The redevelopment of Birmingham New Street station took a major step forward over the Christmas break as engineers successfully completed several large projects in and around the station.
It is now just one year to go until the first phase of the project will complete when a new station concourse opens to passengers.
One of the most challenging pieces of work was the installation of new sections to extend the Navigation Street footbridge at the west end of the station.
Working from Christmas Day through to 27 December, engineers used a 700 tonne crane to lift out an old section of the bridge and install the new sections while the station was closed to passengers.
When the extended bridge opens at the end of 2012, it will provide access to Platform 12 for the first time and create a new station entrance on Hill Street.
Chris Montgomery, Network Rail project director said:
“The work we have completed over the Christmas break represents a major step forward in our exciting plans to rebuild Birmingham New Street for the thousands of passengers who use it every day.
“Undertaking projects on this scale in the heart of Birmingham city centre represents a huge logistical challenge and we planned the work carefully to minimise disruption to passengers and Christmas shoppers visiting the city centre.”
In addition to the bridge extension, other major work taking place at New Street over the Christmas break included:
- The construction of a tower crane outside the front of the station. The crane will be used through 2012 to construct the new public square opposite the Bullring
- The removal of the old Pallasades link bridge and escalator above Station Street. The removal of the redundant structures is another step towards the construction of the new John Lewis department store which will get underway in 2012.
- Preparatory work on platforms 1-7 to construct the foundations for new public space at the front of the station.
- Construction of new train crew accommodation above Platform 1.
Phase 1 of the project will complete at Christmas 2012 when the first half of the new station concourse opens, work will then begin to redevelop the existing station area used by passengers today. The project is set to complete in 2015.
Mike Whitby, Leader of Birmingham City Council commented:
“I am delighted that as the year ends we are celebrating another major milestone in the New Street project.
“Engineers have successfully lifted a new section of bridge into place, and we are determined to bring the project in on-time and on-budget.
“2012 promises to be a really exciting year for the station, and I am eagerly looking forward to more announcements that add to Birmingham’s reputation as the capital of the region.”
New Street station fully reopened for services on 29 December when all 11 operational platforms returned to passenger use.
Geoff Inskip, chief executive of Centro, the region’s transport authority, added:
“Whilst a lot of the work so far has not been visible to passengers, the installation of this new bridge clearly shows the excellent progress being made towards delivering a bigger, brighter and visually stunning New Street Station – a world class facility the whole West Midlands can be proud of.”
