88-551: Birmingham New Street , also known as New Street station , is the largest and busiest of the three main railway stations in Birmingham city centre , England, and a central hub of the British railway system . It is a major destination for Avanti West Coast services from London Euston , Preston , Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley and West Midlands Trains services from Liverpool Lime Street and London Euston both via
176-757: A multi-storey car park dating from the 1970s. The car park closed in May 2012; it was demolished to provide space for the new concourse and was rebuilt. Stephenson Tower, a 20-storey residential tower block, was built alongside the station between 1965 and 1966. The tower, designed by the City Architect of Birmingham , was demolished in March 2012 as part of the station redevelopment. In 1987, twelve different horse sculptures by Kevin Atherton, titled Iron Horse , were erected between New Street station and Wolverhampton at
264-601: A trainshed with a glass and steel roof comprising two trussed arches, 58 ft (18 m) wide by 620 ft (189 m) long, and 67 ft 6 in (21 m) wide by 600 ft (183 m) long. It was designed by Francis Stevenson, chief engineer to the LNWR. The extension was opened on 8 February 1885. On completion, New Street had nearly doubled in size and became one of the largest stations in Britain, covering an area of over twelve acres (4.9 ha). In early 1885,
352-690: A "depressing underground bunker" and by Simon Jenkins as "hideous". The power signal box at New Street was completed in 1964 on the site of the former turntable, housing the Westpac Geographical Interlocking & Signalmens push button control panel (the largest relay interlocking in the world when installed) and also the Railway Telephone Exchange. It is a brutalist building with corrugated concrete architecture, designed by John Bicknell and Paul Hamilton in collaboration with William Robert Headley ,
440-483: A 6-8 minute frequency. Birmingham Moor Street is the city's second busiest station and is currently served by local trains for the lines through Shirley and Henley-in-Arden to Stratford-upon-Avon and to Leamington via Solihull , and Chiltern Clubman services to London Marylebone. Chiltern also operate a limited number of weekday services from Marylebone terminating at Moor Street formed of class 67 locomotives and hauled coaching stock. On summer Sundays it
528-453: A central roadway, Queens Drive. Traffic grew steadily and, by 1900, New Street had an average of 40 trains an hour departing and arriving, rising to 53 trains in the peak hours. In 1846, the LNWR had obtained an act of Parliament, the London and Birmingham Railway (New Street Station) Act 1846 ( 9 & 10 Vict. c. ccclix), to extend their line into the centre of Birmingham, which involved
616-469: A competitor for traffic for the north west. The S&BR had opened its line as far as Wolverhampton on 12 November 1849, but was unable to get access to Birmingham. Perkins wrote in 1952, referring to the Shrewsbury and Birmingham and the Shrewsbury and Chester companies: [The LNWR] became the bitter enemy of both of the smaller systems, and strove to crush them by every means in its power. The story
704-520: A completely new station in the city. Work began on the redevelopment on 26 April 2010. Construction was completed in phases to minimise disruption. On 28 April 2013, one half of the new concourse was opened to the public and the old 1960s concourse was closed for redevelopment, along with the old entrances. The complete concourse opened on 20 September 2015, the Grand Central shopping centre four days later. The refurbished Pallasades Shopping Centre
792-554: A connection at the Birmingham end; this was authorised separately after considerable debate over the preferred site; opinion at first was that there would only be one main station. The station selected was what became New Street station, although that name was not used at first. It too was authorised on 3 August 1846, by the London and Birmingham Railway (New Street Station) Act 1846 ( 9 & 10 Vict. c. ccclix), which included nearly
880-407: A cost of £12,000. One stands on platform 7 at New Street. Due to its enclosed sub-surface platforms, New Street was designated as an underground station by the fire service. In the 1990s, a number of changes had to be made to the station in order to comply with stricter fire regulations, introduced for underground stations as a result of the 1987 King's Cross fire . In 1993, a new enclosed footbridge
968-425: A diversionary route for through passenger services, and it too was electrified: Bescot – Bushbury – Stafford was opened to electric trains on 24 January 1966, and Stechford - Bescot on 15 August 1966. A major modernisation of Birmingham New Street station was undertaken as part of the work. In the 1960s a number of branch lines had been closed as road-based passenger transport, and private car ownership, increased. It
