Sunderland Hidden Platform

[GrandCentral]

Probably one for local people this. When built, Sunderland had four platforms based on two islands. In the 1960s the four tracks were taken to two and passenger services were concentrated on one platform. but the other platform was still very much visible.
In 2002 the station was reconstructed for the arrival of the Metro and all services still shared the one platform despite the services being distinct between light and heavy rail.
The disused platform has now been hidden behind a wall.
I've always wondered why they didn't simply use the disused platform for Metro services and what. if anything, of the old platforms now remain.

 

[yorkie]

I've always wondered why they didn't simply use the disused platform for Metro services ....

I don't know the answer, but cost may have been a factor, plus the benefit of ensuring cross-platform connections by concentrating everything on one island.

 

[sprinterguy]

The "light wall" is situated on the eastern edge of the disused island platform, which remains very much intact. The operational island was widened across the course of the "Down" line, as was, at the time of the Metro extension.

Presumably it was felt that additional circulatory space on the one active island was more cost effective than installing the infrastructure, entrances, stairs and lifts required for two narrower ones, even though I feel that a dedicated Metro island and dedicated heavy rail one would be more beneficial in aiding service recovery at the least.

 

[sprinterguy]

Note also that Sunderland station retained four platform lines until the mid eighties: The otherwise redundant island saw nearly twenty years of continued use as a parcels depot after passenger services were concentrated on the east side of the station.

 

[GrandCentral]

Did we have Red Star services using that platform? I remember the Red Star depot at the top of the station but wasn't sure if it used the other platform.

 

[sprinterguy]

Did we have Red Star services using that platform? I remember the Red Star depot at the top of the station but wasn't sure if it used the other platform.

That's my understanding: Other parcels traffic worked from Brian Mills depot on the South Dock branch, until its closure in (IIRC) 1984.

 

[40068]

The track on the far side of the disused island platform was a siding with a buffer stop. When they built the Littlewoods shop in the mid Sixties the supports went into the track bed. Therefore I don't think there was enough clearance for that line to join to the main line.

 

[GrandCentral]

That's really interesting! Personally I find the set up at Sunderland to be totally inappropriate, especially now that we have London service from GC and VTEC using the station which fill the entire length of the platform. The designers back in 2002 really didn't think ahead.

 

[ChathillMan]

I think i preferred the station when the downstairs was "open" air

 

[John Webb]

A couple of views of Sunderland Central station from 1953 and 2016 (click on photos to go to the larger originals):
Sunderland station, with Newcastle - Middlesbrough express

© Copyright Ben Brooksbank and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Light Wall, Sunderland Station

© Copyright Oliver Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 

[Kite159]

That's really interesting! Personally I find the set up at Sunderland to be totally inappropriate, especially now that we have London service from GC and VTEC using the station which fill the entire length of the platform. The designers back in 2002 really didn't think ahead.

Maybe not so much VTEC as it is a token early morning departure (05:40) and a token late evening arrival (23:20). Agreed with GC having to be timetabled in between the metro services & the hourly Northern service isn't ideal as the stock has to get out of the way [but at least both platforms are bi-directional so if a GC arrives late a metro service can be routed via the other platform]

 

[sprinterguy]

The track on the far side of the disused island platform was a siding with a buffer stop. When they built the Littlewoods shop in the mid Sixties the supports went into the track bed. Therefore I don't think there was enough clearance for that line to join to the main line.

Ah, that certainly explains that, then - Thanks.

I think i preferred the station when the downstairs was "open" air

Me too: It was more pleasant when at least the middle of the platform saw some natural daylight.

 

[47271]

I use Sunderland quite a bit and considering the frequency and variety of services I think that the two platforms hold up pretty well. I was aware of the dead platform behind the light wall, the constantly moving animated figures make it all the more ghostly.

My only complaints are the useless Parkeon ticket machine at the High Street end (hello Northern), I've never known one worse for mis keys when you're trying to collect, it needs to be dumped, and that the ticket office refuses to print (can anyone tell me why?) and sends you to that very machine.

 

[GrandCentral]

That machine is awful, you're right! It's been in for years and has always been utterly useless and the staff in the office are the most unhelpful I've ever encountered. There are plans to refurbish the upper concourse (at some point, it's been promised for years) but hopefully that will see some new ticket machines installed. Anyone heard any more about the refurb by the way? It's all gone very quiet.

 

[156443]

https://www.sunderlandecho.com/our-...underland-station-after-sewage-leak-1-8982732

Network Rail have confirmed a meeting is taking place in March about Sunderland Station

News of a sewage leak which saw human waste fall onto the platform of Sunderland station has sparked a fresh outcry over the state of the facility. We reported earlier how human faeces was left lying "in puddles" on the platform after a sewage leak.

It comes after years of anger over the state of the station, which has been branded "depressing", "rundown" and giving a poor first impression to visitors arriving by rail.

 

[GrandCentral]

It's about time, the place is a disgrace. Even with improvements the station is still one of the worst on the network. It would be better to rip it down and start again.

