Sunderland metro

Client: Christiani & Nielsen

Services Provided

Civil, Structural, Architectural, Electrical & Mechanical

Design of:

• Permanent Way Alignment & Detailing
• Road and Rail Bridges
• 4 Surface Stations
• 2 Underground Stations
• Cut and Cover Tunnels
• Earthworks and Retaining Structures
• Highway and Cycle Track Alterations

Special Features
The project, know as Sunderland Direct, involved the extension of the Tyne & Wear Metro System for Pelaw to Sunderland along an existing railway, and construction of a new 5km line from Sunderland to South Hylton.

New chord lines and junctions are to be provided at Pelaw to link the existing metro lines to the Network Rail line to Sunderland.

At Sunderland, track lowering was required to provide electrification clearances through Sunderland North Tunnel and the existing station is to be remodelled for commercial development. The new line commences with a new junction and curve leading into a new underground station beneath the new Park Lane Interchange bus station.

Most of the route was converted for cycle use and had to be converted back to rail standards, except in Pallion area, where a deviation was required, involving major earthworks and a 99m cut cover tunnel.

The £98 million project was a Public - Private Partnership funded by Network Rail, the Government and Nexus with a grant from the European Regional Development Fund.