Here are some pics, as requested, of New Street Station taken from the red cage car park near Orion. Hopefully this same view in a few years will be very different

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%204/PICT0062.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%204/PICT0064.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%204/PICT0063.jpg

Nice one Smiley - cheers! :cheers:

one thing that IS good about birmingham newstreet....

i think that we have the only through station in the cpountry that is in the middle of the city centre and does not effect the flow of either traffic or movement.

manchester..... pic is mainly terminal and is a fair walk from the city centre
leeds .... city centre but railway viaduct cuts through the city centre
sheffield ..... not really too close to city centre, wrong side of the ring road
newcastle ..... not too bad but again, track cut through the city
london........prettymuch all terminal.

again, the railways in birmingham really do not effect anything in the city really....the're all underground!

They affect my view heading into the city - I keep trying to get pictures of the skyline but I cant because the only time we stop, is when we are already in the tunnel. I can just about get a picture of McClaren and the Rotunda but none of HCT or sentinels.

And this is what it looked like during the reconstruction of the early 60s....

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/mckopper/OldBrum8.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y89/mckopper/OldBrum9.jpg

(pics taken from a whole load of scans that I have posted / will be posting up in the Old Birmingham thread)

When you look at those pics, you realies just how much of a shithole New Street really is.

Yup, the view I had while taking those pics, New Street Stn just looks like a giant, vile, oozing gash in the make up of City Centre......and of course the facade at the main entrance looks even worse

The construction pics are cool though MG

What happened at Birmingham New Street could also be compared to Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan - that too has always been derided as a huge soulless underground eyesore - especially considering what they actually demolished in order to create it. Sacrificing a formerly airy space for sheer subterranean claustrophobia.

http://www.renewstreet.co.uk/

The original station was opened by the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) on 1 June 1854. The Queen's Hotel opened on the same day.

Midland Railway (MR) station opened on 8 February 1885 and was built immediately alongside the original.

The joint committee LNWR and MR was formed in 1897

LNWR roof was removed between 1948 and 1952.

The Queen's Hotel was closed and demolished in 1964.

The power signal box was built in 1964.

The entire station was completely rebuilt in 1967.

Station design

LNWR 1854 station comprised 1 no. trussed arch span, 211ft wide by 840ft long. This was designed by A. E. Coowper of Fox Henderson and Co. This was the widest span of all railway roofs at the time and remained so for fourteen years.

MR 1885 station comprised 2 no. trussed arch spans, 58ft wide by 620ft long, and 67ft 6ins wide by 600ft long. This was designed by F. Stevenson, Chief Engineers to the LNWE

The rebuilt station was designed by the British Rail Midland regional architect and his team.
The Queen's Hotel was designed by J. W. Livock.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3266745.stm

BRITAIN'S 'WORST EYESORES'
1. Windfarms
2. Birmingham New Street station
3. Oxfordshire's Didcot Power Station.
4. Battersea Power Station
5. Electricity pylons
6. 1960s Basingstoke
7. Motorways
8. Knightsbridge Barracks
9. Edinburgh's St James Shopping Centre
10. M1 service stations

READ THIS ARTICLE !!!(Its long but has a lot of intresting information about whats happening)

http://www.newsco.com/productsandservices/archive/mbi/2005-04/cover

Interesting!

It's so sad to think that central government is not willing to give anything towards this.

But on the other hand it's good to see Birmingham can support itself, rather than relying on hand outs by the government. It's nice to know there is money in this city.

It's all very well them doing the usual smart (cliched) PR spiel about how they're going to "transform the station into a gateway the city can be proud of" with "new passenger facilities and vastly improved amenities to increase capacity" blah blah blah.... I just hope that whatever the new development body promise for the redevelopment proposals, one crucial issue is addressed: there will be more than just twelve platforms to show at the end of it all - even fourteen isn't enough - we realistically need something more like 18 minimum (achieved by the indenting of a few of the existing faces to create a few terminal bays if it really is impossible to radically alter the existing throat of the layout - besides, it's the cheapest option, and we all know how much they like to keep things as cheap as possible as far as rail investment is concerned, don't we?) bearing in mind that the prospect of new segregated underground/deep level platforms for the through suburban services are now completely dead and buried thanks to Network Rail's ongoing noncommitment to this cause (well, they can do this - as ever - in London, so why the hell not Brum, huh??).

cant they ues the former royal mail platforms/site. its on the same level and a fairly big area

Woody, if you get the chance can you correct my glaring spelling mistake in the threads title......I don't want everyone to think I'm a bit of a thicko

cant they ues the former royal mail platforms/site. its on the same level and a fairly big area

You're talking about the parcelforce/curzon park site? I had much the same idea. At the least it would open up eastside, albeit taking up quite a big chunk of it in the process.

