More rail chaos is expected in the North East after Sunderland Station closed until 'further notice' following flooding.
National Rail confirmed that trains are unable to call at Sunderland until further notice due to flooding causing damage to the railway. This includes services starting and terminating at Newcastle or Hartlepool.
According to rail operators Grand Central Rail, the flooding has affected station infrastructure which is preventing access to the platforms, rather than the tracks.
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Inrix has reported that there is no service on Northern, Grand Central Trains and London North Eastern Railway as a result.
This comes amid planned walkouts on National Rail lines due to strike action on January 3-4 and 6-7. Nexus employees are not part of the action, however, they are unable to operate Tyne and Wear Metro trains between Pelaw and Park Lane during this period.
Sunderland Station is also currently undergoing regeneration work as part of £26 million revamp project with service remaining suspended between Park Lane and South Hylton stations as a result.
Nexus, which operates the Tyne and Wear Metro said: "No trains will run between St Peter's and South Hylton in either direction. This is due to extensive flooding at Sunderland Station and the ongoing substation rebuild at Pallion.
"The service remains suspended between St Peter's and South Hylton in both directions due to extensive flooding at Sunderland and the ongoing repairs to Pallion substation.”
A bus replacement service – the 901 – is currently running between Park Lane and South Hylton in both directions.
However, Metro customers have been told they must 'make their own arrangements' between St Peter's and Park Lane with Nexus unable to 'source alternative travel in this area'.
A Grand Central Rail spokesperson said: “We've just had notification that, due to flooding causing damage, Sunderland station will be closed this week. This will affect us running to/from Sunderland tomorrow (Tuesday), Thursday 5th and Sunday 8th [of] January. Southbound services will be starting at Hartlepool. Northbound services will be terminating at St Peter's.
“We're working on alternative arrangements for those travelling from Sunderland and will update when known. Apologies if affected.”
While responding to tweets from passengers on social media, a Grand Central Rail spokesperson added that damage has affected station infrastructure which is preventing access to the platforms, rather than the tracks.
National Rail also issued the following statement: “Trains are unable to call at Sunderland until further notice due to flooding causing damage to the railway. Services to/from this station may terminate/start at Newcastle or Hartlepool.
"Trains from Sunderland to London Kings Cross will start at Hartlepool. Customers may use their ticket on CrossCountry services between Newcastle and York where they can catch the service from York to London Kings Cross."
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