Wikipedia

Sunderland station

Sunderland is a railway and metro station in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the Durham Coast Line, which runs between Middlesbrough and Newcastle, via Hartlepool. It is owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains. Since 31 March 2002, the station has also been served by the Tyne and Wear Metro's Green Line.

Sunderland
National Rail Tyne and Wear Metro
General information
LocationSunderland, City of Sunderland
England
Coordinates54°54′22″N 1°22′57″W / 54.9061°N 1.3824°W / 54.9061; -1.3824
Grid referenceNZ396569
Owned byNetwork Rail
Managed byNorthern Trains
Transit authorityTyne and Wear PTE
Platforms4
Tracks2
Other information
Station codeSUN
ClassificationDfT category C2
History
Original companyNorth Eastern Railway
Pre-groupingNorth Eastern Railway
Post-grouping
Key dates
4 August 1879Opened as Sunderland Central
4 November 1965Rebuilt
5 May 1969Renamed Sunderland
31 March 2002Joined the Tyne and Wear Metro network
Passengers
2019/20Decrease 0.427 million
 Interchange Increase 4,654
2020/21Decrease 0.107 million
 Interchange Decrease 998
2021/22Increase 0.386 million
 Interchange Increase 3,224
2022/23Increase 0.482 million
 Interchange Increase 4,711
2023/24Increase 0.598 million
 Interchange Increase 6,534
Services
Preceding station Grand Central Following station
Hartlepool
towards London King's Cross
 North Eastern Terminus
Preceding station Northern Following station
Seaham
towards Middlesbrough via Hartlepool
 Durham Coast Line Heworth
towards Newcastle
Location
Sunderland is located in Sunderland
Sunderland
Sunderland
Sunderland is located in Tyne and Wear
Sunderland
Sunderland
Location in Tyne and Wear, England
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

History

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Earlier stations

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The station, prior to reconstruction, seen in June 1953.

Opening in 1836, the first railway passenger services to Sunderland were provided by the Durham and Sunderland Railway Company, initially linking the then port town with Haswell and Hetton-le-Hole.[1] Approaching from the south along the coast, the terminus, known as Town Moor was located near South Dock. The Durham and Sunderland Railway Company slowly extended their route towards the intended terminus in Durham – though the eventual terminus, which opened in 1839, was located outside the city at Shincliffe Town.[2] The line reached Durham in July 1893, when the North Eastern Railway opened the extension to Durham Elvet.[3]

Undistinguished either in architecture, convenience or accommodation, Town Moor was replaced 22 years later by Hendon. It was situated half a mile to the south, at a point where the line had to be joined by the Newcastle and Darlington Junction Railway Company's line Durham via Penshaw, which opened in 1853.[4]

In 1854, the Marquis of Londonderry opened the Londonderry, Seaham and Sunderland Railway, which linked the existing Londonderry and South Hetton Collieries to the South Dock. From 1855, the line carried passengers between Seaham Harbour and a terminus at Hendon Burn. The Londonderry, Seaham and Sunderland Railway began to use the Durham and Sunderland Railway's terminus in 1868.[2] Meanwhile, the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway had built their station, Fawcett Street, which opened in 1853.[2][5] It was situated just south of the site of the present station.

On 4 August 1879, the North Eastern Railway opened a line from Ryhope Grange Junction over the River Wear to Monkwearmouth, and a new station was built on the present site, to the designs of architect William Peachey.[4] Both Fawcett Street and Hendon were closed on the same date. The new station served passengers of both the North Eastern Railway and Londonderry, Seaham and Sunderland Railway, until the latter sold the Sunderland–Seaham route to the former in 1900. This, in turn, allowed the North Eastern Railway to extend the line along the coast to create a new through route to (West) Hartlepool, which opened in 1905.[2]

Present station

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The southern entrance of the station, seen in October 1965.

The current station, known as Sunderland Central until 5 May 1969, has tracks which lie in a cutting running north and south, bounded by retaining walls to the east and west. The platform area was previously covered by an overall semi-elliptical arched-rib roof, which together with the buildings at the station's north end, suffered significant damage following an air raid in March 1943.[6] In 1953, the roof was replaced by umbrella-type roofing, and the buildings at the southern end of the station were given an interim facelift. The complete rebuilding of the station was deferred, in order to enable advantage to be taken of the site's potential for property development, as well as to ensure compatibility with the town's proposals for the redevelopment of the surrounding area.

The redeveloped station was designed by Frederick Francis Charles Curtis of the British Rail Architects' Department,[7][8] with construction completed on 4 November 1965. At the time, the development formed part of a complete rebuilding scheme involving almost the entire area of the station site, which was decked over and developed at street level. A single entrance and street-level buildings were located at the northern end of the station, with a second entrance and associated buildings at the south being added five years later.