No i thought there was a royal mail depot at new street station. Under stephenson tower. Im certain i used to see one when i used the old midland red bus depot.

Oh yes, I know what you mean. Dont know about that - but I suspect there isnt all that much space down there really.

There has always been a secret "thirteenth" platform lurking in that parcels bay actually.

i knew i hadnt imagined it, lol.

There is room where the lorry bay was too so maybe room for another platform maybe...more the merrier

Well if they are redeveloping the whole site (ie goodbye Stephenson tower and other shite) won't they be able to create space for additional platforms anyway?

Fucking good point there!

:clown: :wallbash: :tongue2: :lurker:
Thats what i was trying to point out :bash:

Well I just explained it more clearly :tongue3:

..Wtf i edited my post and instead i got a second post?!?!
Im going mad :runaway:

:nuts: :tongue: :baeh3:

http://tinypic.com/aadstt.gifhttp://tinypic.com/aadstt.gifhttp://tinypic.com/aadstt.gif
http://tinypic.com/aadt2b
http://tinypic.com/aadtab.gif

As far as I know they are planning to reconfigure some of the platform to provide an additional 2 smaller platforms, and they are designing the station such that a deep tunnel can be bored at a later date. There isn't the money there at the moment to do the tunnel, but it is good that they are thinking about the future.

They are doing a lot of stuff to the station so things can be done in the future :)

John Hemming's Web Log

Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Birmingham W1 - New Street and Medicine
Today I attended a meeting at Birmingham W1 (170 Picadilly) which was to bring people together to promote Birmingham. Five of the Birmingham MPs were there.

There are a number of areas in which we are working to lobby central government on behalf of Birmingham. One is to get New Street Station redeveloped and another is on the relocation of civil service jobs to the City Region.

The important thing is that we are developing the approach of the City Region which includes the hinterland around Birmingham (or commuter belt).

In my meanderings around the corridors of power I have found considerable support from MPs for Solihull, Kidderminster, Bromsgove, Lichfield as well as those from Sandwell and Birmingham (including Sutton).

One lesson from today is to bring someone who knows how to use my camera. Hopefully you will be able to tell which of these three photos I took.



the above is from John Hemmings weblog

its sad that only 5 of the citys eleven mp's could be bothered to show support here, why theyare not named and shamed i do not know ?

twats lol

i spose 5 is a start, if those 5 stick at it then the others will fall into line through peer pressure, thats if they have a relationship at all !!!

liverpool has the john lennon airport maybe we should name new street after somone famous to give it a new image to the outside world so they dont associate it with the old station any suggestions???????

hmmmm 'JRR TOLKIEN central rail station' or 'OZZY Osbourne station'

to name it after tolkien would be an awesome idea, after all he is a world-wide name

How about Gollams Layer or The Frodo Baggins Station or we could really push the boat out and call it, Birmingham Central - now that's elegant and sophisticated and people would actually know where it is ;)

I think it should be called the Stove Station....no reason really..

I think that JRR TOLKIEN should be named the new library.

Birmingham Central is just so tame. They (BR and the WMPTE) actually considered that years ago. They should call it (as it currently stands) Birmingham Festering Arsepit From Hell. ;)

'Birmingham fuck off world class choo choo engine house'

its always going to be new street station, why change the name? bullring didn'nt change and look at it now.

Exactly - that's what people universally remember it as. Changing the name would smack of pathetic trendiness or change for change's sake. And we all know how much of THAT sort of thing we encounter on a near daily basis.

It'll become "newStreet" or some similarily stupid mix of upper and lowercase and no space!

'Birmingham fuck off world class choo choo engine house'

:rofl:

That's got my vote!

*through gritted teeth* I think it is going to be called "Birmingham Gateway" - it seems to be on all the promo stuff although that might just be the project name.

I reckon there might be an outcry if they try to change it from BNS - we saved the Rotunda after all! Why we allowed "Rackhams" to become the non-descript "House of Fraser" is beyond me. Still, only tourists call it "HoF"...

'Birmingham fuck off world class choo choo engine house'

One problem with that. No steam locos stop at New Street anymore.

So it's more like "Birmingham Cesspit For Virgin Bendy Dildos."

or "Birmingham prepare for a delay, go get a cookie station" ...

I must have wasted about £300 this year just buying food in that place, thanks to delayed or missed trains.

It'll become "newStreet" or some similarily stupid mix of upper and lowercase and no space!
If I was to put money on it, this is what I'd back.
We'll fork out £50K for image consultants to come up with something tacky like "NEWStreet" or something dull and obvious like "Birmingham Central", when we could have asked kids at the local schools to do the same thing for free!

