Fury as University Metro station access fiasco reaches 1-year anniversary

Sunderland Lib Dems slam Nexus for one-year long failure to fix access problems at University Metro station.

Wearside’s Liberal Democrats have hit out at transport bosses at Nexus after the stairs at University Metro in Sunderland have been left cordoned off for over a year – with no re-opening date in sight.

Steps leading to and from both platforms have been inaccessible and cordoned off for over a year, forcing passengers to take long detours down long ramps to access the platforms.

This week marks one year since Lib Dem councillors in the city first raised concerns with Nexus asking when the steps would be fixed and re-opened to the public.

Nexus cite ‘essential maintenance’ as the reason for the closure, but bosses revealed to city councillors that, one year on, no work has taken place and no contractors have even been appointed.

The works may not be completed until the ‘end of the financial year’ in 2027, according to Nexus.

Local Lib Dem campaigner for Millfield and the city centre Ciaran Morrissey said:

“Once again, Nexus treats Sunderland residents as second-best. If a Metro station in central Newcastle didn’t have proper access to the platforms for over a year, there’d be hell on.

“It’s bad enough that these stairs have been closed for a year, but to find out that there’s been no progress made on them whatsoever is a kick in the teeth. It really shows where we are in the pecking order.

“Nexus bosses and Mayor Kim McGuinness need to get a grip and get this sorted instead of letting it drag on until the middle of 2027. People in Sunderland are sick of a second-best public transport service and terrible stations that don’t feel safe and well-maintained. We deserve better than this.”