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#17327728363801056-459: A first class lounge and Network West Midlands also provides a public transport information point for the station. The station is a penalty fare station for West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway (West Midlands Trains' brands ). This scheme is operated both onboard trains and at the automatic ticket barriers at the station. The other train operating companies that use the station do not operate penalty fare schemes. The station
1144-469: A mile from Wolverhampton, although there was a Wolverhampton station. So it was that the LNWR projected a direct line between Birmingham and Wolverhampton. In the 1846 session of Parliament, the Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Stour Valley Railway was promoted. Its concept had originally included a branch towards Stourbridge ; this was now omitted, but the reference to the Stour in the title remained. In fact
1232-667: A mile of route from near Curzon Street, as well as the new station. The authorised capital was £35,000. So the Stour Valley Line was authorised, with the LNWR, the Birmingham Canal and the S&;BR having large holdings. However an act of Parliament of 1846 gave the LNWR control of the Birmingham Canal Navigation company's system, so that the LNWR at once became the majority shareholder of
1320-419: A new exterior facade and a new entrance on Stephenson Street. New Street station was built in central Birmingham by the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) between 1846 and 1854, on the site of several streets in a marshy area known as "The Froggery"; it replaced several earlier rail termini on the outskirts of the centre, most notably Curzon Street , which had opened in 1838 and was no longer adequate for
1408-482: A number of sidings on the station for the stabling of trains; these are between platforms 5/6, 7/8 and 9/10. The bay platforms at either end of platform 12 were removed during the 2015 refurbishment. The sidings in front of New Street signal box have also been removed. Still in existence, but out of use, is the "Royal Mail tunnel" which connected the "b" end of the station platforms to the former sorting office (now called The Mailbox) alongside Suffolk Street. The tunnel to
1496-423: A recollection of the extraordinary scene witnessed daily at Birmingham Central Railway Station. The roof of the original station was strengthened with additional steel tie bars during 1906–07, as a precaution following the collapse of a similar roof which killed six people at Charing Cross station in 1905. Midland Railway trains that had used Curzon Street began to use New Street from 1854; however, its use by
1584-672: A result of the First World War . In 1923, the LNWR and Midland Railway, with others, were grouped into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) by the Railways Act 1921 . In 1948, the railways were nationalised and came under the control of British Railways . During the Second World War , Cowper's roof sustained extensive bomb damage as a result of air raids during the Birmingham Blitz . After
1672-587: A result of the problems with the existing station, proposals to redevelop the station gained traction in the mid-2000s. A feasibility study was approved in January 2005. Designs were shown to the public in February 2006 for a new Birmingham New Street Station, in a project known as Gateway Plus . A regeneration scheme was launched in 2006 and evolved through names such as Birmingham Gateway, Gateway Plus and New Street Gateway. The scheme proposed complete rebuilding of
1760-608: A terminus for trains from the Stour Valley Line , which entered the station from the Wolverhampton direction. On the formal opening day, the LNWR's Curzon Street station was closed to regular passenger services and trains from the London direction started using New Street. The station was constructed by Messrs. Fox, Henderson & Co . and designed by Edward Alfred Cowper of that firm, who had previously worked on
1848-520: A traincrew depot at the station and stables some trains overnight around the station. For the most part, it uses Soho TMD for electric traction units; its non-electric units are kept at Tyseley TMD to the south-east of Birmingham. CrossCountry also operates a traincrew depot at the station; it uses Tyseley TMD for the Class 170 units and its Voyagers are based at Central Rivers TMD . The basic Monday to Saturday off-peak service in trains per hour (tph)
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#17327728363801936-641: Is Birmingham International , which serves Birmingham Airport and the National Exhibition Centre . New Street is the hub of the West Midlands rail network, as well as being a major national hub. The station is one of twenty operated and managed by Network Rail. Network Rail also provides operational staff for the station. Station staff are provided on all platforms to assist with the safe dispatch of trains. For operational reasons, all trains departing New Street must be dispatched via