If I was to put money on it, this is what I'd back.
We'll fork out £50K for image consultants to come up with something tacky like "NEWStreet" or something dull and obvious like "Birmingham Central", when we could have asked kids at the local schools to do the same thing for free!

They have, and a design competition - the council are way ahead of you :hahaha:

"*through gritted teeth* I think it is going to be called "Birmingham Gateway" - it seems to be on all the promo stuff although that might just be the project name."

what promo stuff????

They have, and a design competition - the council are way ahead of you :hahaha:
*blush* well that put me in my place. But it's good to see the council aren't going to waste money that be spent on design and materials.
I've seen the design competition on the BBC website. I'm not sure what they're hoping to get from this ... ideas & concepts that they can propose to the eventual architect?

"*through gritted teeth* I think it is going to be called "Birmingham Gateway" - it seems to be on all the promo stuff although that might just be the project name."

what promo stuff????

When it has been referred to in press releases and in journals it has been called "Birmingham Gateway" or "Birmingham New St Gateway"...

*blush* well that put me in my place. But it's good to see the council aren't going to waste money that be spent on design and materials.
I've seen the design competition on the BBC website. I'm not sure what they're hoping to get from this ... ideas & concepts that they can propose to the eventual architect?

The architect has been appointed and the final design is nearly done! This will be released sooner than you think chaps & chapesses! :)

PS - Steve - the e-b bit doesn't stand for Earlybird does it? :laugh:

They were going to rename Manchester Piccadilly station "Manchester Apologise For The Inconvenience" a couple of years ago.

Welcome to Birmingham Central 'fuck my hat '

did that tannoy just say fuck my hat dad ? yes i think i did timmy ...

When it has been referred to in press releases and in journals it has been called "Birmingham Gateway" or "Birmingham New St Gateway"...
Not a great name for station, let's hope it doesn't stick. I expect "Birmingham New St Gateway" would quickly be shortened to "New St" anyway.

The architect has been appointed and the final design is nearly done! This will be released sooner than you think chaps & chapesses! :)

PS - Steve - the e-b bit doesn't stand for Earlybird does it? :laugh:
Glad to hear it. I got a bit worried when I saw this design competition, and confused given that we've already seen images and sketches.
And, no, the e-b doesn't stand for Earlybird, but I am considering legal action against Earlybird for using my initials. :)

the e-b doesn't stand for Earlybird, but I am considering legal action against Earlybird for using my initials. :)


im sure we would back you all the way son, lol

I wish one of the moderators would rename the thread title...I'm embarrassed by my atrocious spelling

Heading into New Street could be quite something in the future.

Birmingham gateway now

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/4445/newstreet2en.png

How Birminghams gateway could look

(Status of Building in Question, from left to right) - BST Proposed, HCT U/C, AC approved new masterplan within few weeks, Orion 1&2 U/C and approved, Rough Diamond Scheme, vision, detailed designs to be submitted late this year, City Park Gate approved (height increase proposed), Masshouse U/C, Martineau Galleries proposed, 2 towers likely maybe 3.

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5508/newstreetfuture7rx.png

How Birminghams gateway could look

status in colours (Proposed red) - (U/C green) - (Approved blue) - (Vision yellow) ...

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/2582/newstreetfuturecolours4pb.png

hopefully the sky wont look like that

It won't anyway because that's the view towards Moor St!

i meant the weather

well it would seem that the pallisades are close to being sold. The group who currently own it have stated that they do not want to be apart of developments on a scale of those being talked about regarding the regeneration of New Street and as a result are now seling the mall. a groups called WARNER GROUP are close to sealing the deal and then they said they will approach network rail to discuss some form of agreement. it would seem however that some form of shopping centre is still to exist somewhere in the new new street station!

i just hopethat this warner group will be positive in reg the view of the regeneration of the station and does not act instead as a limitation!

p.s thephased constructyion is due to start 2007 ad be complete in 2011

heres their website http://www.warner.propertymall.com/

2007?? the fuckers need to start sooner

why, this is a HUGE SCHEME!!!!! wouldnt want them to rush a shit design through...... this is one project thit IS happening so i shouldnt worry bout it!

This is gonna take a long time - its on the same scale as he bull ring.

Good News - at least it will be done before the Olympics :cheers1:

i think that is the overall hope... the olympics will be bringing in a huge amount of people into the country and al over the country...... it would be wise to get one of the biggest bottlenecks in the uk rail system sorted by then and have the two main rail lines working smoothly by then!

Lets just hope our skyline matches the quality fo the "new" New Street

i think that is the overall hope... the olympics will be bringing in a huge amount of people into the country and al over the country...... it would be wise to get one of the biggest bottlenecks in the uk rail system sorted by then and have the two main rail lines working smoothly by then!


spot on woodhousen.

