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Sunderland railway station.


Looked like a market stall in there when I walked past today. A few people at the coffee stall aswell. I genuinely don't know what to think of it. The proposed pictures are poor and totally lacking in imagination. I can imagine people have made a lot of money for doing very little and had a good laugh about it. If the the station does end up opposite the Three Stories pub, I think it will be totally different. That end of town will be brilliant.
 
Update from Lewis Atkinson

🚉 SUNDERLAND STATION UPDATE – HAVE YOUR SAY THIS FRIDAY

Yesterday I caught up again with Northern Rail to push for further improvements at Sunderland Station.

I reiterated my position clearly: a “functioning” station is a bare minimum, not enough. What Sunderland deserves is a vibrant, welcoming station we can genuinely be proud of. I shared my frustration at the slow pace of progress in delivering this.

I’ve been assured that we should see visible change in the station this month, including new artwork being installed in the station. I’ll be watching closely and pressing to make sure this and other initiatives like the station piano come to fruition.

I’m encouraged that Northern are having positive, ongoing conversations about using the station space for pop-ups, community activity, and local events – some of these have been as a result of my introductions. There’s real potential here if it’s done properly – for example, I’d love to see some live music in the station and I’ve asked Northern to work with the Sunderland Music City crew to help make that happen.

🗣️ Have your say
Northern Rail staff will be at the station this Friday from 1pm, speaking directly with passengers and residents about how they want to see the station develop. If you’re around, I’d really encourage you to stop and share your views — I may see you there myself.

🛍️ Interested in trading or pop-ups?
Northern are keen to hear from anyone interested in trading or hosting activities at the station. If that’s you, you can get in touch at:
📧 [email protected]

🤝 Friends of Sunderland Station
I’ve suggested that Northern launch a ‘Friends of Sunderland Station’ user group to provide a regular forum where residents can engage directly with them to shape future developments and support events at the station. If you want to get involved, you can speak to the Northern team on Friday, or email Alex using the address above.

I will continue to be heavily involved – working in partnership to make things better, but not shying away from holding rail authorities to account if they fail to make progress towards a station that reflects the pride, creativity and ambition of our city.
 
Did anyone put a half day in at work to get the usual reply from Northern staff?*

*We are using all available trains/rolling stock
 
Brett said:
Update from Lewis Atkinson

🚉 SUNDERLAND STATION UPDATE – HAVE YOUR SAY THIS FRIDAY

Yesterday I caught up again with Northern Rail to push for further improvements at Sunderland Station.

I reiterated my position clearly: a “functioning” station is a bare minimum, not enough. What Sunderland deserves is a vibrant, welcoming station we can genuinely be proud of. I shared my frustration at the slow pace of progress in delivering this.

I’ve been assured that we should see visible change in the station this month, including new artwork being installed in the station. I’ll be watching closely and pressing to make sure this and other initiatives like the station piano come to fruition.

I’m encouraged that Northern are having positive, ongoing conversations about using the station space for pop-ups, community activity, and local events – some of these have been as a result of my introductions. There’s real potential here if it’s done properly – for example, I’d love to see some live music in the station and I’ve asked Northern to work with the Sunderland Music City crew to help make that happen.

🗣️ Have your say
Northern Rail staff will be at the station this Friday from 1pm, speaking directly with passengers and residents about how they want to see the station develop. If you’re around, I’d really encourage you to stop and share your views — I may see you there myself.

🛍️ Interested in trading or pop-ups?
Northern are keen to hear from anyone interested in trading or hosting activities at the station. If that’s you, you can get in touch at:
📧 [email protected]

🤝 Friends of Sunderland Station
I’ve suggested that Northern launch a ‘Friends of Sunderland Station’ user group to provide a regular forum where residents can engage directly with them to shape future developments and support events at the station. If you want to get involved, you can speak to the Northern team on Friday, or email Alex using the address above.

I will continue to be heavily involved – working in partnership to make things better, but not shying away from holding rail authorities to account if they fail to make progress towards a station that reflects the pride, creativity and ambition of our city.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the feedback, any update on this?
 
mackem35 said:
My concern with any new development of Sunderland railway station is that the Poundland building is pulled down and we get a rinse and repeat of the failures of the existing station.