2024-433: Is 1,110 feet long, 205 feet wide and 80 feet high, composed of iron and glass, without the slightest support except that afforded by the pillars on either side. If the reader notices the turmoil and bustle created by the excitement of the arrival and departure of trains, the trampling of crowds of passengers, the transport of luggage, the ringing of bells and the noise of two or three hundred porters and workmen, he will retain
2112-849: Is Birmingham's principal railway station and one of the principal stations of the UK rail network. The station is managed by Network Rail and its main entrance is located on Stephenson Street. New Street is the main gateway for most people arriving in the city and serves most of the city rail services, providing links all across the United Kingdom. Services are provided by Avanti West Coast , CrossCountry , Transport for Wales and West Midlands Trains . Avanti West Coast CrossCountry Some services continue towards Aberdeen, Glasgow Central, Paignton and Penzance. West Midlands Trains Transport for Wales West Midlands Metro services from Wolverhampton St. Georges terminate here, and run at up to
2200-533: Is allocated the IATA location identifier QQN . All trains arriving and departing must use one of the several tunnels around the station. Network Rail, as well as operating the station, operate a customer reception located on the main concourse, provide mobility assistance and train dispatch. The booking office and barriers are operated by Avanti West Coast , with customer service or floor walker staff provided by CrossCountry and Network Rail. Avanti West Coast operates
2288-448: Is as follows: Avanti West Coast Birmingham station group The Birmingham station group is a station group of three railway stations in Birmingham city centre , consisting of New Street , Moor Street , and Snow Hill . The station group is printed on national railway tickets as BIRMINGHAM STNS and does not include the airport station of Birmingham International , which is located some 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east of
2376-438: Is designated as underground. There were extractor fans that removed fumes, but these were removed with the refurbishment of the concourse and shopping centre above the platforms. They were replaced with blowers, as there are still a large number of services operated by diesel trains despite the whole station having been electrified in the 1960s. There have been environmental concerns about the level of pollution, especially NOx , in
2464-616: Is in operation between Moor Street and Snow Hill through a tunnel, and since mid-2016 the Midland Metro provides a link between Snow Hill and New Street. Birmingham New Street and Moor Street are close to the major shopping centres in the city including Grand Central (formerly known as The Pallasades) and the Bullring . All three stations have a good interchange with bus services mostly operated by National Express West Midlands . Stour Valley Line The Stour Valley Line
2552-815: Is managed by West Midlands Trains. Snow Hill provides a link between the Snow Hill Lines and the West Midlands Metro . Snow Hill is served by regular Chiltern services to and from London Marylebone. Some Chiltern services continue beyond Birmingham to Kidderminster . The Chiltern service is: Local services from Snow Hill, like most local services in the West Midlands, are supported by Transport for West Midlands . They are operated by West Midlands Railway. There are six West Midlands Railway trains per hour (tph) passing through Snow Hill in each direction, running as follows: Eastbound: Westbound: Tickets marked as BIRMINGHAM STNS may be used to exit
2640-488: Is sordid and remarkable, and it seems almost incredible that a great public institution should have descended to such paltry devices to injure or destroy its competitors. The Stour Valley line was practically complete in 1851, but the LNWR made no attempt to finalise the work or prepare it for opening. In response to an application to Parliament by the S&BR, the LNWR announced that the Stour Valley Railway
2728-464: Is that at the great Birmingham Station…" When first opened, New Street was described as the "Grand Central Station at Birmingham" by Richard Foster. The internal layout of tracks and platforms was designed by Robert Stephenson and his assistants; the station contained a total of nine platforms, comprising four through and five bay platforms. The main entrance building on Stephenson Street incorporated Queens Hotel, designed by John William Livock , which
Birmingham New Street railway station - Misplaced Pages Continue
2816-546: Is the present-day name given to the railway line between Birmingham and Wolverhampton , in England. It was authorised as the Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Stour Valley Railway in 1836; the title was often shortened to the Stour Valley Railway . The line opened in 1852, and the line is now the main line between those places. Associated with its construction was the building of the major passenger station that