One of the reasons the Olympics will bring huge benefits is not so much just what is built specifically for it, but that it gives the country a deadline of 2012. Not only forcing certain planning officers to go down on the side of accepting projects but also momentum in getting everything ship shape for then.

Without such a deadline, certain transport projects would drag on in the black hole that is transport planning in this country, now it's let's get these damn things built.

but there's still a £100 million funding shortfal for this project

but there's still a £100 million funding shortfal for this project

It be found, Ill start with the cushions on the trains, you start searching in the stations pay phones ;)

yes there is a £100milion gap in the finances i accept but that is before any provate bodies have been asked to fund the project...... only the governemnt and AWM and the council are so far envolved...... however, id be supprised if when have trouble getting the extra £100m, as when the likes of Virgin, Central, and all the other businesses that may have a share are asked .......shouod be no trouble....this is due to be one of the best station in the country!

Here's a photo looking out over the open gash that is New Street Station. This is taken from the opposite direction to my earlier photo's on page 1 of this thread.....it's certainly a nice view for some of the lucky Orion inhabitants :tongue3:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%204/NewStreetSt27thAug2005.jpg

would seem that the Orions crane is due to to rise again judging by the crane pieces on the roof of the tower!

trust me to get the most inciteful picture of Orion while trying depict the atrocious state of New Street Station :)

lol....go on, i bets you'll miss it!....shed a tear even????

lol....go on, i bets you'll miss it!....shed a tear even????

I will! It's one of those thing you think'll be there forever, along with the knowlage the the orginal Victorian builinding would have been SOOOOO much better.

Not much there yet:

http://www.renewstreet.co.uk

I admit, even though it is a complete shithole and a disgrace of gargantuan proportions, that a little part of me has got a soft spot for New Street st.....well it is convenient for us Walsall folk if we need to get into the city quick.

well it would seem that the pallisades are close to being sold. The group who currently own it have stated that they do not want to be apart of developments on a scale of those being talked about regarding the regeneration of New Street and as a result are now seling the mall. a groups called WARNER GROUP are close to sealing the deal and then they said they will approach network rail to discuss some form of agreement. it would seem however that some form of shopping centre is still to exist somewhere in the new new street station!

i just hopethat this warner group will be positive in reg the view of the regeneration of the station and does not act instead as a limitation!


Well the last thing we need is a frigging multiplex fucking cinema sitting on top of new street station. We seriously need to think about opening out the bloody thing and allowing a bit more height between the trackbed and the fucking ceiling just to alleviate this awful claustrophobic image the goddamned place has been saddled with all this time.

Here's a photo looking out over the open gash that is New Street Station. This is taken from the opposite direction to my earlier photo's on page 1 of this thread.....it's certainly a nice view for some of the lucky Orion inhabitants :tongue3:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v173/Robdann/Birmingham%204/NewStreetSt27thAug2005.jpg

Gash. Furrow. Trench. Too right Smiley, it's a cunt of a station isn't it? ;)

Gash. Furrow. Trench. Too right Smiley, it's a cunt of a station isn't it? ;)

well that angle does remind me of a certain girl......but I try to block that from my mind :runaway:

I hope I'm not gonna cause offense with those last words of mine and be accused of being misogynistic. I'm not fuckin' 50 Cent or Ice-T you know! I just don't dig dissin' no mo-fuckaz or ho's in my parish ole squire! That's for pussies, man!

Those words are in my everyday vocabulary......you missed out the very british axe wound and frontbum. Then again those aren't very gangster are they!

Exactly - gangstas like their monosyllables they do!

Yo! Bum! Rush! Da!

and.....um..... Show!

New street would be pronounced Nustree

No that's still two syllables.....Nuus

BNS.


Simple eh?

Like the human beat box would go:

BNS-BNS-BNS!! B-B-B-B-BNS-BNS BNS-BNS!!!
BNS-BNS-BNS!! B-B-B-B-BNS-BNS BNS-BNS!!!
BNS! B-BNS!! B-BNS!! B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-BNS BNS-BNS-BNS!!!!

:banana: :laugh:

OH NO FOR FUCK SAKE!! HERE WE GO AGAIN

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/docs/icBirmingham/0000673E-7EE9-1315-BFD60C01AC1BF814.jpg

lol, dont worry, this is one thing that IS happening!

yes it happening but when?? there been too slow on this for too long it can afford any dealys.and with the news that the pallasades it set to say , i worry that will end up with a station that looks nice from the outside but is still rubbish indoord thanks to a giant shopping mall being put on top of it

Don't you hate it when journalists use old images of developments, i know new renders are not available of New St but using the old Alsop image just miss informs people, same with Arena Central, i think its safe to say Miller won't build that specific tower the media and the council keeps throwing around.

who said the palliasades are staying??? as far as i am aware the pallisades are being demolished?!?!?

i cant help but think that this is more a case of the Birmingham Post not havin much news to report than this being truly front page stuff. For once the DfT have confirmed that the money WILL be given..no matter what.....that doesnt often happen. however here is the article!


