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Sunderland railway station.

Dark Traveller said:
No idea. Nexus will remain an independent body, but TNE are currently fighting to hold onto some major project stuff, like other bodies like NELEP, etc. The wheeling and dealing behind the scenes with the various mayoral candidates began in earnest awhile ago.
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I can well imagine. 🙄

I can only hope that the some of the candidates will see the absolutely fundamental need for modest investment in re-opening the platforms (or even just one) at Sunderland and then getting it added as a Committed Obligation in future rail franchise tenders.

I won’t hold my breath though.
 

PhilY said:
The station I believe is owned by Network Rail but operated (ie under a lease) by Nexus.

Nexus are the public transport authority for Tyne and Wear. Ultimately, they are the blockage but it would also need public funding from Department for Transport.

Much like Sunderland’s decades-overdue Combined Courts Centre, the city is far down the list in terms of funding priorities. 😔

I know about operation of rail services. I haven’t criticised the council about that - the blame lies with Nexus. (Although really the Council should be pushing for return of PTE powers from Nexus).

100%. Platform capacity is the big problem. (Along with a transport authority that actively wants to channel passengers north to NCL and has vigorously opposed attempts to expand services at Sunderland (and will do again in the future - which is mental when you think about it isn’t it?)
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And people wonder why people in the north east have a bee in their bonnet about the treatment those outside of Newcastle/Gateshead get subject too.
 
Magic-Mo said:
The lack of proper investment is why it truly baffles me that anyone north of Watford votes Tory.
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Well, tbf, nothing was done for the city in terms of regional or national rail in 97-2010. Services and connections continued to be cut in that period.

(The only addition was the start of Grand Central, but that was an entirely private venture and it faced massive local political opposition from the body that was responsible for transport. Sunderland Council was broadly supportive in public, but since it wasn’t the relevant Passenger Transport Executive it had about as much say in the matter as the Sunderland Echo).

I’m not making party political points here (I have no affiliation) but the City of Sunderland has been badly let down in terms of rail transport for decades - at least in part because the public authority powers have been held by a body (Nexus) which not only had no interest in seeing improved connections to the city, other than Tyneside metro, but also actively campaigned against others wanting to introduce them! (Ie Sunderland tax payers’ money was used to argue AGAINST additional connections for Sunderland(!)


It’s been a 50 year scandal.
 
PhilY said:
Well, tbf, nothing was done for the city in terms of regional or national rail in 97-2010. Services and connections continued to be cut in that period.

(The only addition was the start of Grand Central, but that was an entirely private venture and it faced massive local political opposition from the body that was responsible for transport. Sunderland Council was broadly supportive in public, but since it wasn’t the relevant Passenger Transport Executive it had about as much say in the matter as the Sunderland Echo).

I’m not making party political points here (I have no affiliation) but the City of Sunderland has been badly let down in terms of rail transport for decades - at least in part because the public authority powers have been held by a body (Nexus) which not only had no interest in seeing improved connections to the city, other than Tyneside metro, but also actively campaigned against others wanting to introduce them! (Ie Sunderland tax payers’ money was used to argue AGAINST additional connections for Sunderland(!)


It’s been a 50 year scandal.
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No mate, you know what, I can't argue against that.

I think I'm a bit like yourself - politically homeless - but I've always felt like voting Labour keeps you on the beach, voting Tory has you reversing into the sea. It was no surprise to see that little dweeb Sunak bragging about pulling money from urban areas to put into affluent areas.

I must say as a kid, going to Sunderland was always far more difficult than it needed to be and it was always frustrating.
 
Magic-Mo said:
No mate, you know what, I can't argue against that.

I think I'm a bit like yourself - politically homeless - but I've always felt like voting Labour keeps you on the beach, voting Tory has you reversing into the sea. It was no surprise to see that little dweeb Sunak bragging about pulling money from urban areas to put into affluent areas.

I must say as a kid, going to Sunderland was always far more difficult than it needed to be and it was always frustrating.
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Try living here and travelling for work/business! 🤣
 
PhilY said:
We already know that there won’t be any re-opening of platforms, sadly. @Boris Bear confirmed it above.

That’s a massive blow for future economic development of Sunderland. Without those, extra direct rail connections are massively throttled.

The people of Sunderland should be in uproar about it - it’s a scandal.
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No I didn’t
 
But there’s no separation of metro and heavy rail in the plans for the North end?

(Which is what would happen if there was an additional platform(s) re-opened).
 
PhilY said:
But there’s no separation of metro and heavy rail in the plans for the North end?

(Which is what would happen if there was an additional platform(s) re-opened).
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They’re aiming for additional platforms…so you’ll need to think of other things to piss and moan about
 
Boris Bear said:
Yes, pissing and moaning about a better south entrance
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We need platforms re-opening. That’s my point.

A shed on top will have negligible impact on the city’s economic future. Yes, it’s welcome (apart from the colour scheme!) and long overdue, but much, much more is needed.

I really hope those in power in Sunderland aren’t slapping each other on the backs at this ‘development’ when in reality they’ve been fobbed off by those with regional power.

If plans for the north end have the same fundamental flaw, the same fobbing off will have happened. You’ve mentioned that ‘they’re aiming for additional platforms’ (which suggests that you’re in a position of some knowledge). If ‘they’ fail to deliver these (and quickly, in development terms) I hope that the democratic process will rightly judge that to be a massive failure.
 
PhilY said:
We need platforms re-opening. That’s my point.

A shed on top will have negligible impact on the city’s economic future. Yes, it’s welcome (apart from the colour scheme!) and long overdue, but much, much more is needed.

I really hope those in power in Sunderland aren’t slapping each other on the backs at this ‘development’ when in reality they’ve been fobbed off by those with regional power.

If plans for the north end have the same fundamental flaw, the same fobbing off will have happened. You’ve mentioned that ‘they’re aiming for additional platforms’ (which suggests that you’re in a position of some knowledge). If ‘they’ fail to deliver these (and quickly, in development terms) I hope that the democratic process will rightly judge that to be a massive failure.
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Complaining about a lovely new station entrance man :lol::lol:
 
PhilY said:
We need platforms re-opening. That’s my point.

A shed on top will have negligible impact on the city’s economic future. Yes, it’s welcome (apart from the colour scheme!) and long overdue, but much, much more is needed.

I really hope those in power in Sunderland aren’t slapping each other on the backs at this ‘development’ when in reality they’ve been fobbed off by those with regional power.

If plans for the north end have the same fundamental flaw, the same fobbing off will have happened. You’ve mentioned that ‘they’re aiming for additional platforms’ (which suggests that you’re in a position of some knowledge). If ‘they’ fail to deliver these (and quickly, in development terms) I hope that the democratic process will rightly judge that to be a massive failure.
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You can't argue with @Boris Bear he will destroy you with emojis.
 
The main issue is the council can only do so much, at the end of the day it’s down to network rail. Network rail don’t care about Sunderland, it’s taken years of them being pushed to even sort out the southern end of the stations,

The council and local MPs can open dialogue and try and get them to make improvements but all network rail care about is Newcastle central
 
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