2904-550: Is used by steam locomotives running tourist specials between Snow Hill and Stratford upon Avon and trains between Snow Hill and Tyseley for Vintage Trains . The station is located on Moor Street Queensway opposite the Pavilions Shopping Centre and the Bull Ring. Services are provided by Chiltern Railways and West Midlands Trains. Birmingham Snow Hill is located on Colmore Row and Livery Street and
2992-679: The Midland Railway and the LNWR had both given guarantees of dividend to the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway . In time the B&;GR company was absorbed by the Midland Railway, and the LNWR guarantee remained as that company's obligation. On the opening of New Street station, an agreement was reached that the guarantee from the LNWR would be cancelled, and in return the Midland Railway was given access to New Street station. (It had been using Curzon Street station.) The allegiance of
3080-528: The Railways Act 1921 , into one or other of four new large companies. The LNWR and the Midland Railway were constituents of the new London, Midland and Scottish Railway (the LMS), which from 1923 operated the Stour Valley Line and New Street station. In 1948 the railways were nationalised, following the Transport Act 1947 and British Railways were the new owner. In the 1960s a major scheme of modernisation
3168-480: The Rugby–Birmingham–Stafford line , an important and very heavily used part of the railway network. Birmingham's first main railway passenger terminal was Curzon Street station ; it opened in 1838, although it was not given that name until 1852; at first it was simply the Birmingham station. The Grand Junction Railway opened to a temporary station at Vauxhall on 4 July 1837, approaching by curving round
3256-673: The West Coast Main Line . The CrossCountry network centres on New Street, as well as local and suburban services within the West Midlands ; these include those on the Cross-City Line between Lichfield Trent Valley , Redditch and Bromsgrove , and the Chase Line to Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley . The three-letter station code is BHM. The station is named after New Street , which runs parallel to
3344-533: The Grand Junction Railway's sweep through Aston, and instead cutting through the high ground in central Birmingham. There was to be a Dudley branch, though this was not built in the form originally authorised. There were sixteen railways proposed in the immediate area in the 1846 session, and there was much controversy over which of them should be authorised. There was a strong body of opinion that only one line between Birmingham and Wolverhampton
3432-508: The Midland Railway was limited by the fact that those trains going between Derby and Bristol would have to reverse, so many trains bypassed New Street and ran through Camp Hill . This was remedied in 1885, when a new link to the south, the Birmingham West Suburban Railway , was extended into New Street, which allowed through trains to and from the south-west to run via New Street without reversing. To cope with
3520-477: The S&BR was given a better route over the GWR line. In 1966 it was reopened for the electrification, giving access for Shrewsbury trains to Wolverhampton High Level station, and electric train access to the important carriage sidings at Oxley, on the S&BR line. The 1960s modernisation of Birmingham New Street station was considered by many to be unsatisfactory; the platform areas were dark and cold, and access to
3608-465: The S&BR. The latter company then announced its intention of running a train anyway, on 1 December 1851. However the running powers held by the S&BR were for the Stour Valley line, which did not include entry to New Street station, which was part of a separate construction, and the LNWR physically obstructed the running of the train. The S&BR threatened a parliamentary bill to resolve
Birmingham New Street railway station - Misplaced Pages Continue
3696-409: The Stour Valley Railway. A further act of Parliament of 1847 permitted the LNWR to lease the (unbuilt) Stour Valley Line. The LNWR embarked on a prolonged and underhand attack on the S&BR, which it saw as a competing line for Lancashire and Cheshire traffic that the LNWR wished to have exclusively. It purposely delayed completing the line, in order to disadvantage the S&BR, which it now saw as
3784-428: The UK and the busiest outside London, with 35.3 million passenger entries and exits between April 2023 and March 2024. It is also the busiest interchange station outside London, with over 5 million passengers changing trains at the station annually. In 2018, New Street had a passenger satisfaction rating of 92%, the third highest in the UK. The original New Street station opened in 1854. At the time of its construction,
3872-494: The acquisition of some 1.2 hectares (3 acres) of land and the demolition of around 70 houses in Peck Lane, The Froggery, Queen Street and Colmore Street. The Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion chapel, on the corner of Peck Lane and Dudley Street, which had only been built six years before, was also demolished. The station was formally opened on 1 June 1854, although the uncompleted station had already been in use for two years as
