Let Northern trains stop at Seaburn Metro during Sunderland line suspensions

Fulwell councillor Malcolm Bond is calling for national rail trains to stop at Seaburn station whilst Metro services to and from Sunderland are reduced until the new year.

Lib Dem councillor for Fulwell and Seaburn Malcolm Bond has written to Nexus, Network Rail and Northern Trains bosses calling for national rail trains passing through Seaburn Metro to make an additional stop.

It is hoped this would ease pressure on crowded Metros which are only running once every 24 minutes until the new year.

Metro services between Pelaw and Park Lane have been reduced until the new year when Network Rail hopes to have repaired an electricity substation at Pallion which needs to be completely re-built.

Nexus, who aren't running any Metros at all between Park Lane and South Hylton, say they can only run Metros once every 24 minutes to avoid overloading the existing power supply system whilst the Pallion substation is out of action.

Commenting, Lib Dem councillor Malcolm Bond said:

"With Nexus only running services between Sunderland and Newcastle once every 24 minutes until the new year, Metros are struggling to cope with the extra capacity by the time they get to Seaburn. The new timetable is also causing problems for passengers who need to get to work or appointments on time.

"That's why I'm asking Nexus and Network Rail to urgently come to an agreement to let Northern Rail trains passing through Seaburn to stop here.

"Whilst I appreciate that Northern trains can't stop at every single Metro station between Sunderland and Heworth, Seaburn serves a significant population in the north of the city. Having extra trains stopping here would ease pressure on the Metros and give passengers desperately needed additional services and options between our area and both Newcastle and Sunderland city centres."