Newport Sunderland Train

Newport, in Gwent, is a cathedral city in south east Wales. The city lies on the River Usk close to its confluence with the Severn estuary and is roughly 10 miles to the east of Cardiff, Wales' capital city. Newport has been a port since medieval times when its castle was built by the Normans. The city grew rapidly when the port began to play an important role in exports of coal that had been mined in the eastern valleys of South Wales. Newport remained the largest coal exporting port until Cardiff took over in the 1850's.

Newport's main shopping area is the pedestrianised streets of the city centre which include the High Street, Newport Arcade, Market Arcade, Commercial Street, Skinner Street, Bridge Street, Upper Dock Street, Market Street and John Frost Square. There is also the Kingsway Shopping Centre which is an indoor shopping mall.

Newport Transporter Bridge is one of the few remaining working bridges of its type in the world and featured in the film Tiger Bay. Visitors can travel on the suspended cradle most days and can walk over the top of the steel framework on bank holidays. The only other British example is Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge. Open days are occasionally held to view the renovation of the historically important Newport Ship.

Located in Tyne and Wear in the north east of England, the city of Sunderland is a former coal mining and ship building city which has undergone a major transformation over recent decades. The city's former shipyards have been transformed into expensive apartment blocks, the National Glass Centre and the Stadium of Light football ground, home to Sunderland Athletic Football Club.

Getting around Sunderland by public transport is a relatively easy thing to do. The city's bus station, the Park Lane Interchange (supposedly the busiest in the United Kingdom after London Victoria), provides bus services throughout the city. From Park Lane Interchange it is also possible to catch an underground Metro service to destinations within the city. Finally, national coach services can be taken from the bus station to destinations throughout the rest of the United Kingdom.

The Port of Sunderland is the second largest municipally owned port in the U.K. The port offers a total of 17 quays handling cargoes including forest products, non-ferrous metals, steel, aggregates and refined oil products, limestone, chemicals and maritime cranes. It also handles offshore supply vessels and has ship repair and drydocking facilities.