3960-535: The city centre next to Birmingham Airport and National Exhibition Centre . There are two other railway stations in central Birmingham, namely Five Ways in the south west of the city centre with connections on the New Street to Redditch line, and Jewellery Quarter in the north west of the city centre with connections on the Snow Hill to Worcester line and the West Midlands Metro . Birmingham New Street
4048-483: The company was colloquially referred to as the Stour Valley Railway. The route was to run between a new central station at Birmingham, and Wolverhampton, joining the Grand Junction Railway at Bushbury , north of Wolverhampton. The line was to start in central Birmingham and run broadly north-west, following the Birmingham Canal , which had already attracted much industry to adjacent areas. This meant avoiding
4136-503: The design of the Crystal Palace . When completed, New Street had the largest arched single-span iron and glass roof in the world, spanning a width of 211 feet (64 m) and being 840 ft (256 m) long. It held this title for 14 years until St Pancras station opened in 1868. It was originally intended to have three spans, supported by columns; however, it was soon realised that the supporting columns would severely restrict
4224-505: The end of the nineteenth century, duplicating the tunnel section and diverting the Midland lines from Derby and Gloucester (via Camp Hill). This work was completed in May 1896. The Midland Railway had their own part of New Street station from 8 February 1885, and the entire station was made joint between the LNWR and the Midland Railway from 1 April 1897. Most of the main line railway companies of Great Britain were "grouped" following
4312-513: The entire width of both the LNWR and Midland stations. Queens Drive was lost in the 1960s rebuild, but the name was later carried by a new driveway, which served the car park and a tower block , and is the access route for the station's taxis. On 1 February 1910, the LNWR introduced a "City to City" service between New Street and Broad Street , in the City of London . The service only lasted for five years, before being withdrawn on 22 February 1915, as
4400-516: The former Head Post Office at Victoria Square is bricked up, with the subway between the platforms remaining in use for railway staff. The former baggage subway at the "a" end is now used for railway staff and as a fire exit. All signalling is controlled by West Midlands Signalling Centre in Saltley, with the former New Street power signal box at the Wolverhampton or b end of the station; it can be seen at street level on Navigation Street. The station
4488-417: The increase in traffic that this would bring, the station required an extension, the construction of which began in 1881. A number of buildings, mostly along Dudley Street, were demolished to make room for it, including a number of cottages, some business premises and a small church. Built immediately to the south of the original station, the extension contained four through platforms and one bay. It consisted of
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#17327728363804576-563: The industries of Lancashire. However, on 1 January 1846 they, and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway , amalgamated to form the London and North Western Railway. Birmingham was a major centre of industry and the workshops and manufactories of the district proliferated. The L&BR and the GJR had been planned as inter-city railways, and numerous locations that had gained in importance now demanded rail connection. The GJR route passed more than
4664-408: The level of traffic. Samuel Carter , solicitor to both LNWR and the Midland Railway , managed the conveyancing . The LNWR originally shared the station with the Midland Railway; however, in 1885, the Midland Railway opened its own extension alongside the original station for the exclusive use of its trains, effectively creating two stations side by side. The two companies' stations were separated by
4752-405: The matter, and in February 1852 the LNWR opened the Stour Valley Railway to its own goods trains, and to passenger trains on 1 July 1852. Still the LNWR found reasons to exclude the running of S&BR trains, and it was only on 4 February 1854 that this usage started. The station was opened on 1 June 1854. The Midland Railway had been using Curzon Street and that company transferred its trains to
4840-428: The new station on 1 July 1854. On 14 November 1854 the Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Dudley Railway opened for traffic. This was a rival scheme in GWR hands, and the S&BR, now amalgamated with the GWR, transferred its trains to the friendly line, which used the GWR stations in both Wolverhampton and Birmingham. The Birmingham station was known at first by the title Navigation Street Station. Some years before this
