20.10.14
Birmingham New Street will be the ‘iconic’ image of CP5
When Birmingham New Street is completed next year the station will be the “iconic” image of Control Period 5 for Network Rail, according to the project’s director Chris Montgomery.
Speaking to RTM, he suggested that King’s Cross, with its lattice-work new roof on the western concourse and unveiling of its original façade, was the “iconic” image of CP4 and explained that New Street is the only big station scheme going live within CP5, and the biggest new shopping centre opening.
“Add those two together and it will be a momentous occasion,” Montgomery told us. “I’m very proud not just for me, but the team.”
Recently the final piece of New Street’s impressive atrium roof was installed, and now demolition work on the former Pallasades shopping centre is being carried out to allow natural light to flood into the new station concourse. Once complete, this work will mark the end of the major civils work at the station.
Above picture: Latest demolition work inside Birmingham New Street. This shot was taken today (20 October)
There are about 1,000 operatives working on the New Street project as well as 250 staff and mangers.
Having worked very closely with Birmingham City Council and its Employment Access team, 107 apprentices are now involved with the project, learning skills from brick laying through to project management.
Montgomery noted that the apprentices, many of whom have come from deprived areas or off the long-term unemployment list, have been of a high-quality calibre.
He said: “When the brick laying contractor came on we trained up six young lads. I always remember the MD of the company saying if we’d got 10 he would have taken all of them on – they were that good.
“The opportunities New Street has developed has been fantastic. I think we’re pretty fortunate to be working in such a boom sector as rail.
“Also, at NG Bailey – which is probably our biggest contractor with over £80m worth of work – their project director used to be an apprentice. I also think NG Bailey has taken on about 20 apprentices during this work. It has been really important.”
In the upcoming edition of RTM there is an extended interview with Montgomery and Paul Dalton, senior project manager and associate director at Mace, Network Rail’s delivery partner for New Street, on the progress of the demolition work at the station.
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