Following the Beeching Axe, and subsequent withdrawal of local stopping train services to Durham, (West) Hartlepool and South Shields, passenger trains were concentrated on a single island platform, with access to the concourse area by a dual one-direction stairway. At the time of reopening, services consisted of a half-hourly service each weekday to Newcastle and an hourly service to and from Middlesbrough via (West) Hartlepool, with additional trains at peak periods. There were also through morning trains to Liverpool and London, as well as a sleeping car service to London each evening.

The second island platform was given over to the working of parcels traffic, as a new parcels office premises was to be built at the northern end of the station. Prior to this, parcels traffic was dealt with at the northern end of the station, using the old stables block to the west for deliveries, with a similar sized room at the eastern side for incoming parcels.

The revised station working enabled the running lines and sidings at the southern end of the station to be simplified. The consequent reduction in permanent way released areas of land at track level, which was available for the erection of support for further street level development around Athenaeum Street and Holmeside.

Further redevelopment took place, ahead of the opening of the Wearside extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro. A six-week closure of the Durham Coast Line between Newcastle and Sunderland took place in early spring 2001, during which the existing track through Sunderland North Tunnel was lowered and two new crossovers introduced. The single island platform was also widened, with a new junction and track arrangement introduced and commissioned to the south of the station.[9]

Refurbishment

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In 2006, the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive announced plans to refurbish of the 140-metre (460 ft) platform areas. The project was to be funded by the Department for Transport in an innovative scheme in which the money 'saved' by reducing a subsidised rail service in favour of the Tyne and Wear Metro was converted into a lump sum for capital investment. Whilst the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive does not own or manage the station (owned by Network Rail and managed by Northern Trains), the rationale for investment being that they are the station's majority operator.

Work began in January 2008, with the second stage of development commencing in September 2009. The project was completed in July 2010 – at a cost of £7 million.[10][11][12][13] The project saw the construction of an entirely new floor, ceilings and lighting, substantial improvements to existing walls and a significant reorganisation of buildings and waiting areas on the platforms.

The Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive appointed Sadler Brown Architecture to develop the design, led by Arup. The project incorporated the work of three artists, Jason Bruges Studio, Julian Germain and Morag Morrison. Jason Bruges Studio have created a 140-metre light wall with individual LED units containing an animated display.[14][15][16] Julian Germain is providing a sequence of 41 photographs of everyday items 'lost' on the Tyne and Wear Metro,[17] while Morag Morrison is designing coloured glass wall panels for buildings along the island platform.

 
The former south entrance

In October 2015, it was announced that plans were being formulated for the refurbishment of the upper concourse and exterior to improve the station's image and accessibility.[18] Almost six years later, in July 2021, revised plans for the refurbishment were revealed – with an estimated cost of £26 million.[19][20][21][22] The six-year project would see the station's south entrance demolished and rebuilt, with the number of tracks passing through the station to be increased to four. Preparatory work commenced in April 2022, with the new southern entrance set to open in early 2023.[23][24][25]

The delayed southern entrance opened in December 2023.[26]

Facilities

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The station is on two levels. A staffed ticket office located at street (upper) level, which is open between 06:15–18:00 Monday–Saturday and 08:00–17:00 on Sunday. Retail outlets and self-service ticket machines are also located at street level. A waiting room and seating is provided at platform (lower) level, with the two floors connected by lift and escalator. The island platform is fully accessible for wheelchair users. Information is provided with next train audio-visual displays, as well as paper timetable posters.[27]

Layout

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The station has a large central island platform with each side split into two numbered platforms. Services operated by Northern Trains call at platforms 1 and 4, which are located at the northern end of the station. Platforms 2 and 3 at the southern end of the station, are served by the Tyne and Wear Metro. Longer trains, such as those operated by Grand Central and London North Eastern Railway board from two adjacent platforms, due to their length.