4928-502: The north and north-west of the city by way of Bescot and Aston . The London and Birmingham Railway opened to Curzon Street station from the south on 9 April 1838, completing its line to London on 24 June 1838. Through communication between London and Lancashire was achieved. The London and Birmingham Railway and the Grand Junction Railway were not always harmonious allies, and the L&;BR courted alternative means of connecting with
5016-439: The number of daily users of the station was surveyed. On a Thursday, the number was 22,452 and on a Saturday it was 25,334. Initially, the extension was used by both the LNWR and Midland Railway but, from 1889, it was only used by Midland Railway trains. It was separated from the original LNWR trainshed by Queens Drive, which became a central carriageway, but the two were linked by a footbridge which ran over Queens Drive and across
5104-598: The ongoing resignalling project for the station area. No. 1 Engine Siding was located at the north end, between platforms 4 and 5, and was lengthened some years ago to form platform 4C. A Sutton Coldfield model railway enthusiast, Don Jones, built a scale model of the entire 1960s station and surrounding buildings including the Rotunda , the old Head Post Office and the signal box, at OO scale ; open days were held to raise funds for local charities. Private visits were held for Robert Redford and King Hussein of Jordan . As
5192-439: The platform occupy the entire length of the platform, such as Class 390 Pendolinos . Trains departing towards Proof House Junction ( a end) can depart from any platform, but there are restrictions on trains departing from the b end. All platforms can accommodate trains heading towards Wolverhampton; however, due to the platform layout and road bridge supports, only 5–12 can accommodate trains heading towards Five Ways. There are
5280-408: The platforms was congested. In 2006 Network Rail a regeneration scheme was announced, and work started in 2010. The shopping area above the station was extended and upgraded, and re-opened with the title Grand Central . It was completed in 2015. The new concourse is three times larger than the former, and is enclosed by a large atrium, allowing natural light throughout the station. Electrification in
5368-592: The previous station. The platforms were covered over by a seven-acre (2.8 ha) concrete deck, supported by 200 columns, upon which the concourse and other buildings were constructed. Escalators, stairs and lifts were provided to reach the platforms from the concourse. The new station had sold its air rights , leading to the construction of the Pallasades Shopping Centre (then known as the Birmingham Shopping Centre) above
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#17327728363805456-486: The proposed Gateway development would leave the railway capacity of the station more or less unaltered has not escaped attention. In July 2008, the House of Commons Transport Committee criticised the plans; it was not convinced they were adequate for the number of trains which could use the station. It said if the station could not be adapted, then the government needed to look for alternative solutions which potentially included
5544-406: The railway network at any of the three city stations, as stated above Birmingham International is not part of the station group. All three city centre stations are less than a mile from each other, with the shortest distance being between Moor Street and New Street. Birmingham New Street is a half mile walk from Snow Hill and a quarter mile walk from Moor Street. A direct and regular train service
5632-632: The regional architect for British Railways London Midland Region. The eight-level structure with five main storeys, including track & street levels and cable chamber below track level, is at the side of the tracks connected to Navigation Street. As of 2020, it is a Grade II- listed building . Until recently, two small sidings (nos. 2 & 3 Engine Sidings) were located in front of the signal box which were used for stabling electric locomotives in connection with locomotive changes from diesel to electric traction on XC services heading north. As they are no longer needed, these have now been removed in connection with
5720-478: The regional development agency. The announcement brought total government spending on the project to £388 million. After earlier proposals were discarded, six architects were shortlisted to design the new station following a call for submissions and it was announced, in September 2008, that the design by Foreign Office Architects had been chosen. The approved plans for the redevelopment included: The fact that
5808-464: The residential districts and neighbouring towns grew in prosperity, the suburban traffic using New Street station expanded considerably. The approach to Birmingham New Street station from the east became very congested, with the LNWR's own main line traffic, supplemented by that from the Aston lines, as well as the Midland Railway's use of the station. A scheme for widening the approaches was undertaken at
