Work to begin on £600m New Street project
Apr 26 2010 by Edward Chadwick, Birmingham Mail
THE £600 million project to transform Birmingham’s tired New Street station in to a gleaming transport hub gets under way today.
Passengers will see progress for the first time as engineers move in to start work on upgrading platforms.
The development signals the start of phase one of a five-year project which will deliver a giant concourse enclosed in a glass atrium, brighter platforms served by new escalators and a stunning metallic facade.
A total of eight entrances will serve the station, meaning better access for commuters arriving in the city by train.
Bosses at Network Rail say they will keep disruption to passengers to a minimum during the work.
Route director Jo Kaye said: “This is a very important moment in the project and means we are on course to give New Street’s passengers the station they deserve.
“Network Rail has planned work to have minimal impact on passengers and train services will run as normal.
“We are also reducing the impact on the local community by transporting construction material in and out of the station by train, keeping lorries off the road.”
As platforms are improved, the new concourse will be created and when it is finally opened in 2012 will measure more than three-and-a-half times the current size and double passenger capacity.
The Gateway project – aimed at creating an “iconic focal point” for the city – is being funded by Network Rail, the city council, Advantage West Midlands and Centro.
Part of the council’s contribution has been granted by the Department for Transport.
It is hoped the scheme could pave the way for regeneration of parts of the city centre. Work will begin on platform one of the station, which is set to be closed from this morning, and platforms will subsequently be taken out of use one by one while they are improved.
No services will be cut and passengers will be redirected, rail bosses have promised.
Pallasades shopping centre will also remain open for business throughout the project.
* RAIL passengers faced repeated delays at the weekend after two power cuts brought New Street Station to a standstill.
Commuters travelling home on Friday were forced to wait while engineers battled to restore electricity using temporary batteries.
The power cut again on Saturday morning.
A Network Rail spokesman said the problem was caused by water damage in a circuit room.