£350m New Street revamp in jeopardy Aug 31 2005

By Campbell Docherty, Transport Correspondent


How do we get from this...
http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icbirmingham/aug2005/6/1/00092219-7C11-1315-BFD60C01AC1BF814.jpg

To this.....
http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/icbirmingham/aug2005/7/1/000B586A-7C72-1315-BFD60C01AC1BF814.jpg





The £350 million flagship redevelopment of New Street Station is on the brink of collapse because of confusion over Government funding.

A £7 million pot of ring-fenced cash set aside by the Strategic Rail Authority for the development of the scheme was apparently not transferred to the Department for Transport along with the SRA's powers when it was wound up earlier this month.

The DfT last night claimed it would honour all SRA commitments but a report by passenger transport executive Centro states DfT Rail, which assumed the SRA's role of governing the rail network, is privately maintaining it is unable to contribute funds.

Centro, part of the New Street Steering Group led by Birmingham City Council, adds: "It is recognised if they do not change their position the scheme will collapse as they are the only source of the bulk of the money."

More than £5 million has already been spent on design work. Further development of the station rebuild - primarily to improve the city's image and address a critical passenger capacity shortage - has been costed at £10 million between December 2005 and March 2008, with the City Council finding £1 million per year.

Now Centro is asking Passenger Transport Authority councillors to approve a £200,000 contribution - on condition other partners recommit to plugging the financial hole.

The Centro report states: "An additional £0.2 million would indicate the PTA's and Centro's commitment and be helpful in persuading DfT to fill this gap."

It adds: "The scheme is of considerable importance to the PTA and Centro as without capacity expansion there will be limited opportunities to develop schemes to expand rail patronage.

"The scheme has wider transport benefits, such as improving interchange with the Metro and bus networks."

Last July Prime Minister Tony Blair promised it was a case of "when and not if" the station would be rebuilt and the potential failure of the project would be a major blow.

Business leaders and politicians agree the 'Birmingham Gateway' scheme is of primary importance to the region's development.

The scheme, first revealed in The Birmingham Post three years ago, has progressed slowly because of the financial crisis faced by the rail industry following the Hatfield crash in 2000.

The station is operating with twice as many passengers as it was designed for and has often been forced to close at peak times because of overcrowding and safety fears.

The station represents an unwelcome reminder of the tired image Birmingham has striven to change.

Plans to revamp New Street - openly referred to as a "blot on Birmingham's landscape" by city officials - were first mooted in the early 1990s.

A spokeswoman for the City Council, which leads the New Street Steering Group, said: "We are confident the partners concerned in the plans for New Street Station will make sure the funding is in place."

A DfT spokesman said: "All SRA commitments transferred to the DfT will be honoured, that is not up for debate."

you told us it was staying!!

no, i told you that it was being brought out and will be there in some form after.......IE THE ENTIRE THING IS BEING DEMOLISHED AND THE NEW STATION WILL HAVE A NEW SHOPPING CENTRE!!!!!!

see.....

...well it would seem that the pallisades are close to being sold. The group who currently own it have stated that they do not want to be apart of developments on a scale of those being talked about regarding the regeneration of New Street and as a result are now seling the mall. a groups called WARNER GROUP are close to sealing the deal and then they said they will approach network rail to discuss some form of agreement. it would seem however that some form of shopping centre is still to exist somewhere in the new new street station!

i just hopethat this warner group will be positive in reg the view of the regeneration of the station and does not act instead as a limitation!.....

yes it will but hopefully not at the expense of the design of the new one, i just dont see how there gonna fit it in if there gona increase the waiting area by FIVE times the existing size

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b249/pirlo_21/Birmingham2.gif

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b249/pirlo_21/Birminghamnight.gif

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b249/pirlo_21/Brimmingham-model.gif

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b249/pirlo_21/Birminghammodel.gif

apparently this is the new design

because the waiting room as it exists is tiny and bearly coveres any of the platforms... i thinking that will change though!

here you go

Revamped station 'will go ahead' Aug 31 2005

By Ben Hurst, Transport Correspondent, Evening Mail

BIRMINGHAM'S transport chief today pledged that a £350 million flagship redevelopment of New Street Station would still go ahead - despite a funding crisis.

Coun Gary Clarke, chairman of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority, said commuters could "rest assured" there would be no delay.

A £7 million pot of ring-fenced cash set aside by the Strategic Rail Authority for the continued development of the scheme was not transferred to the Department for Transport along with the SRA's powers when it was wound up earlier this month.

The DfT last night claimed it would honour all SRA commitments.

