"Sunderland Station to be proud of" on track, say city bosses

Sunderland's leader has vowed to 'deliver a train station that the city and its residents deserve', after revealing that a phased programme to transform it is set to move forward within weeks.

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said that the local authority was working with partners to 'expedite design work on the southern entrance of the station', in a move that he believes will 'inject pace and urgency into the city's bid to fully revamp both its concourses and platforms'. 

Cllr Miller confirmed to Full Council just a week ago that more than £26m had been secured to transform the southern entrance to the station.  The plans, he says, 'will push Sunderland station higher on the agenda of key stakeholders and deliver a station we can all be proud of'.

The leader said the council expected to be able to release more detailed designs within weeks, and that  he was confident that 'the same civic leadership that led to Legal & General's £100m investment in Sunderland would also bring the support needed to transform the entire train station'. 

He said: "We have a one-station vision for Sunderland - a plan to transform the northern and southern entrances, and to get the support we need to deliver a four platform, four track station that will match the ambition we have in Sunderland and provide a fitting arrival point to a city centre that will be reinvigorated, with investment now pouring in.

"We will do whatever it takes to deliver the station this city deserves, and residents can expect to see this process of transformation kick off within weeks.  In the longer term, this will include a more significant scheme of work to the northern entrance, delivering an impressive arrival point in the Central Business District of Riverside Sunderland.  This new northern entrance will sit in a new public square and will be framed by the beautiful Elephant Tearooms and Mackie's Corner that are springing back to life."

As well as improvements to the southern entrance, the first phase of plans will also see the development of a multi-storey car park at Holmeside to support the station and wider city centre redevelopment.

Platform level improvements that the leader recognises as being 'sorely needed' will follow, led by the council, with reconfiguration of the platform-level and rail tracks requiring investment from government. It is hoped this will also fit with the wider regional aspiration to reconnect former rail lines to Sunderland's central station, including the Leamside line.