Grand Central Discussion

[Techniquest]

So long as that's what the 180s stick to, then I'll be happily able to avoid them.

No plans to shove them on the 0757 KGX > SUN and 1230 SUN > KGX (SO) yet is there?

 

[spoony]

W/C 03/08/09 all being well with 180112 in new GC livery performing the honours !!

Good stuff. Im looking forward to the new timetable as it makes it a hell of a lot more convenient travelling from Sunderland, which is what I suppose CG want. Im not overly impressed by this on the GC website though http://www.bitterwallet.com/its-official-folks-im-on-the-other-train/13530 I think its a bit patronising to the people of Sunderland and does GC no favours to Sunderland based travellers.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I wonder why GC have not pulled the link to that article yet. Full of people slating them!

 

[Techniquest]

It's [the article linked to] surely much more against NXEC than GC though. And Sunderland's station is a dive, feels like the North's answer to Birmingham New Street in terms of environment when I've been through.

Bit of duff gen about free coffee though, I sure didn't get that in March on my GC bash!

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Bit of duff gen about free coffee though, I sure didn't get that in March on my GC bash!

That's because it's an offer, and was brought out Mid-April.

 

[Techniquest]

Oh right! Well I retract my peeved-off tone then, hadn't heard of that one.

Free coffee you say...Hmm, a trip with GC is getting seriously tempting. Stuff the upcoming tours, GC is calling...

 

[GNERman]

only until end of july...

 

[spoony]

It's [the article linked to] surely much more against NXEC than GC though. And Sunderland's station is a dive, feels like the North's answer to Birmingham New Street in terms of environment when I've been through.

Bit of duff gen about free coffee though, I sure didn't get that in March on my GC bash!

Unfortuently I must agree, I wish they would sort it out as it a true eyesore to the city. That knowledge is made so much worse after seeing pictures in byegone days where it was actually quite decent Unfortuently after it was redesigned by the Luftwaffe it was turned into an underground station then neglected

 

[paul1609]

The Luftwaffe were still bombing Sunderland in 1965?

 

[spoony]

The Luftwaffe were still bombing Sunderland in 1965?

No, but it was "improved" for the world cup in 1966, unfortuently due to the councils laziness it has harldy been improved since. Its all a rather depressing affair really summed up nicely by the new escualtor that was installed then has remained out of service barring one week since

 

[tbtc]

For a city of it's size, Sunderland has a terrible station and a terrible rail service - anything to improve that is a necessary step

 

[paul1609]

Must admit coming from the south i dont think of Sunderland as a proper city. It is a suburb of Newcastle and has facilities accordingly.

 

[GNERman]

sunderland station is going to be refurbished to look more like a tube station...

it hasn't got that bad a rail service, think about it...

3 london trains with GC,
hourley hexham services,
and the 10 minute metro service...

 

[Spaceflower]

Sunderland station is a dive. It got worse after the Metro extension was built. Before this it had natural daylight, decent waiting rooms, seats, sunshine in one area with flowers, even birdsong could be heard!
Oh and a slight smell of diesel Hourly Teesside service, 4 trains per hour to Tynesdide with some extended to Whitehaven, Carlisle, Stranraer, etc and an hourly TPE train.

Now it's lit completely by artificial light which is dim and dingy, has poor seating, is always cold, hums and has a faint smell of electric.

The most important thing that has changed is the atmosphere, not somewhere you want to wait now, its cold, dingy and damp. Designed for efficiency by robots for robots.

 

[RochdalePioneers]

Sunderland station is a dive. It got worse after the Metro extension was built. Before this it had natural daylight, decent waiting rooms, seats, sunshine in one area with flowers, even birdsong could be heard!

The concrete raft has been full length long before the Metro came along. Where was the natural light coming in?

 

[Spaceflower]

Southbund platform, platform 1?. There was hanging baskets and a large area of open sky. In fact right bang on the centre of the island platform right where you land from the stairs. It was actually a strip of open sky with light coming in from over the track on platform 1? but lit the whole station area. You could also look up and see the rear of many large buildings/shops

 

[tbtc]

the 10 minute metro service...

Twelve minute actually

Sunderland lost three trains an hour to Newcastle and the Metro Centre and gained five slower Metro services to Newcastle (only) - not a massive increase in frequecy (and just one train an hour to the Metro Centre now).

It also lost it's direct trains to Leeds/ Manchester, plus the Hartlepools service was half hourly a few years ago

ETA: When did it swap Metro routes? Looking at the map I thought it was on the Whitley Bay line, not the Airport line - did that change, or have I remembered it wrong?