But a report by passenger transport executive Centro states DfT Rail, which has assumed the SRA's role of governing the rail network, is privately maintaining it is unable to contribute funds.

Centro, part of the New Street Steering Group led by Birmingham City Council, adds: "It is recognised if they do not change their position the scheme will collapse as they are the only source of the bulk of the money."

But Coun Clarke said: "The scheme has not ground to a halt, I can assure you.

"There are some teething problems with the changes to the SRA and these will be overcome."

More than £5 million has already been spent on design work for the project.

Now Centro is asking Passenger Transport Authority councillors, who set its policy, to approve a £200,000 contribution to the work - but only on condition that other partners recommit to plugging the financial hole that has opened up.

A spokeswoman for the City Council, which leads the New Street Steering Group, said: "This is a very important project for the city.

"We are confident the partners concerned in the plans for New Street Station will make sure the funding is in place."

A DfT spokesman said: "All SRA commitments that transferred to the DfT will be honoured, that is not up for debate."

Good!

The last time I went to Birmingham it was a bright sunny day, and New Street just seemed so dark and dismal, and that was after the quite good improvments they did a few years ago to brighten the place up.

As I said, I thought that would be there forever, but just knock the thing over and start again! And although I have many, err.. memories of the Pallisades/Pavillions, even if I can't remember what it's called, the one over NSS just knock it down and start again!

too much disruption if they were to knock it down

Sorry, I meant BLOW it up! Big Ka-Booom!!! Bit's everywhere. Great fun, but messy!

but pirlo, they are knocking it down lol!

yep but not at once which was what i meant, large parts of the existing structure sill remain

OH NO FOR FUCK SAKE!! HERE WE GO AGAIN

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/docs/icBirmingham/0000673E-7EE9-1315-BFD60C01AC1BF814.jpg


yes it happening but when?? there been too slow on this for too long it can afford any dealys.and with the news that the pallasades it set to say , i worry that will end up with a station that looks nice from the outside but is still rubbish indoord thanks to a giant shopping mall being put on top of it


you told us it was staying!!

God in heavens! And to think you were the one accusing me of moaning all the time.....

Calm down will you - just sit tight and wait - of course New Street WILL be rebuilt and redeveloped.......but I will be worm food by then and YOU will probably be a great granddad by that time.....so, not really that long to wait now, huh??
;)

New New Street is going to be ready by the end of 2011. END OF OF STORY

NO! That is complete bollocks! The story has only just begun! :yes:

I'm confused already, by the "end of story" "the story has only just begun" - is this like that film then, what was it called... erm... ah that's it, new new street = never ending story, Human league wrote the theme tune, ahh the days of tru romance. :)

:weirdo:

I'm confused already, by the "end of story" "the story has only just begun" - is this like that film then, what was it called... erm... ah that's it, new new street = never ending story, Human league wrote the theme tune, ahh the days of tru romance. :)


NO! Bollocks! The days of Nu Roman-tix more like. Did you have a lop-sided haircut like Phil Oakey once did? I bet you did! Swish to the left! Swish to the right! Swish! Swish! Swish!

;)

don't be silly, I had a bowl haircut, till my older bro tried to turn me into a b-boy, I hated that awful Hip Hop/electro noise that my bro pumped relentlesley into my ears, that and my sister competing in the next room with her Duran Duran 7"s, hinari midi system playing Tin Tin Duffy v second hand 1970's sanyo silver hi fi playing Planet Rock... the arguments on a friday night, I can remember lieing in bed as a nipper and plugging in my own headfones to escape the conflict of noise.

Stephen Tin Tin Duffy! ha ha haaa! :laugh: "Kiss Me with your mouth!......Your love is better than wine!"

Well, stupido, what do you normally kiss someone with? Your kneecap?!?!?!? :rofl:

Didn't he write for the lilac time and collaborate with Art of Noise?

This is poetic..on his album, one of the songs begins with the line..."The New Street train at platform eight..don't be late when your time comes..until then its bon voyage..the World at large alone..."...how spooky that Tin Tin Duffy should end up on our New Street thread..wooooo!

Didn't he write for the lilac time and collaborate with Art of Noise?


Yeah that's correct - Stephen Duffy WAS the Lilac Time for a few years and DID collaborate with AON amongst lots of other acts in the 90s (such as St Etienne) but before all this and after his solo stuff as Tin Tin he also brought out a fantastic record under the pseudonym Doctor Calculus with ex-members of Pigbag (beat box-driven psychedelic jazzy ambient weirdness - their only album "Designer Beatnik" came out in 1986 and believe it or not predated the Orb and all those other "ambient dance" acts that followed a few years later. It's still fantastic listening to it now!)....He's always been one of those "understated British songwriters" that you read about a lot in the music press. But his beginnings were dodgy though - what with being a founder member of Duran Duran and all that! ;)

Stephen Duffy came from The Roundabout in Longbridge - next but one road from me.
My school spat out 3 famous faces - Ian Lavender (Pike Dads Army / Pauline Fowler's lodger) and The Streets (Mike skinner) and MSP!
And in the words of Catherine Tate's old granny - "what a load of old shit!"

