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Saturday 26 Nov 2005

YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SAY ON NEW STREET STATION

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Rainbow coloured trains, free crisps and robot ticket collectors to tickle passengers are just some of the ideas Birmingham youngsters have put forward as they have their say on the New Street station of the future. Over 150 children sent in their ideas in drawings, sculptures, poems and stories as part of the ‘Imagination Station’ competition run by the Birmingham New Street regeneration project. Councillor Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council was on hand at the Thinktank Museum in Birmingham today to present prizes and certificates to the winning entrants. Peter Strachan, Route Director, Network Rail said: “Plans to regenerate New Street station are underway, however as passengers of the future, we wanted local young people to tell us what they’d like to see in the station. The response we had from children in Birmingham was fantastic and the winning entrants fully deserve the plaudits they’re getting today.” Other ideas suggested include chair-beds for children, a library room, prayer cabins, luggage that converts to seats and chocolate fountains. Following today’s ceremony the winning entries will be displayed on the concourse of New Street station in the weeks running up to Christmas. Councillor Mike Whitby said: “New Street Station is busier than it has ever been, providing a gateway to Birmingham and the West Midlands region and its many opportunities and attractions. Today we recognise the hard work and imagination that has gone into producing the designs we have seen. It is important that we reward this creativity in children because their imagination will be vital in taking us into a new era, building on the economic revitalisation of the city centre, and rail passenger growth.” Work to regenerate New Street Station is progressing well, with one of Europe’s leading technical consultancies, WSP Group plc, appointed earlier this year to oversee a £3.9m design and development study. Architects John McAlsan and Chapman Taylor are expected to create possible designs for the new station in the New Year. The concourse area will be five times bigger than it is now and a glass roof will let natural light flood in. Through the development of New Street, station, capacity will be substantially increased to meet long-term passenger demand. Chris Hayter, Design Director, WSP Group plc added: “The competition entrants have in common the spirit of imagination that forms a central part of the Birmingham New Street design. WSP is delighted to be contributing to the competition and to be leading the design development on behalf of Network Rail, the City Council and the other Stakeholders.”