5896-583: The station between 1968 and 1970. The public right of way across the station, which had previously been maintained by the station footbridge, was retained in the new station via a winding route through the shopping centre. The station and the Pallasades were partly integrated with the Bullring Shopping Centre via elevated walkways above Smallbrook Queensway. Also above the station was a nine-storey office block called Ladywood House, and
5984-399: The station had the largest single-span arched roof in the world. In the 1960s, the station was completely rebuilt. An enclosed station, with buildings over most of its span and passenger numbers more than twice those it was designed for, the replacement was not popular with its users. A £550m redevelopment of the station named Gateway Plus opened in September 2015; it includes a new concourse,
6072-467: The station was unpopular with its users. In a 2007 survey, it scored a customer satisfaction rate of only 52%, the joint lowest of any Network Rail major stations along with Liverpool Lime Street and East Croydon . The station had become inadequate for the level of traffic with which it was dealing; it had been designed with capacity for 650 trains and 60,000 passengers per day. In 2008, there were 1,350 trains and over 120,000 passengers per day. By 2013, it
6160-462: The station, although the station has never had a direct entrance from New Street except via the Grand Central shopping centre. Historically, the main entrance to the station was on Stephenson Street, just off New Street. As of 2022, the station has entrances on Stephenson Street, Smallbrook Queensway, Hill Street and Navigation Street. New Street is the thirteenth busiest railway station in
6248-763: The station. Since the privatisation of British Rail , thirteen train companies have regularly called at New Street: Arriva Trains Wales , Avanti West Coast , Central Trains , CrossCountry , First North Western , London Midland , Silverlink , Virgin CrossCountry , Virgin Trains West Coast , Transport for Wales , Wales & Borders , Wales & West and West Midlands Trains . Currently Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Transport for Wales and West Midlands Trains provide services from New Street: Chiltern Railways has occasionally used New Street during engineering works. West Midlands Trains operates
6336-411: The street-level buildings and refurbishment of the platforms by 2013, with track and platform level remaining essentially unchanged. The approved planning application of August 2006 showed a glass facade with rounded edges. The entrance on Station Street originally included two curved 130 metres (427 ft) tall towers on the site of Stephenson Tower. Due to the economic slowdown, the "twin towers" plan
6424-461: The two lines between Birmingham and Wolverhampton was entirely polarised, the Stour Valley Line being in the LNWR group and the BW&;DR being a Great Western Railway line. Both had been formally leased or absorbed. The Stour Valley Line became an important trunk route, but it also served numerous communities and industrial centres in its short length. As Birmingham itself grew in importance, and as
6512-459: The use of Right Away (RA) indicators. They display a signal informing the train driver it is safe to start the train, instead of using more traditional bell or hand signals. The twelve through platforms are divided into a and b ends, with an extra bay platform called 4c between 4b and 5b, with the b end of the station towards Wolverhampton; this, in effect, allows twice the number of platforms. Longer trains that are too long for one section of
6600-437: The war, the remains of the roof were dismantled after being deemed beyond economic repair. It was replaced with austere canopies over the platforms, made from surplus war materials, which remained in use until the station was rebuilt in the 1960s. The station was completely rebuilt in the 1960s, as part of the modernisation programme for the West Coast Main Line . Demolition of the old station and Queens Hotel began in 1964 and
6688-425: The workings of the railway. Cowper's single-span design, was therefore adopted, even though it was some 62 feet (19 metres) wider than the widest roof span at that time. George Gilbert Scott praised Cowper's roof at New Street, stating "An iron roof in its most normal condition is too spider-like a structure to be handsome, but with a very little attention this defect is obviated. The most wonderful specimen, probably,
6776-409: Was 140,000 passengers per day. This made overcrowding and closures on safety grounds more common. Furthermore, the 1960s concrete architecture and enclosed design was widely criticised on aesthetic grounds. In November 2003, the station was voted the second biggest "eyesore" in the UK by readers of Country Life magazine. In books on railway station architecture, it was described by Steven Parissien as
