Make sure Metros run to Sunderland on Wednesday, Lib Dems urge Nexus
Lib Dem councillors have hit out at Nexus bosses for treating Sunderland as second best as Metros aren't running to Sunderland today (7th November) - and are now calling on Nexus to make sure Wearside isn't cut off again on Wednesday this week.
Councillors in Sunderland have hit out at Metro services serving Wearside being cancelled today - even though the planned rail strike affecting national rail signals on tracks between Pelaw and South Hylton isn't going ahead.
Opposition Lib Dems in the city argue that Sunderland is repeatedly treated as second best and that a similar situation would never be allowed to occur in Newcastle.
Councillors are now calling on Nexus chiefs to make sure that Metro services aren't cancelled again on Wednesday, after that day's strike affecting signals to and from Sunderland was also called off.
Leader of the Lib Dems on Sunderland Council and city councillor for Millfield and Thornholme Niall Hodson said:
"People in Sunderland are rightly fed up of being treated as second best by bosses at Nexus. Despite the national rail strike being called off two days ago, Metro are still blaming the strike for not having any services running today between South Hytlon and Pelaw. To add insult to injury, they haven't even put a rail replacement bus service on.
"I have no doubt that if there was a similar situation affecting Newcastle city centre, Metro would have re-instated services. It just isn't good enough.
"Transport chiefs need to urgently get a grip of the situation and make sure that Sunderland has a Metro service on Wednesday this week. To cancel the service, leave people in Sunderland stranded and blame it on a non-existent strike for a second day this week would be a step too far even for Nexus."