Stephen Duffy came from The Roundabout in Longbridge - next but one road from me.
My school spat out 3 famous faces - Ian Lavender (Pike Dads Army / Pauline Fowler's lodger) and The Streets (Mike skinner) and MSP!
And in the words of Catherine Tate's old granny - "what a load of old shit!"

And me. Oh no, I'm not famous... yet...

New Street revamp still firmly on track Sep 6 2005




By Emma Pinch


The £350million redevelopment of New Street station is still on track after a "hiccup" surrounding the flow of funds towards the project, transport chiefs said yesterday.

The Department for Transport has strongly reiterated its commitment to the scheme after a report by passenger transport executive, Centro, indicated money earmarked for the scheme was being withheld.

It said £7million ringfenced for the scheme had not been transferred to the DfT along with its powers when the Strategic Rail Authority was wound up in August.

But Centro director general, Rob Donald, told councillors he had been reassured in a letter from the DfT, which has assumed the SRA's role of governing the rail network, that it will honour all of its financial commitments to the scheme.

At yesterday's West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority transport strategy committee meeting Mr Donald told councillors: "I am told that the suggestion they have not had all the money transferred from the SRA for the project is inaccurate.

"The DfT have said that they are honouring all the commitments the SRA has made about New Street Station.

"The truth is that the money has not yet been allocated but that is not surprising as it is for 06-07, and we are not into that financial year."

The report had stated the redevelopment scheme was "currently facing problems" because "money set aside by the SRA... has not been transferred to DfT Rail."

A spokesman for Centro added: "The fact it was not thought to have gone from one account to another was more a hiccup due to holidays and the business of a complicated handover rather than anything else."

More than £5 million has already been spent on design work on the building which will replace the current structure, built in the mid 1960s.

Further development of the station rebuild - primarily to improve the city's image and address a critical passenger capacity shortage - has been costed at £10million between December 2005 and March 2008, with the City Council funding £1million per year.

Yesterday the PTA executive approved a request by Centro for £200,000 for money needed to take the project further in the short term.

A spokesman said the payment was merely "bringing forward" money it had promised to contribute to the project in order to sustain its momentum, rather than plugging a shortfall in money pledged by the DfT.

"The DfT is very keen on this project and I believe we will have a landmark building in the very short term future in keeping with what is going on in the rest of Birmingham," Mr Donald told councillors.

"It is not the case that the project is at risk and we will make sure as best as we are able that the momentum continues."

Last July Prime Minister Tony Blair promised it would be a case of "when and not if" the station would be rebuilt.

sounds promising!!!!!

Firms have say on the future of New Street Sep 7 2005







The views of 23,000 Birmingham businesses on the future of New Street Station are to be sent to the Government in an effort to turn up the pressure for a complete redevelopment of the hub.

Fears emerged last week in a report by passenger transport executive Centro about the security of Government development funding for the planned £350 million rebuild of the station.

Now the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce is to survey its members on the future of the station.

Jerry Blackett, policy director at the Chamber and chairman of the West Midlands Business Transport Group, said: " There are extremely demanding conditions that must be satisfied before the Government will release the necessary funding.

"We have to make the case irresistible to the Government and that includes a sizeable response of quality that clearly demonstrates the strength of feeling about the importance of a New Street Station re-development."

The survey, the results of which will be included in the business case to go to Transport Secretary Alastair Darling in November, takes into account the economic impact on companies.

The research offers two alternatives, the complete and radical re-development or the low-cost makeover which was first mooted by owners Network Rail in 2002.




finaly people will actually get their say on it......... as apposed to the government thinking they know best!

"he low-cost makeover which was first mooted by owners Network Rail in 2002."

bet you they go with this option

what part of "mooted" do u not understand lol?

i understand it mate, look at when the bullring was being dveloped they had a chance to solve the four track problem but they didnt, this thing is gonna drag on and on and on and on

they cold have sorted it out....and they still can..... but woould u really expect the goverment to go "ok, your doing that, while your at it, can we do this"..... never lol

and please explain the logic to me that 23,00 businessin in brum are going to say "yes please, give us the cheapest option possible" give me strength lol

Mooted means proposed :?

Anyway... ;)

NR just wanted to spruce up the station to make it look a bit more pleasant - bit of cladding, tart up the concourse, paint the platforms etc. That was rejected and the council formed the action group, recruiting all the people with vested interests.

