Network Rail has released new images and an update on the progress being made on the £600m redevelopment of Birmingham's New Street station.
Construction is moving on apace and passengers using New Street station have just six months to wait before the first major changes in 40 years will be unveiled next April. This passenger for one is beyond excited at seeing the long awaited improvements first hand.
In April, we can finally wave goodbye to the outdated 1960s built concourse and entrances (yay!) and embrace the first half of the new (and very much bigger) station concourse which marks the half way point in this major redevelopment.
Chris Montgomery, Network Rail project director says that by 'switching off' the old station and opening the first half of the new concourse next door, Network Rail can keep passengers moving through New Street while it continues rebuilding the existing half of the station and shopping centre above. Completion for the overall scheme is due in 2015.
NR also recently confirmed the new name for the Pallasades shopping centre which sits above the station. As I tipped months ago in EG's Diary pages, it will now be called Grand Central. I have to admit I was slightly disappointed by the lack of vision on this choice. I was hoping for something a little more dynamic and less traditional - hey ho.
A public exhibition is going to be held at the station next week which will be open between 7am-7pm on Monday 8, Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 October.
New Street: Schedule
- Around 1000 construction workers are currently on site at New Street. The main areas of activity include:
- Platforms: Platforms are refurbished one at a time, leaving the other 11 platforms open to allow a full train service to run. Platform 11 is currently closed and will reopen on Sunday 7 October when work will move to Platform 8.
- New concourse: Construction work continues inside what will be the first half of the new concourse next April. This area will start to be fitted out around the New Year ahead of its opening to passengers in April 2013.
- Moor Street Link: This new pedestrian route will open alongside the new concourse in April 2013 providing a link between Moor Street station and the new concourse via Stephenson Street.
- Pallasades/Southside: Demolition is ongoing in several areas including the old car park and the centre of the building to form the new atrium which will open in 2015. The Pallasades remains open throughout the redevelopment. On the south side of the station, construction of the John Lewis department store is well underway.
- Over 30 new escalators and 15 new public lifts will be installed to make it much easier to travel between the platforms and the concourse above.
- Façade: The first sections of stainless steel façade will be installed later this autumn, above Stephenson Street on the north side of the station.
- The station will remain open throughout the redevelopment.