Until 25 October 2018, the station's layout was unique in Great Britain, in that both heavy rail and light rail services used the same platforms. A similar layout now exists at Rotherham Central, where Sheffield Supertram tram-trains use low-height platforms, which are situated adjacent to the full-height platforms used by National Rail services.[28][29][30][31]

Key to diagram

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The track layout at Sunderland, as at December 2021.
  • Black lines: Track shared by Tyne and Wear Metro and National Rail services, electrified at 1500V DC overhead.
  • Green lines: Track used by Tyne and Wear Metro services only, electrified at 1500V DC overhead.
  • Blue lines: Non-electrified track used by National Rail services only.
  • A: Towards Newcastle
  • B: From Newcastle
  • C: From South Hylton
  • D: To South Hylton
  • E: Electrified siding
  • F: Non-electrified siding
  • G: From Middlesbrough
  • H: Towards Middlesbrough
  • Grey area: Covered station area
  • Maroon area: Platforms

Tyne and Wear Metro

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Sunderland
Tyne and Wear Metro station
 
General information
LocationSunderland, City of Sunderland
England
Coordinates54°54′22″N 1°22′57″W / 54.9061115°N 1.3824404°W / 54.9061115; -1.3824404
Grid referenceNZ396569
Transit authorityTyne and Wear PTE
Platforms4
Tracks2
Construction
Bicycle facilities10 cycle racks
AccessibleStep-free access to platform
Other information
Station codeSUN
Fare zoneC
Key dates
31 March 2002Joined the Tyne and Wear Metro network
Passengers
2017/180.77 million[32]
Services
Preceding station   Tyne and Wear Metro Following station
Park Lane
towards South Hylton
 Green Line St Peter's
towards Airport
Location
 
 
Sunderland
 
 
Sunderland
Location in Tyne and Wear, England

On 31 March 2002, the opening of a 18-kilometre (11 mi) extension saw the Tyne and Wear Metro network brought to Wearside – a project costing in the region of £100 million.[33][34]

To the north, the track is shared with National Rail services as far as Pelaw Junction,[35] which is situated 1 mile 56 chains (2.7 km) north of Fellgate and 48 chains (0.97 km) south of Pelaw. Existing stations at Brockley Whins, East Boldon and Seaburn were converted for use by the Tyne and Wear Metro, and are no longer served by National Rail services. In addition, three new purpose-built stations were constructed at Fellgate, Stadium of Light, and St Peter's.

Heading south, services run to South Hylton along the alignment of the Penshaw–Sunderland line, which fell victim to the Beeching Axe on 4 May 1964.[36] A total of five purpose-built stations were constructed at Park Lane, University (Sunderland), Millfield, Pallion and South Hylton.

Services

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A Grand Central Class 180 Adelante on a journey to Sunderland, in late 2021

Grand Central

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Grand Central operate five trains per day, with four on Sundays, between Sunderland and London King's Cross, via Hartlepool and York.[37]

Rolling stock used: Class 180 Adelante

London North Eastern Railway

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London North Eastern Railway operate a daily return inter-city service on weekdays between Sunderland and London King's Cross, via Newcastle and York.[38] In December 2024, this service is planned to be discontinued due to low passenger numbers and low ticket sales.[39]

Rolling stock used: Class 800 Azuma

Northern Trains

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Northern Trains operate an hourly service between Newcastle and Middlesbrough, via Hartlepool. Most trains extend to Hexham (or Carlisle on Sunday) and Nunthorpe. Two trains per day, with three on Sundays, continue to Whitby.[40]

Rolling stock used: Class 156 Super Sprinter and Class 158 Express Sprinter

Tyne and Wear Metro

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Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive, under the brand name Nexus, operates the Green line between South Hylton and Newcastle Airport. There are five trains per hour on Mondays-Saturdays, with up to four trains per hour in evenings and on Sundays.[41][b]

Rolling stock used: Class 599 Metrocar

Notes

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  1. ^ Grand Central and London North Eastern Railway services depart from platform 1 and 2, due to the train's length.
  2. ^ Between 31 March 2002 and 12 December 2005, Tyne and Wear Metro services operated between South Hylton and St James via Whitley Bay.