6864-421: Was considered useful to have an intermediate passenger railhead without entering the centres of Birmingham and Wolverhampton, and Oldbury station was selected for development. It was retitled Sandwell and Dudley , and opened on 14 May 1994. Selected main line trains called there. The original connection between the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway and the LNWR route at Wolverhampton had been closed in 1859, when
6952-648: Was induced to omit the section of its line south of Wolverhampton, taking instead a one-quarter share in the Stour Valley Railway; the LNWR had a quarter, as did the Birmingham Canal; private investors collectively took the other quarter. Finally, despite the earlier presumption that only one connecting line was needed, both the Stour Valley Railway and the Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Stour Valley Railway (Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Dudley Lines) Act 1846 ( 9 & 10 Vict. c. cccxxviii) received royal assent , on 3 August 1846. The Stour Valley Railway would need
7040-462: Was justified. As well as the Stour Valley Railway, two other lines between Birmingham and Wolverhampton were proposed in the same session: the Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Dudley Railway , taking a more northerly route, and joining the (proposed) Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway at Priestfield; and the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway . During the parliamentary process the S&BR
7128-459: Was later named New Street station, and also lines in tunnel each side of the station, connecting to the existing routes. The station was opened in 1854. Before completion, the Company became controlled by the London and North Western Railway , which used dubious methods to harm competitor railways that were to be dependent on its completion. The line was electrified in 1966 and now forms part of
7216-501: Was not completed until 1966. The rebuilt New Street station was opened on 6 March 1967 to coincide with the introduction of electric expresses on the West Coast Main Line. It cost £4.5 million to build (equivalent to £103,170,000 in 2023). The new station was designed by Kenneth J. Davies, lead planner for British Rail London Midland Region . Twelve through platforms replaced the eight through and six bay platforms of
7304-402: Was opened at the Wolverhampton end of the station, with access to the platforms separate from the main building; this was built primarily as a fire exit, but the new exit from the station into Navigation Street was opened to the public. All wooden fittings were removed from the platforms and new fire doors were also installed at the foot of the stairs and elevators on the platforms. By the 2000s,
7392-448: Was opened on the same day. It was built in an Italianate style and was originally provided with 60 rooms. The hotel was expanded several times over the years and reached its final form in 1917, with the addition of a new west wing. The scale of the station at this time was documented in the station's entry in the 1863 edition of Bradshaw's Guide : The interior of this station deserves attention from its magnitude. The semicircular roof
7480-536: Was ready for opening by 1 December 1852, but the LNWR refused the S&BR access, on the grounds that the S&BR had announced its intention to amalgamate with the GWR. It had not actually done so, merely announced the intention, but this gave the LNWR the opportunity to prevaricate. When judgment in Chancery was found against the LNWR, it refused to open the line to the S&BR, stating that it would be unsafe, as certain safety undertakings had not been formalised by
7568-515: Was renamed Grand Central and included a John Lewis department store. During heavy winds on 30 December 2015, several roof tiles blew off, landing in the adjacent Station Street, which was therefore closed by the police as a precautionary measure. Around 80% of train services to Birmingham go through New Street. The other major city-centre stations in Birmingham are Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham Snow Hill . Outside Birmingham, in Solihull ,
7656-529: Was shelved. In February 2008, the Secretary of State for Transport , Ruth Kelly , announced that the Department for Transport would provide £160 million in addition to £128 million through the government white paper Delivering a Sustainable Railway . A further £100 million came from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and channelled through Advantage West Midlands ,
7744-503: Was undertaken on British Railways. Part of the scheme was the electrification at 25 kV overhead, 50 Hz, of the West Coast Main Line and certain branches. The main line itself came first, but electrification on the Rugby – Coventry – Birmingham – Wolverhampton – Stafford route followed. On 6 December 1966 the Birmingham – Wolverhampton section was inaugurated. The Grand Junction route via Bescot had become important for freight, and as
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