New Sunderland Station Building

[vic-rijrode]

There are two Greggs within 100 metres of each other in Sunderland as the crow flies and at least four in the city. Seems the Greggs fans outweigh those who are ‘sniffy’ about it in Sunderland.

The rest of your post reads like I was talking Sunderland down which I absolutely wasn’t. The train station in my opinion (which I’m entitled to have) is dull, depressing and grey.

Otherwise thanks for your entirely patronising reply.

It's a railway station.

 

[Poolie]

I was there the other night for a train at 22.00 and it was pretty grim. Vast open, empty space. Not a soul about. I'm sure it's better during the day, but I don't think I'll be there again at night

 

[deanmachine]

It's a railway station.

It's a station where you get the train, next.

On another note, I've just driven past to drop the other half off at the tattoo studio across the road from it. Looks great from the outside imo, much, much improved on the old building. Shame inside is a bit baron, but I'm sure they'll find use for the space at some point.

 

[CameraShy]

There are plans to add features now that the new south entrance is in use. The new south entrance is part of a bigger picture to improve access and separate Metros from heavy rail at platform level. Comments are accurate, it looks rather bland inside. Now we wait.

 

[70014IronDuke]

I agree it doesn't look great, but I also think it's worth remembering that this is just a case on the opposite side of the cost vs beauty argument. This was designed by the in house architechture team of a civil engineering consultancy, and the design reflects that, but so does the cost. Almost ever Network Rail project has vastly overrun in both cost and time, yet this station did neither, and that was because it was designed in a cost effective manner, making use of readily available 'prefab' parts. The second you get specialist architects involved, as with HS2 stations, and Brent Cross West even, costs start to skyrocket, not least because with each revision the plans get sent back through the architects, then the civil engineers, and each company will charge a hefty sum for that, especially when specialist parts are involved at the civil stage. By contrast this project was bid for through the Network Rail Framework, and delivery in a cost effective and speedy manner, which is in some ways a refreshing change. This also doesn't mention that the 'prefab' off the shelf parts you see used here are vastly cheaper than custom made pieces of architechture you see in a lot of stations.

At the end of the day its a very simple choice of cost vs beauty, and you just can't have both. In this case there was a set budget, and I highly doubt the project would've gone ahead if it would cost more, it likely was a choice of this station, or no station.

A very interesting post. Clearly, whatever the criticism of the outcome, this Sunderland project should be studied by others planning station rebuilds.

As for those who seem to be running down Greggs, a business journalist I know holds them in very high esteem. She told me (now a few years ago, I admit) that the owners are very conscious of the social conditions of some of their patrons and their social responsibilities to the communities they serve - genuine ESG people well before it became the trendy thing to do.

 

[greyman42]

I was there the other night for a train at 22.00 and it was pretty grim. Vast open, empty space. Not a soul about. I'm sure it's better during the day, but I don't think I'll be there again at night

If you need to catch a train at night you will, if not then there is no reason for you to be there. It is not meant to be a social destination.

 

[Tge1435]

I agree it doesn't look great, but I also think it's worth remembering that this is just a case on the opposite side of the cost vs beauty argument. This was designed by the in house architechture team of a civil engineering consultancy, and the design reflects that, but so does the cost. Almost ever Network Rail project has vastly overrun in both cost and time, yet this station did neither, and that was because it was designed in a cost effective manner, making use of readily available 'prefab' parts. The second you get specialist architects involved, as with HS2 stations, and Brent Cross West even, costs start to skyrocket, not least because with each revision the plans get sent back through the architects, then the civil engineers, and each company will charge a hefty sum for that, especially when specialist parts are involved at the civil stage. By contrast this project was bid for through the Network Rail Framework, and delivery in a cost effective and speedy manner, which is in some ways a refreshing change. This also doesn't mention that the 'prefab' off the shelf parts you see used here are vastly cheaper than custom made pieces of architechture you see in a lot of stations.

At the end of the day it’s a very simple choice of cost vs beauty, and you just can't have both. In this case there was a set budget, and I highly doubt the project would've gone ahead if it would cost more, it likely was a choice of this station, or no station.

Good to hear some sense in a comment. The building, walls, floors and everything included are near on the limit structurally to be accepted by the existing beam and bison floor below hence the station is not littered with decoration and alike. It doesn’t help how most press releases are using the original cgis which look a lot different and post VE’d images released just before the build on what it was actually to look like. As with most things it comes down to budget and not quality up here in the North.

