feature
Collin Carr reports...
Dismal platforms something needs to be done now. The present, it is a wonder that he noticed
There is one thing that you cannot do seriousness of this issue is emphasised anything when he arrived at Birmingham
when you visit Birmingham New Street when you consider the forecast for but apparently, he did notice the poor
station. You cannot look up and see the increased passenger growth across the state of the station. He also noticed the
sky, the city skyline or anything else for network. progress that the city was making in
that matter at least not until you are well general.
away from the narrow, crowded, dismal Funding partners He remarked on the new emerging city
platforms underneath the muddled and Plans were unveiled recently by skyline and the new imaginative
uninviting concourse area. But there is Network Rail and their funding partners architecture that is rising around the
good news, this is all going to change which include Birmingham City Council, station and the conflicting image that is
with a new start for New Street in the Advantage West Midlands, the regional projected by the New Street station itself.
form of the Birmingham Gateway Project. development agency, and Centro, the More clear indications that it is time for
region's passenger transport authority. action.
Overcrowded platforms The press conference was held in the
The existing New Street Station was 'Electric Cinema' located appropriately A world class design
rebuilt in 1967 and was designed to cater opposite one of the less savoury stairway A plan has been developed to create a
for 60,000 passengers per day. The actual access points up to the station concourse. station that will accommodate more than
number of passengers using the station 52 million passengers per year. This plan
today is closer to 120,000 per day. In Visit from the PM has to be incorporated into Birmingham's
addition, during the last twelve months, The Chairman of the New Street station existing city plan and therefore according
there has been more than 20 occasions Gateway Funders' Board, Councillor Mike to Councillor Whitby, the design would
when an individual platform has had to Whitby, recently hosted a visit by the have to be 'World Class'. He commented
be closed because of overcrowding. This Prime Minister accompanied by some that the chosen design meets the
was a clear indication to Network Rail members of his Cabinet. Given the challenge stating that 'with the world
that there is no spare capacity and that problems that the PM has to deal with at looking on, this breathtaking design will
10 | the rail engineer | october 2008
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