'Huge frustration' over antisocial behaviour at new Sunderland train station

Since opening to the public in December, 2023, the multi-million pound redeveloped Sunderland Station southern concourse, at Market Square, has faced several issues.

Along with criticism from opposition Lib Dem and Conservative politicians about the new building’s design and interior, the station’s commercial units appear to sit unused months on and the site has become a magnet for anti-social behaviour.

The rail station’s public toilets have been put out of action several times due to vandalism, as well as the station’s lifts being damaged and staff being “targeted” while attempting to clean facilities.

Issues around Sunderland Station were raised at a recent meeting of Sunderland City Council on Wednesday (September 18), at City Hall.

Councillor Andrew Wood, Liberal Democrat representative for Millfield, raised a list of issues with the train station and asked for time-scales on when they would be addressed.

“The previous [council] leader described the new Sunderland Station as ‘stunning and ambitious’,” he said.

“Does the new council leader agree with that assessment with it standing empty, with broken toilets, escalators which break down regularly and routinely attracting vandalism”.

Councillor Michael Mordey, new Labour leader of Sunderland City Council, said Sunderland Station is owned by Network Rail and operated by Northern Trains and was “not the responsibility of the council”.

However, the council leader expressed his “huge frustration” over the anti-social behaviour issues and said he was working with the council’s anti-social behaviour team and the train station’s management to find a solution.

This included the issue being escalated to Northern Trains’ area director with a meeting due next month, councillors were told.

Cllr Mordey said: “Whilst it is hugely frustrating that the situation has arisen at the new concourse with anti-social behaviour issues, the council continues to support Northern in their endeavours to tackle the situation and market the facilities.

“I met with the station manager and our anti-social behaviour team on Monday, we have a follow-up meeting which has been escalated up the channels to the area director for Northern.

“Because I am keen that the council helps facilitate these discussions”.

Cllr Mordey, commenting on anti-social behaviour issues, continued: “We’re seeing the fact that this is the result of 14 years of austerity with the youth provision and youth services and police numbers dwindling.

“The council acknowledge we have a role to facilitate discussions around improving the situation at the station and we will do all we can to support Northern in resolving these issues”.

Cllr Andrew Wood said the “people of Sunderland have been putting up with this for a long time” and asked for a more specific date on when “action will be taken”.

Cllr Mordey, responding, said there would be a second meeting with Northern on October 3, 2024, and added it was “easy for opposition councillors to stand up and point the finger”.

“What have you done to improve the situation in Sunderland Station apart from getting up and criticising the council?,” he added.

Sunderland Station’s redevelopment has been in the making for some time and the first phase of the project included a new southern concourse and associated car park, with future phases also including plans for a revamped northern entrance and transformed underground platform.

Councillor Graeme Miller, who was Labour leader of Sunderland City Council when the redeveloped southern concourse opened, described it as “stunning” compared to its previous appearance.

The large, glass wraparound structure had been built to replace the train station’s former southern entrance, which was rebuilt in the 1960s and demolished in 2022.

However, the replacement southern concourse was criticised by some for its lack of seating and shops at the time of opening, with Conservative councillor Dominic McDonough, speaking to the BBC last year, describing it as an “empty warehouse” and “big disappointment”.

In January, 2024, Cllr Graeme Miller, then Sunderland City Council Labour leader, responded to criticism at a council meeting by pointing out that the building is owned by Network Rail and was designed by the organisation’s internal design team to meet set standards and requirements, with the council having “a limited input”.

However, he stressed Network Rail is “working with council officers to examine how we can enhance the appearance of the wall space on the concourse” and that adding retail units have always been planned.

North East-based chain Little Coffee Bean has been serving hot beverages from one of its tuk-tuks at the station this year, with aims to “expand in to a custom-built kiosk with a seating area”.

When contacted for comment following Sunderland City Council’s full council meeting this week, Northern Trains stressed work was ongoing with partners to improve the “customer experience” for passengers on Wearside.

A spokesperson for Northern said: “We are working in collaboration with Sunderland City Council and other partners to improve the customer experience for passengers at Sunderland Station.

“Unfortunately, due to repeated acts of vandalism the men’s toilets at the station have been closed so repairs can be made.

“More worrying is that members of our staff have also been the target of abuse while attempting to clean these facilities, which is totally unacceptable.

“We have seen similar vandalism to the south concourse lift, which took it out of action while it was awaiting repairs.

“The north concourse lift has also been out of service, although that is not connected to station vandalism. Repairs are in hand and we hope to have it working again very soon.”