References

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  1. ^ Body 1988, p. 163.
  2. ^ a b c d Sinclair, Neil T. (1985). Railways of Sunderland. Tyne and Wear County Council Museums. pp. 9, 10, 13, 14, 54 & 62. ISBN 0905974247.
  3. ^ "Sherburn House". Disused Stations. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  4. ^ a b Body 1988, p. 164.
  5. ^ Young, Alan (26 May 2017). "Sunderland Fawcett Street Station". Disused Stations. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  6. ^ Body 1988, p. 165.
  7. ^ Lawrence, David (2018). British Rail Architecture 1948–97. Crecy Publishing Ltd. p. 117. ISBN 9780860936855.
  8. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus; Williamson, Elizabeth (1983). The Buildings of England: County Durham. Yale University Press. p. 454. ISBN 9780300095999.
  9. ^ "Sunderland Direct: Facilitating a railway". The Arup Journal. 37 (2). Arup: 27–28. 2002.
  10. ^ "Platforms reopen at revamped Sunderland railway station". BBC News. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  11. ^ "£7m Sunderland station refurbishment enters final phase". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  12. ^ "£7m Sunderland Station transformation complete". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. 13 September 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  13. ^ "£7m transformation of Sunderland station complete". Arup. 13 September 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  14. ^ "Sunderland station to get Jason Bruges designed 'ghost-art' wall". DesignCurial. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  15. ^ Jason Bruges 'ghostly' wall brings light to £7m Station refurb. Vol. 24. London: Design Week. 9 July 2009. p. 4.
  16. ^ "Platform 5". Jason Bruges Studio. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  17. ^ "Lost and Found in Sunderland – a major new art commission". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  18. ^ "Sunderland railway station's £10m revamp is finally set to go ahead". Sunderland Echo. 8 October 2015. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  19. ^ "Sunderland's £26m railway station revamp unveiled". BBC News. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  20. ^ Kennedy, Catherine (12 July 2021). "Plans to overhaul Sunderland station revealed". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  21. ^ Holden, Alan (10 July 2021). "Transformation of Sunderland railway station revealed". RailAdvent. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  22. ^ "Sunderland central station to be transformed – Stunning plans unveiled as city council leads central station upgrade". Network Rail. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  23. ^ Morby, Aaron (30 November 2021). "BAM pairing takes £26m Sunderland train station". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  24. ^ "BAM has been awarded the contract to transform Sunderland station". BAM Nuttall. 29 November 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  25. ^ Robertson, Ross (29 November 2021). "'Transformational' plans for Sunderland station press ahead as contractor appointed". Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  26. ^ "Sunderland's new station entrance doors are opened". 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  27. ^ "Station facilities for Sunderland". National Rail. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  28. ^ Smith, Kevin (25 October 2018). "Sheffield–Rotherham tram-train finally enters service". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  29. ^ Kobie, Nicole (24 November 2019). "The UK is on the verge of a radical tram-train revolution". Wired UK. Condé Nast. ISSN 1357-0978. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  30. ^ Clinnick, Richard (3 November 2020). "Tram-train operation to continue in Sheffield as new systems proposed". RAIL. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  31. ^ "Tram-Train pilot in Sheffield to act as blueprint for future schemes". Rail Engineer. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  32. ^ "Tyne & Wear Metro usage figures". 2017–2018. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  33. ^ "Metro system extended to Sunderland". BBC News. 1 April 2002. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  34. ^ "Happy Birthday Sunderland line!". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  35. ^ Hope, Richard (1 July 2001). "Tyne & Wear Metro shares tracks to Sunderland". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  36. ^ Quick, M. E. (2009). Railway passenger stations in Great Britain : a chronology. M. E. Quick, Railway & Canal Historical Society (4th ed.). Oxford. p. 237. ISBN 978-0-901461-57-5. OCLC 612226077.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  37. ^ "Train times: North East: Sunderland to London King's Cross" (PDF). Grand Central. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  38. ^ "Train times: Sunday 12 December 2021 to Saturday 14 May 2022" (PDF). London North Eastern Railway. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  39. ^ https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/transport/lners-sunderland-london-train-service-to-be-scrapped-4605149
  40. ^ "Train times: Nunthorpe and Middlesbrough to Newcastle and Metrocentre" (PDF). Northern Trains. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  41. ^ "Timetables and stations: Sunderland". Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. Retrieved 30 March 2021.

Sources

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Further reading

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  • Cooke, B. W. C., ed. (January 1966). "Transformation at Sunderland: Opening of modern station by the North Eastern Region". Railway Magazine. Vol. 112, no. 777. pp. 17–18.
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Preceding station   National Rail Following station
Hartlepool   Grand Central
North Eastern
Sunderland–London King's Cross 		  Terminus
Terminus   London North Eastern Railway
East Coast Main Line
Sunderland–London King's Cross 		  Newcastle
Seaham   Northern Trains
Durham Coast Line 		  Heworth
  Historical railways  
Seaham
Line and station open 		  British Rail (Regional Railways)
Durham Coast Line 		  Seaburn
Line and station open
Ryhope East
Line open, station closed 		  London and North Eastern Railway
Durham Coast Line 		  Monkwearmouth
Line open, station closed
Terminus   London and North Eastern Railway
South Shields–Sunderland 		  Monkwearmouth
Line open, station closed
Millfield
Line and station open 		  London and North Eastern Railway
Penshaw–Sunderland 		  Terminus
Ryhope
Line and station closed 		  London and North Eastern Railway
Durham–Sunderland 		  Terminus
Ryhope
Line and station closed 		  London and North Eastern Railway
Hartlepool–Sunderland via Haswell 		  Terminus
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