it should not have taken 18 months and MP involvement to make progress.

Here’s what I’m told is happening now:

• ESCALATORS & LIFTS – the repair work is now complete, just awaiting final sign-off from the initial supplier so they can restart use and be handed over for ongoing maintenance. I’m told this will be happening very soon.

• TOILETS – now mostly back in operation, but the disabled toilet is still unacceptably often out of use, with questions remaining about the plumbing which I’m told is being worked on.

• SECURITY – more visible uniformed staff are deployed, alongside roaming Northern patrols to deter anti-social behaviour and improve safety. Nexus staff are also more frequently at the station now to check metro tickets.

• CONCOURSE WELCOME - I’m told there’ll be a trial refreshments offer in coming weeks. Some new signs have started going up (some are decent, some I think are a bit naff) and I’m promised more is to come including artwork from local groups. Credit where credit is due, the monthly markets that have been put on in the station are great but we need the station feeling loved and welcoming every day. I’m asking for more events, life. Who fancies playing ‘Wise men say’ on a piano in there?!

These are all steps forward, but they’re only the start. I am in regular contact with those responsible for the station and will use your feedback to keep pushing for the facilities and service that the people of Sunderland deserve: please keep letting me know your experiences by comment here.

I call into the station every time I’m near because I’m determined to personally check on progress. I will keep working on this until Sunderland has a station that reflects the pride and ambition of our city.
I'm impressed with our MP here

He had just written this

Thanks for comments all, you demonstrate what I know is the case: that this is a really important priority to the people of Sunderland.

Can I just make one small point about how change happens on issues like this and what that means for how politicians like me work/communicate.

It’s really bloody difficult getting stuff fixed. There are nearly never easy instant solutions. It’s my job to work on difficult stuff, and that means being persistent, getting into the detail, working step by step. In life as in politics you should be sceptical of people saying they can do a quick fix.

Thats not my style, but it does mean that I don’t/won’t do a social media post every time I’m having a meeting or sending an email about a hot-topic issue like this. I care deeply about doing my job properly, making life genuinely better for Sunderland people, not chasing quick social media wins.

Hope that makes sense: and also explains why I can’t just knock issues like this off on a weekly basis. Doesn’t mean I’m not working on them all the time!
 
Last edited:
Brett said:
Update from MP Lewis Atkinson

SUNDERLAND STATION UPDATE

After months of working on this, I’m pleased some overdue improvements are now starting to happen. Details below.

The situation in the station just hasn’t been good enough. Since the new station opened, passengers have faced broken facilities and something that feels more like a warehouse than a fitting gateway to our proud city.

Sunderland deserves better, which is why in Parliament and in private meetings I’ve been pushing government bodies like Northern Rail (who manage the station) and Network Rail (who own it and were responsible for the new build) to get their acts together.

An underlying issue I have uncovered is that some key pieces of work (such as the lifts and escalators) were never fully signed off from the initial build and therefore were not handed over by Network Rail to Northern for ongoing maintenance and operation. These issues are thankfully now being sorted, but frankly it should not have taken 18 months and MP involvement to make progress.

Here’s what I’m told is happening now:

• ESCALATORS & LIFTS – the repair work is now complete, just awaiting final sign-off from the initial supplier so they can restart use and be handed over for ongoing maintenance. I’m told this will be happening very soon.

• TOILETS – now mostly back in operation, but the disabled toilet is still unacceptably often out of use, with questions remaining about the plumbing which I’m told is being worked on.

• SECURITY – more visible uniformed staff are deployed, alongside roaming Northern patrols to deter anti-social behaviour and improve safety. Nexus staff are also more frequently at the station now to check metro tickets.

• CONCOURSE WELCOME - I’m told there’ll be a trial refreshments offer in coming weeks. Some new signs have started going up (some are decent, some I think are a bit naff) and I’m promised more is to come including artwork from local groups. Credit where credit is due, the monthly markets that have been put on in the station are great but we need the station feeling loved and welcoming every day. I’m asking for more events, life. Who fancies playing ‘Wise men say’ on a piano in there?!

These are all steps forward, but they’re only the start. I am in regular contact with those responsible for the station and will use your feedback to keep pushing for the facilities and service that the people of Sunderland deserve: please keep letting me know your experiences by comment here.

I call into the station every time I’m near because I’m determined to personally check on progress. I will keep working on this until Sunderland has a station that reflects the pride and ambition of our city.
I'm impressed with our MP here

He had just written this

Thanks for comments all, you demonstrate what I know is the case: that this is a really important priority to the people of Sunderland.

Can I just make one small point about how change happens on issues like this and what that means for how politicians like me work/communicate.

It’s really bloody difficult getting stuff fixed. There are nearly never easy instant solutions. It’s my job to work on difficult stuff, and that means being persistent, getting into the detail, working step by step. In life as in politics you should be sceptical of people saying they can do a quick fix.

Thats not my style, but it does mean that I don’t/won’t do a social media post every time I’m having a meeting or sending an email about a hot-topic issue like this. I care deeply about doing my job properly, making life genuinely better for Sunderland people, not chasing quick social media wins.

Hope that makes sense: and also explains why I can’t just knock issues like this off on a weekly basis. Doesn’t mean I’m not working on them all the time!
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He's a credit to the Labour party and the city imo.
 
Paddy O'Dors said:
It gets about 60 trains a day (30 each way) on a busy day so hardly gonna be one of their top priorities sadly.
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The main reason for that is we are just expected to jump on a metro to go to Newcastle or a bus/car trip to Durham. The Durham coast line is desperately in need of upgrading, the trains trundle down to Middlesbrough and Hartlepool, cut the car journey time in half and would attract more passengers. A rail link to Durham would be fantastic too, how feasible I dont know but an hour plus on the 20 bus is not the best when Durham is relatively close.

Still maintain the old railway / fans museum should have been the main railway station (24hr parking on the Sheepfolds site) and the current station a metro stop. Unfortunately didn't happen. Would have been ideal for the football and with the new footbridge and the expansion of the city centre, right in the middle.
 
mackem35 said:
Still maintain the old railway / fans museum should have been the main railway station (24hr parking on the Sheepfolds site) and the current station a metro stop. Unfortunately didn't happen. Would have been ideal for the football and with the new footbridge and the expansion of the city centre, right in the middle.
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It's a Grade II* listed building. That's the station, the bridge and the platforms. If it was feasible to open it would have as St Peter's Metro 20 odd years ago.
 
mackem35 said:
The main reason for that is we are just expected to jump on a metro to go to Newcastle or a bus/car trip to Durham. The Durham coast line is desperately in need of upgrading, the trains trundle down to Middlesbrough and Hartlepool, cut the car journey time in half and would attract more passengers. A rail link to Durham would be fantastic too, how feasible I dont know but an hour plus on the 20 bus is not the best when Durham is relatively close.

Still maintain the old railway / fans museum should have been the main railway station (24hr parking on the Sheepfolds site) and the current station a metro stop. Unfortunately didn't happen. Would have been ideal for the football and with the new footbridge and the expansion of the city centre, right in the middle.
Click to expand...

It’s not that much of a pain. At the end of the day, the close proximity to a key mainline station is always going to restrict any operators running more services that go further afield. We’re in the same position as multiple other provincial cities and towns in the UK.

Something like a train line between Sunderland and Durham is just never going to be economical. If you catch it right, you can get there in about 40 minutes anyway.
 
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