Station lift and toilets shut after vandal attack

The station underwent a £27m revamp and opened in December 2023

The lift and toilets at a revamped railway station have had to be closed after it was vandalised.

Northern Rail, which operates Sunderland station, also said cleaning staff were the target of abuse.

The company said the men's toilets and the south concourse lift were out of action and being repaired.

Michael Mordey, leader of Sunderland City Council, said the attack was "desperately disappointing" after "significant investment" in the station.

The improvements at Sunderland station took 18 months to complete

The north concourse lift is also shut for repairs but not as a result of vandalism, the company said.

The main southern entrance to the station opened in December 2023, after a £27m revamp which was part of a wider plan to transform the transport hub, including an overhaul of the station's northern entrance.

The project was led by the city council in partnership with Network Rail, Metro operators Nexus, and the two train operators company Grand Central and Northern Rail.

However, in February 2024 the toilets were closed after being repeatedly damaged.

'Mindless behaviour'

Mr Mordey said: "I hope if there is CCTV, anyone seen damaging the station is prosecuted and punished.

"We are working so hard to push forward and grow Sunderland to attract more investment and visitors and this absolutely mindless behaviour is so infuriating."

Northern said the abuse of station staff was "totally unacceptable".

"Repairs to the facilities are in hand and we hope to have the lifts working again very soon," a company spokesman added.