There are plans for 3/4no pop up retail/food outlets as well as the main retail areas at either side. This can be seen by the large socket areas at the bottom of the columns. Considering the structural condition of what was left in situ and built on, the full team has done a great job to get something handed over to a structural budget and on time plus with plenty scope to get better over time.

 

[londonbridge]

Been open less than two months and the toilets are already closed due to vandalism……..

 

[Blindtraveler]

That's a poor show, but from an earlier poster basically saying that at night it just feels like a vast empty space with no one there you do wonder if they were leaving themselves open to this potential of antisocial behavior because they just see it as empty and unpoliced or guarded, it's a while since I've been to Sunderland, does this building replace in other words built on the existing footprint of the previous entrance and booking office accessed by escalator from the platform or is this in an entirely different place?

 

[londonbridge]

It’s on the footprint of the old entrance, the Burger King was removed for one.

 

[Snex]

I know it's probably for another thread, but it doesn't really warrant one. Does anyone know why they ripped the roofing down at platform level? It was much nicer in 2010, or so, when they just redone it. Something I've been curious about for awhile.

The new station up stairs is a bit spartan mind, it would be nice for a bit of art, or feature lighting or something, to liven the place up rather than white, white, white and more white. I actually think it's more pleasant waiting downstairs and that's not a compliment.

 

[John Griffiths]

The toilets at Sunderland station have been closed, after being "trashed by vandals", according to the Sunderland Echo.

 

[londonbridge]

Yes, I saw they were shut on the way back from last weeks game and mentioned it in my post last Sunday, although at that point I wasn’t aware of exactly how long they’d been closed for, nor had I seen the Echo coverage.

 

[danbarjon]

Has there always been 5 car 80x stop markers or was that a new thing with the new station building? I noticed one at the end of Platform 3 at the new station building end of the platform. It has made me wonder as to what TOC would use these.

 

[Viper]

Has there always been 5 car 80x stop markers or was that a new thing with the new station building? I noticed one at the end of Platform 3 at the new station building end of the platform. It has made me wonder as to what TOC would use these.

LNER have a Sunderland service.

I do enjoy the comments of people expecting something from Grand Designs, but if it had been built to look amazing they would probably be questioning the cost of it. It certainly could use some colour, I suspect Northern will do something to add some branding in there at some point which will help to break up the clinical look.

 

[Benjwri]

Has there always been 5 car 80x stop markers or was that a new thing with the new station building? I noticed one at the end of Platform 3 at the new station building end of the platform. It has made me wonder as to what TOC would use these.

LNER run a daily service to Sunderland.

 

[danbarjon]

LNER run a daily service to Sunderland.

Ah yes, but are they usually 5 cars as I was aware they ran 9 cars to Sunderland?

 

[Benjwri]

Ah yes, but are they usually 5 cars as I was aware they ran 9 cars to Sunderland?

Probably just on there for if a unit is short formed, at a guess.

 

[danbarjon]

Probably just on there for if a unit is short formed, at a guess.

Fair enough, thanks for the response.

 

[GrandCentral]

Toilets still closed at Sunderland, they've basically been closed since it opened. Really not good enough and the place still looks like an empty warehouse.

 

[danbarjon]

Toilets still closed at Sunderland, they've basically been closed since it opened. Really not good enough and the place still looks like an empty warehouse.

I agree, it's feels like a greenhouse with nothing inside.

 

[AlterEgo]

Toilets still closed at Sunderland, they've basically been closed since it opened.

What a terrible look for the railway. Any idea what the issue is?

 

[HSTEd]

It seems rather silly to construct a giant departure hall like that in a way that ensures that 90+% of the floor area can't see a departure screen well enough to read it.

I know they probably want to pack it with overpriced retail units, but still, that hall is large enough to have an old style Solari display in it!

 

[danbarjon]

What a terrible look for the railway. Any idea what the issue is?

Vandalism apparently.. but one would wonder if they've been open long enough to be vandalised

 

[AlterEgo]

Vandalism apparently.. but one would wonder if they've been open long enough to be vandalised

It's Sunderland, a single day would be enough!

 

[danbarjon]

It's Sunderland, a single day would be enough!

Yes possibly however whilst I'm not in the field of fixing toilets I don't think it would take as long as they've been closed to get it fixed. Maybe they've just given up.. who knows..

 

[vic-rijrode]

It's Sunderland, a single day would be enough!

Have you ever been to Sunderland? Recently?

 

[AlterEgo]

Have you ever been to Sunderland? Recently?

Yes and yes. I was there in January; a cousin lives in Roker.

 

[Pinza-C55]

I remember the toilets at the old North entrance which was demolished in 1966. It was always said that the North entrance "smelt of fish" for some reason.