Multi-million-pound Sunderland train station transformation opens to the public

Sunderland’s multi-million-pound southern train station entrance has officially opened its doors.

The transformation of the city’s new arrival point, featuring a heavily glazed fascia that looks out to Market Square in the heart of the city, has welcomed the public, with the finishing touches being applied to the public realm surrounding the station over the next few months.

The leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Graeme Miller and chief executive Patrick Melia met with Julie Elliott MP; representatives from Network Rail, Grand Central and Northern Rail, as well as contractor BAM, to see the finished station after 18 months of construction.

The southern entrance of the station features a large glass wrap-around design and includes a new ticket office and reception, public toilets, retail space and cafes, comfortable waiting areas, as well as a new mezzanine level that has office space reserved for rail industry staff.

The project was driven by Sunderland City Council, in partnership with Network Rail, Nexus, Grand Central and Northern Rail.

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, commented: “Well, it is stunning. What a contrast this is to the entrance that stood here before. This is a significant demonstration of the ambition we have, to transform this city into a place we can all be proud of. I am delighted to see this complete.”

The southern entrance is part of a wider investment programme to transform the transport hub.

The council is campaigning for support for the next phases to create a “massively transformed” city station over the coming years, with a vision to revamp the northern entrance, as well as platform-level works to increase capacity, with four tracks and four platforms to separate Nexus and Metro from mainline services.

It is hoped the hub will create business and further investment opportunities to support the central business district and retail rejuvenation in the heart of the city.

Julie Elliott MP for Sunderland Central, added: “This is a symbolic moment for Sunderland people. We can now be proud of our point of arrival, and can look ahead with optimism as a huge programme of change rolls out across Sunderland, driving regeneration on a scale not seen for decades.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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