Last date of train service confirmed

A train operator has confirmed the date of its final service between Sunderland and London.

LNER's service will call at the Wearside city for the last time on 13 December.

The company announced in April it would be scrapping the weekday service because of low passenger numbers. It will start in Newcastle instead.

"In recent years, the once daily service in each direction has seen substantially fewer customers on board as travel trends continue to show a shift towards leisure from business," a spokesperson said.

Grand Central trains between Sunderland and London will continue to run.

Critics of LNER's plans had previously said journey times were the reason for the low passenger numbers.

The service departs Sunderland at 05:39 and returns to the city at 23:22.

The decision to axe it was taken after a consultation LNER carried out in 2021.

Respondents, including politicians, had called for the operator to increase its number of services to cover more popular journey times.

But LNER said it was not possible to increase the number of services, or amend the timetable, because of "limited track capacity" and lack of trains.

LNER axes services from Sunderland to London

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