 

[Royston Vasey]

It's about time, the place is a disgrace. Even with improvements the station is still one of the worst on the network. It would be better to rip it down and start again.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to recreate a modern glass and steel canopy, a 21st century version of what existed before Third Reich Demolitions got the redevelopment contract in 1940.

I'm sure Burger King and Milligans can be relocated and the 60s hulk would not be missed.

I remember the third platform from when I was a child in the mid 80s but as far as I can remember it was after the track had been taken up and it was always in darkness. The hanging baskets and open air were a rather nice touch compared to what it is now.

 

[Poolie]

Ironic that the station doesn't have any 'facilties' yet gets sh!ts on from above !!!!

 

[GrandCentral]

Wouldn't it be wonderful to recreate a modern glass and steel canopy, a 21st century version of what existed before Third Reich Demolitions got the redevelopment contract in 1940.

I'm sure Burger King and Milligans can be relocated and the 60s hulk would not be missed.

I remember the third platform from when I was a child in the mid 80s but as far as I can remember it was after the track had been taken up and it was always in darkness. The hanging baskets and open air were a rather nice touch compared to what it is now.

The Luftwaffe may have started the demolition but 'forward thinking' 60s planners more than finished the job. The building is an absolute disgrace and the 2002 refurbishment just made things even worse. I really don't know what they were thinking.

I don't think the current station can ever really be improved due to the shops above, it will always be a cold, dark hole in the ground.

It would be better to relocate the station to the junction, there is prime, open land available, owned by Network Rail. The cost would be very high of course.

 

[mr_jrt]

...being unfamiliar with the area, what sort of distance is there from the junctions to the platforms? i.e. would there be room to grade separate one of the lines so both islands could be reinstated whilst maintaining cross-platform interchange? Failing that, given the lines currently funnel into one pair of tracks, would introducing a single conflicting movement on the level be any worse than what is currently in place?

 

[goblinuser]

it will always be a cold, dark hole in the ground.

Sorry but have you not seen the potential there is for creating beautiful stations underground? There are some magnificent underground stations in London and globally. Being underground is no reason for something to be so bad.
At present, like the rest of Sunderland it is like a dystopian future set in the 70s.

 

[47271]

Leaking sewage aside, I don't have so much of a problem with what's underground. It was refitted relatively recently, the two platforms cope pretty well with the level of traffic and it's by no means the bleakest or coldest major station below street level in the UK. I'd rather spend ten minutes waiting on the platform at Sunderland than at Glasgow Queen Street Low Level for example.

It's what's at street level that's an absolute disgrace - and if they want to start with something relatively easy can they provide a functioning national rail ticket machine in the main concourse?

 

[DarloRich]

It's about time, the place is a disgrace. Even with improvements the station is still one of the worst on the network. It would be better to rip it down and start again.

IF Sunderland station is the worst thing the city has as an advert they are doing OK! Don't start, my entire family is from Sunderland, I know it well.

 

[route101]

Leaking sewage aside, I don't have so much of a problem with what's underground. It was refitted relatively recently, the two platforms cope pretty well with the level of traffic and it's by no means the bleakest or coldest major station below street level in the UK. I'd rather spend ten minutes waiting on the platform at Sunderland than at Glasgow Queen Street Low Level for example.

It's what's at street level that's an absolute disgrace - and if they want to start with something relatively easy can they provide a functioning national rail ticket machine in the main concourse?

Always thought Glasgow Central Low level was a lot a dingier than Queen St low level

 

[Tetchytyke]

I don't think the current station can ever really be improved due to the shops above, it will always be a cold, dark hole in the ground.

When did the shops get built? There are photos from the late 1980s where it was still open air. And all the better for it.

 

[aylesbury]

In a DVD filmed on a service through here you can clearly see the redundant platform as it enters the station

 

[ChathillMan]

When did the shops get built? There are photos from the late 1980s where it was still open air. And all the better for it.

I am trying to remember as i used to travel from the open air station before it was done. I would say at some point between 1999 to 2004. I can't recall if they built on top of the covering just before Metro got there or just after - it was in that period though

 

[47271]

I am trying to remember as i used to travel from the open air station before it was done. I would say at some point between 1999 to 2004. I can't recall if they built on top of the covering just before Metro got there or just after - it was in that period though

What, so the trashy concourse and shops, Burger King etc is less than 20 years old?! I'm genuinely shocked - I would've put it in the same era as the high rise flats in Sunderland centre. That makes it even worse.

 

[47271]

Always thought Glasgow Central Low level was a lot a dingier than Queen St low level

Okay, Central is rubbish as well. It's the bone chilling cold at Queen Street that always amazes me, somehow the freezing air doesn't get pushed through the Argyle Line tunnels to quite the same degree.

 

[ChathillMan]

What, so the trashy concourse and shops, Burger King etc is less than 20 years old?! I'm genuinely shocked - I would've put it in the same era as the high rise flats in Sunderland centre. That makes it even worse.

Sorry, I thought you meant the shops next to the north of that. WH Smith, Poundland (above where the National Rail platforms are now) That awful concourse has been there as long as I have known