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Friday 11 Jan 2013

Countdown to New Street's half-time switch over

Region & Route:

Passengers using Birmingham New Street will soon see the first major changes to the station in over 40 years when the huge project to redevelop the station reaches the half way point this April..

In three months time, the station will ‘switch over’ when the existing concourse and entrances which have been in use since the 1960s will close and passengers start to use the first half of the brand new concourse.

Next week, a campaign to inform passengers about the changes kicks off with the first of a series of public exhibitions taking place at New Street station. Passengers will be able to ask questions and pick up information to find out how the changes will affect them.

Chris Montgomery, Network Rail project director said: “We’ve committed to keeping New Street open to passengers throughout the redevelopment and to date, we’ve been able to do most of our work behind the scenes.

“The switchover in April will be the first time passengers see real changes in how they use, and access New Street station. By switching off the old station and opening the first half of the new concourse next door, we can keep passengers moving through New Street while we continue rebuilding the existing half of the station and shopping centre above.”

The first of a series of public exhibitions will take place next week on the main concourse at New Street between 7am-7pm on Tuesday 15, Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 January. Passengers can also find out more by tweeting @networkrail or from www.newstreetnewstart.co.uk.

Rail inister Simon Burns said: “The redevelopment of Birmingham New Street is already proving to be a huge success and illustrates the Government’s commitment to invest in railways and improve one of the country’s major transport hubs. We have committed £160m to this scheme which will deliver a host of improvements including more than doubling concourse capacity and providing easier access and movement for passengers. The switchover marks another major landmark for the redevelopment and hopefully will be a welcome sight to rail users and the people of Birmingham.”

Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The refurbished Birmingham New Street station will provide a much improved transport interchange for the 140,000 passengers who use it every day and these changes are designed to keep passengers and trains moving while this major work goes ahead. This is a vital project for the city, stimulating economic growth and regeneration and, in the newly-named Grand Central, it will provide one of the best-connected retail spaces in the country.”

Around 1000 construction workers are currently on site at New Street, 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 8 is currently closed and will reopen on Sunday 10 February when work will move to Platform 9.

Moor Street Link: This new pedestrian route will open alongside the new concourse in April providing a link between Moor Street station, Smallbrook Queensway and the new concourse via Stephenson Street.

Pallasades/Grand Central & John Lewis: 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.

Façade: The first sections of stainless steel façade were installed above Stephenson Street in December 2012. The entire north elevation and new North West corner entrance is due to be clad when the switchover happens in April.

Cllr Roger Horton, Centro’s lead member for transforming rail, said: “The concourse switchover will give passengers their first real taste of the significant improvements coming their way with this exciting redevelopment.

“But it will also mean a major change in the way New Street Station operates and I would therefore encourage passengers to use the information being provided to help familiarise themselves ahead of the switchover.”

New concourse facts:

- When the first half of the new concourse opens it will have all of the facilities expected in a major station with a new bigger and improved ticket office plus improved access with new up and down escalators and lifts improving access to platforms.

- Navigation Street footbridge at the west end of the station will close to passengers as new entrances will open onto Stephenson Street and Hill Street.

- There will also be new escalators up to the Pallasades to replace the existing ones which will close to allow the old concourse to be rebuilt.

- The existing vehicle station entrance on Smallbrook Queensway will close with access to the new drop off area and short stay car park moving across to Hill Street

- The station taxi rank will temporarily move to Navigation Street.