06.07.15
September opening date for Birmingham New Street confirmed
Birmingham New Street station, with its stunning new atrium and large concourse area, will open its doors on Sunday 20 September, Network Rail has confirmed.
The Grand Central shopping complex, which is built above the station, will open later in the week on Thursday 24 September.
It is expected that the Birmingham New Street station and Grand Central redevelopments will open up the city centre and reconnect the north and south side of the city for the first time since the arrival of the railway in the 19th century.
Network Rail added that the purpose-designed layout will play a huge part in regenerating the area to the south of the station, helping to create thousands of new jobs in the city.
Martin Frobisher, route managing director for Network Rail said: “The opening of the improved Birmingham New Street will be a huge boost to the city. It’s another iconic building that the people of Birmingham can be proud of and will provide a vastly improved travelling experience for passengers.”
In late 2014, RTM spoke with Chris Montgomery, Network Rail’s project director for Birmingham New Street, who said that when completed the station will be the “iconic” image of Control Period 5 for Network Rail. In September last year, the new atrium roof was finished and fitted.
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin MP said: “This magnificent new station will transform journeys for millions of people, create thousands of jobs, and secure long-term economic growth in Birmingham and beyond. I congratulate everyone involved, and I look forward to seeing the station open in September.”
Originally, Birmingham New Street’s enhancement works had an AFC at GRIP 4 of £483m. This figure, along with separately funded work added or removed since then, stood at £661m in the August 2014 report. But in the most recent Network Rail figures, from February 2015, the total was £753m. It was noted that additional expenditure had been incurred on the extensive renewal of defective concrete in the original station structure, asbestos removal, and tenant relocation.
The new station and Grand Central, with its new John Lewis, have been built over the past six years transforming an unwelcoming and overcrowded space into a world class transport, shopping and community hub.
Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council said: “Birmingham New Street station has undergone a magnificent transformation to become a vibrant, spacious and bright transport hub suitable for our city, and for the people of Birmingham to be proud of.
“The development has also provided a gateway to opportunities for many Birmingham people, with over 3,000 construction jobs created, including over 115 apprenticeships. This is an exciting time and shows that Birmingham has a lot to look forward to.”
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