They pull the Poundland / Littlewoods building down and instead of opening up the platforms, just build a hotel or whatever on top and say how amazing.

The station needs taking back to how it was when it had daylight, open platforms etc. That picture of the Earls Court station is more like what is needed but perhaps a barrel roof.
Click to expand...
Why does it need daylight or a second platform?
 
ned_werby said:
take all the 'humans' out of the above image, and it's pretty much as per........
Click to expand...
Apart that is from the furniture - giant screens / posters - plants - cafe area and colour scheme - yes the space is much the same. The point being but for a little more expenditure the "vision" of the new station that Network Rail originally presented to the people of Sunderland hasn't materialised.

At the moment the new station interior is grey and lifeless. It gives visitors on arrival the impression that Sunderland is a dull and unimaginative city with very low standards and worse still that folk don't know any different . Give it a five years of neglect and inadequate maintenance and it will look awful.

OK I get it Network Rail probably went over budget on the orginal building work and so it has cut back on the finishings but without them the place really isn't good enough.

Sunderland is an important city and it diserves better. The ship has been well and truly spoiled for a ha'poth of tar .
 
Brett said:
Update from Lewis Atkinson

🚉 SUNDERLAND STATION UPDATE – HAVE YOUR SAY THIS FRIDAY

Yesterday I caught up again with Northern Rail to push for further improvements at Sunderland Station.

I reiterated my position clearly: a “functioning” station is a bare minimum, not enough. What Sunderland deserves is a vibrant, welcoming station we can genuinely be proud of. I shared my frustration at the slow pace of progress in delivering this.

I’ve been assured that we should see visible change in the station this month, including new artwork being installed in the station. I’ll be watching closely and pressing to make sure this and other initiatives like the station piano come to fruition.

I’m encouraged that Northern are having positive, ongoing conversations about using the station space for pop-ups, community activity, and local events – some of these have been as a result of my introductions. There’s real potential here if it’s done properly – for example, I’d love to see some live music in the station and I’ve asked Northern to work with the Sunderland Music City crew to help make that happen.

🗣️ Have your say
Northern Rail staff will be at the station this Friday from 1pm, speaking directly with passengers and residents about how they want to see the station develop. If you’re around, I’d really encourage you to stop and share your views — I may see you there myself.

🛍️ Interested in trading or pop-ups?
Northern are keen to hear from anyone interested in trading or hosting activities at the station. If that’s you, you can get in touch at:
📧 [email protected]

🤝 Friends of Sunderland Station
I’ve suggested that Northern launch a ‘Friends of Sunderland Station’ user group to provide a regular forum where residents can engage directly with them to shape future developments and support events at the station. If you want to get involved, you can speak to the Northern team on Friday, or email Alex using the address above.

I will continue to be heavily involved – working in partnership to make things better, but not shying away from holding rail authorities to account if they fail to make progress towards a station that reflects the pride, creativity and ambition of our city.
Click to expand...
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Was in there yesterday. Ticket machine in the small entrance bit was out of order. The one on the platform where the Northern trains arrive, some of the touch screen was buggered which meant I couldn’t enter my booking reference. The third machine was fully working, thankfully - but it’s a piss poor effort from Northern.
 
chriswallace85 said:
Why does it need daylight or a second platform?
Click to expand...
The extra platforms already covered but when diesel trains pull in the lack of decent ventilation is poor plus unless you a caveman most of us like daylight. I also remember the station with daylight, hanging baskets and it was far superior. Its been turned into an underground station when it never was.
Cappuccino Kid said:
Was in there yesterday. Ticket machine in the small entrance bit was out of order. The one on the platform where the Northern trains arrive, some of the touch screen was buggered which meant I couldn’t enter my booking reference. The third machine was fully working, thankfully - but it’s a piss poor effort from Northern.
Click to expand...
Been like that for ages, convinced any refurbished machines end up at Sunderland.
 
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The Ram said:
Yes i went through the station earlier on the way to the train and it looks better, hopefully the start of continuing improvements.
Click to expand...
False ceiling hopefully and a couple of litter bins.
I asked the security lad where the bins were and there is not a one in the place.
 
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