FEARS were raised last night that Sunderland could lose its rail link with the North-West.
The Shadow Strategic Rail Authority (SSRA), responsible for granting the franchise for Trans-Pennine trains, has left Sunderland off its list of cities which any new operator must serve. There are worries this could mean Wearside may lose its six trains a day to Liverpool and the two trains per day to Manchester Airport.
It is thought any new operator could bypass Sunderland.
This would force travellers in the city to change at Newcastle for trains to the North-West.
The SSRA is currently negotiating over who the new operator of the Trans-Pennine route will be, with a decision expected next year.
An SSRA spokeswoman said: "All that has gone out at the moment is an indicative map.
"Nothing has been set in stone, so we can't speculate what will happen to Sunderland."
Wearside company Arriva said it would continue to run trains from Sunderland to both Liverpool and Manchester Airport if it won the franchise
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