Getting Around Sunderland Without a Car

Sunderland is one of the easier places in the North East to live without a car. The Tyne and Wear Metro runs through the middle of the city, the main station has direct trains to Newcastle, Teesside and London, Park Lane Interchange is the hub for local buses, and the riverside and coast are well served by traffic-free cycle paths. Here is a practical guide to getting around Sunderland, and out of it, without driving.

The Metro Green line

The Tyne and Wear Metro Green line runs from South Hylton, on the west side of the city, through Sunderland and up the coast to Newcastle and on to Newcastle International Airport. Within the city it calls at South Hylton, Pallion, Millfield, University, Park Lane, Sunderland, St Peter's, Stadium of Light and Seaburn, before heading north through East Boldon towards South Tyneside, Gateshead and Newcastle city centre. It gives a direct, no-change route to Newcastle and the airport.

Nexus, which runs the Metro, has been introducing its new fleet of trains on the Sunderland line. Between Pelaw and Sunderland the Metro shares track with national rail services, so planned engineering works can close the Sunderland section for days at a time, as happened during the 2026 summer upgrades. Check the Nexus travel updates before you travel, especially at weekends.

Best for: everyday trips across the city and commuting to Newcastle.

Sunderland station

Sunderland station sits underground beneath the city centre, with Metro and mainline trains sharing the same platforms. Northern runs trains along the Durham Coast line, north to Newcastle and south to Seaham, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough. Grand Central runs direct services to London King's Cross via Hartlepool and York, which means Sunderland has its own through trains to the capital without a change at Newcastle or Durham.

The station is part of a council-led redevelopment with Network Rail, Nexus and the train operators, and it has been the focus of track upgrades in 2026. When engineering work is planned, rail replacement buses run instead, so it is worth checking with National Rail Enquiries before a long journey.

Best for: day trips to Newcastle or Teesside and direct trains to London.

Park Lane Interchange and local buses

Park Lane Interchange, on the southern edge of the city centre, is Sunderland's main bus station, with a Metro station of the same name directly beneath it. Most local and regional services start or stop here, so it is the easiest place to change between the Metro and the bus network. Buses also run along Fawcett Street and through the centre.

Local bus services across Sunderland, Washington and Houghton-le-Spring are run mainly by Go North East and Stagecoach, with routes out to Durham, South Shields, Newcastle and the Durham coast. Times and routes change from time to time, so use the operators' own websites or apps, or the Nexus journey planner, to plan a trip. Multi-operator tickets let you mix bus and Metro on a single journey.

Best for: reaching Washington, Houghton, Durham and the suburbs.

Walking the city centre and the riverside

The city centre is compact. It is a short walk from Park Lane through Holmeside and Fawcett Street to Keel Square and Culture House, and from there down to the riverside. Since October 2025 the Keel Crossing footbridge has linked the Riverside Sunderland site on the south bank with the Stadium of Light side of the river, giving walkers and cyclists a traffic-free alternative to the Wearmouth Bridge.

Best for: getting between the station, Keel Square and the river on foot.

Cycling

Sunderland is one end of the C2C, the coast-to-coast route from Cumbria, and the National Cycle Network route along the Consett and Sunderland Railway Path follows the former railway into the city, along the riverside and through the marina to finish at the beach at Roker. From there the seafront promenade continues north past Seaburn. Within the city, the Keel Crossing is open only to people walking, wheeling and cycling. It continues the Keel Line, the strip of paving in Keel Square that marks the length of the Naess Crusader, the largest ship launched on the Wear, so you can follow it from the square across the river to the Sheepfolds side near the stadium.

There is secure cycle storage at the council's Station Car Park on Holmeside. Check Nexus's current rules before planning to take a bike on the Metro. For longer rides, the Jackson Trail, a Cycling UK weekender route, crosses the Wear on the Keel Crossing.

Best for: leisure rides along the river and coast, and short trips across town.

Match days at the Stadium of Light

The Stadium of Light is one of the easiest grounds in the country to reach without a car. Stadium of Light and St Peter's Metro stations are both a short walk away, and the Keel Crossing and Wearmouth Bridge bring fans on foot from the city centre. Expect queues for the Metro after the final whistle. Our match day guide has more on getting there and back.

Best for: supporters who would rather not deal with match day parking.

Taxis

Licensed hackney carriages use ranks in the city centre, including at the station, and can be hailed in the street. Private hire vehicles must be booked in advance through a licensed operator. Both are licensed by Sunderland City Council, and a licensed vehicle displays plates and badges. If you are driving yourself for part of the journey, see our guide on where to park in Sunderland, including park and ride at St Peter's.

Best for: late nights and journeys the Metro does not cover.

Frequently asked questions

Which Metro stations are in Sunderland? The Metro Green line calls at South Hylton, Pallion, Millfield, University, Park Lane, Sunderland, St Peter's, Stadium of Light and Seaburn within the city, before continuing north to Newcastle and the airport.

Can you get a direct train from Sunderland to London? Yes. Grand Central runs direct services from Sunderland station to London King's Cross via Hartlepool and York, and Northern runs local trains to Newcastle, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough.

Where is the main bus station in Sunderland? Park Lane Interchange, on the southern edge of the city centre, is Sunderland's main bus station, with Park Lane Metro station directly beneath it. Most local services are run by Go North East and Stagecoach.

Spotted a transport detail we should update? Get in touch.