 

[Spaceflower]

Yes and those Metro Centre trains were very well used!

Regarding metro services changing routes a few years ago around the time they realised the metro extension was a crap idea and halved the frequency.

 

[GNERman]

sunderland has been neglected badly but with more gc services and possible metro extension to seaham it could get a lot better

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

Why would the Metro go to Seaham? Washington would be a better place, considering that they pay for the system being as they are within the Tyne & Wear boundary, unlike Seaham!

 

[Spaceflower]

I kind o agree, but where in Washington? I dont think the old station site would be ideal, whereas in Seaham, a metro extension would get right into the heart of the harbour/town centre area. If, however they do extend to Seaham, won't this mean a third route, more new trains and sopme canny congestion elsewhere?

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

The station is halfway up the hill, with all the shops at the bottom, a nice stagger up the hill when laden with shopping! In theory they could create another loop on the Metro system by taking the old leamside route at Pelaw, over the Wear at Fatfield, turn left (new track bed) and then bridge the A19, joining back up at South Hylton... The track beds are still there.

 

[Spaceflower]

Don't know which you are referring to with the station is halfway up the hill. If its Seaham you are neglecting the old trackbed which would take any metro extension right into the heart of Seaham town centre/harbour, which is surely a compulsory requirement of any rapid mass transit system.

With regards to Washington, yeah the trackbed is there, but it doesnt pass within a mile of the galleries/town centre, so would it be worth it?

Another possibilty is Doxy Park, though again would require additional sets.

 

[spoony]

Whilst we are on about the metro, I wish they would reopen the line between Tyne Dock and Brockley Whinns. Just so South Shields had a direct link into Sunderland again instead of having to change at Pelaw.

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Personally, I believe Sunderland & Hartlepool need TOTAL revamps - Although Hartlepool is starting to look better by day. The transport interchange has started work, and a whole lot of wagons have been arriving the past week to drop off materials.

Sunderland, on the other hand, has declined hugely - except from maybe the elevator - Which i've never seen in service. If Sunderland had a new skylight, maybe even thick glass so it doesn't interfere with the above atmosphere and people could walk on it - it would definately brighten up the place. The METRO now runs from Sunderland - South Hylton & Airport, according to "Today's Railways", which is a massive increase. Maybe extending the Metro to Hartlepool & terminating on Platform 2 would be beneficial? Seen as though it's out of service...

 

[spoony]

Personally, I believe Sunderland & Hartlepool need TOTAL revamps - Although Hartlepool is starting to look better by day. The transport interchange has started work, and a whole lot of wagons have been arriving the past week to drop off materials.

Sunderland, on the other hand, has declined hugely - except from maybe the elevator - Which i've never seen in service. If Sunderland had a new skylight, maybe even thick glass so it doesn't interfere with the above atmosphere and people could walk on it - it would definately brighten up the place. The METRO now runs from Sunderland - South Hylton & Airport, according to "Today's Railways", which is a massive increase. Maybe extending the Metro to Hartlepool & terminating on Platform 2 would be beneficial? Seen as though it's out of service...

As a tax payer in Tyne & Wear I hope that never happens

 

[tbtc]

With regards to Washington, yeah the trackbed is there, but it doesnt pass within a mile of the galleries/town centre, so would it be worth it?

How close is it to residential areas?

A Newcastle - Washington - Sunderland - Newcastle loop sounds interesting!

 

[Spaceflower]

It does, it does. I would go as far as saying its probably going to happen at some stage. It does pass along the eastern edge of Washington and rejoins the existing metro network at Heworth. Its not ideally located for either commuting to Newcastle imo nor inward local travel to Washington though it does pass adjacent to some of Washington's large industrial estates!

 

[spoony]

How close is it to residential areas?

A Newcastle - Washington - Sunderland - Newcastle loop sounds interesting!

Hopefully would be part of a re-opened Leamside Line

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

As a tax payer in Tyne & Wear I hope that never happens

Obviously those in Hartlepool would pay equal to that of Tyne & Wear, to make it fair.

 

[spoony]

Obviously those in Hartlepool would pay equal to that of Tyne & Wear, to make it fair.

The thing about the metro though is that it stops every few minutes. Im sure theres not more than about 3 minutes max between stops. If it ran from Hartlepool how long would that take to get punters into Newcastle/Sunderland, also are there enough viable stopping points in between to make it worth it? Would train services south of Sunderland be cut even more to make way for local metro services? Going as far as Seaham would seem reasonable though thas there is a lot of traffic into Sunderland from there.