City News

Work kicks off in just a few weeks on the new station for Birmingham that will deliver a bigger, better and brighter New Street for the 40m passengers that use it each year.

Preparatory work will start in September. The first phase of the Gateway project will see Network Rail build a brand new concourse next to the station in what is currently the NCP Pallasades lower-level car park. This car park will close on 1st September 2009 to enable preparatory work to start a few weeks later.

Passengers will not be affected by this work.

The New Street Gateway project, funded by Network Rail, Birmingham City Council, Advantage West Midlands and Centro, will see the 1960s-built station transformed into a landmark, 21st century transport hub.

As this work is taking place off-site, New Street station and The Pallasades shopping centre will stay open throughout.

The new concourse is expected to open to the public in 2012. Then in the second phase of the project, the old concourse will be redeveloped to deliver a world-class station upon completion in 2015.

The New Street Gateway project will double passenger capacity and deliver:

•  a concourse that is three-and-a-half times bigger than at present and enclosed by a giant, light-filled atrium

•  more accessible, brighter and clearer platforms, serviced by over 30 new escalators and over 15 new public lifts

•  a stunning new station façade, adding to Birmingham’s growing reputation for good design

•  better links to and through the station for pedestrians with eight new entrances

•  the stimulus for the physical regeneration of the areas surrounding the station

Jo Kaye, Network Rail's route director, said: "It's an exciting time for the millions of users of New Street station as the £600m transformation of the station begins to move from a vision to a reality.

"With preparatory work just a few weeks off, passengers are one step closer to a massively improved station which will be bigger, brighter and so much better.”

Councillor Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham City Council, added: "The Gateway project will transform New Street into a station that is the envy of the world and act as a catalyst for continued growth in the city. The project is at the heart of the master-plan for Birmingham and we are delighted that preparatory work will be starting this year."

Mick Laverty, chief executive of Advantage West Midlands, said: "New Street Gateway is vital to the regional economy. We anticipate the project will generate over £2bn in transport and wider economic benefits for the region and lead to the creation of over 10,000 jobs, which is why Advantage West Midlands is providing £100m to support the redevelopment.”

Geoff Inskip, chief executive of Centro, the region’s transport authority, concluded: “It’s fantastic to see work get underway on what will become another iconic landmark for the city. This new station, with a Midland Metro tram link stopping right outside, will give passengers the world class public transport system that the West Midlands needs and deserves.”