The ball has begun rolling and I think there is just too much impetus to stop it now. Millions have already been spent on the masterplanning and all the reports and studies into the effects of the station, how it will operate etc are well underway. The good thing about this project now is that it is of national significance, so it won't just be Brummies that get upset if it doesn't live up to its expectations. The railway network cannot operate correctly unless New St is sorted out.

The project is being designed so modifications can be made at a later date, and I have heard that this includes provision for the deep tunnel that would take through traffic below New St.

I think they are in a chain reaction now that cannot be stopped - just imagine the problems they would encounter if the Pallisades was sold and then they decided "no, we won't do anything after all"!!

Incidentally, they are not going to stick a cinema on top, or keep the shops as they are. From what I can gather the shops will be incorporated on different levels on and above the main concourse. The whole point of the redevelopment is a) greater capacity and b) to get natural light down to the platforms. You can't do this with a cinema above!

And at £10 million per acre, it is a bit too expensive for a cinema. Seriously - I reckon the Odeon is going to go too... but that's just a hunch :)

I am sure i heard that odeon were going into Martineau Galleries ? or did i dream it

Chinese whispers I think Brum 2003 - MG is likely to include a cinema, and it was suggested that the Odeon may move as the city centre cinema market is saturated...

Plus the Odeon is sitting on a very expensive - parcel of land - right next to the future no. 1 address in Brum!

defo, i have heard from a number of sources that this area of the city could potentially be one of the most expensive areas of real estate in the country andf that the south of th city is to experience a true change!

I've just been in the bowels of New Street. There is so much wasted space you would not believe it, and it's not so much planned as badly evolved. If you think it's unpleasant for the travelling public, you want to see the conditions the staff have to work in. I can't see anything other than demolition and starting afresh being an option. Interestingly, there were a couple of display boards for a project to increase passenger capacity lying gathering dust, which is hopefully where that plan will stay!

interesting, I am sure that New Street will go ahead, its the last major station in the country, along with edinburgh waverly not to have been upgraded....they have no choice now

I like the bit below the platforms if you get the lift down. I used to run around there pretending to shoot aliens.

When I was 18 unfortunately.

I was pissed though :)

I like the bit below the platforms if you get the lift down.

I only discovered those lifts last Christmas.Thinking about it, this could be a cheap way of getting the much desired deep (or shallow in this case) tunnel. :)

wat is this.......BELOW the platforms?

There's quite a lot below platform level.

Yeah - there are a few ramps that lead down there from the platforms (mainly used by the old battery-powered BR parcels buggies that used to roam the platforms). I'm not sure if all the platforms have these ramps but I do know that platforms 8-9 and 10-11 have such ramps at the western (Holliday Street Tunnels) end - they lead down to some sort of even deeper subterranean level of some sort - what it is I never found out for myself though.

Probably the old link to the GPO sorting office (Mailbox)

Yeah.. but has anybody ever been below the level that lies beneath the platforms? That's where the wriggle-um's live.

Those subterranean catacombs that lie beneath the platforms of New Street are in factthe gateways to HELL!!!!!

Yeah.. but has anybody ever been below the level that lies beneath the platforms? That's where the wriggle-um's live.

Aye, I shot the bastards :gunz:

Heres some very interesting news:

potentially 2 30 storey towers :)

Birmingham considers resi towers for New Street station

Steering group weighs up options for 30-storey blocks above redeveloped rail hub

09.09.2005

By Gwyn Roberts

The multi-agency team charged with finalising plans for the £350m redevelopment of Birmingham New Street station is considering the financial potential of two 30-storey residential towers.

The structures would sit above the redeveloped rail hub and 250,000 sq ft (23,225 sq m) shopping centre. The proposal is under discussion by a steering group of key stakeholders made up of Network Rail, Centro, Birmingham City Council, Advantage West Midlands and the Department for Transport.

John McAslan & Partners, the scheme’s architect, and management consultancy firm WSP Group are including the towers in the designs and feasibility studies that will inform the steering group’s final decision in December.

Last Thursday the group met to discuss the latest possible options for the site.

A source said: ‘There is now an option for these towers, although the final decision has yet to be set in stone.’

Mike Taylor, Birmingham City Council’s lead planning officer for New Street station, also urged caution. ‘Two towers may be possible, but there is scope for one tower, the refurbishment of Stevenson Tower [an existing block offering council accommodation] or even no towers,’ he said.

The final decision will be based on the scheme that can most ably enhance New Street’s transport facilities and command the most interest from private sector bidders once the method of procurement has been decided.

Last week the future of the entire scheme was cast into doubt by a financial report produced by Centro, the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, for the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority, the political body responsible for the region’s transport policy and budget.

It expressed concern that a £7m fund, initially earmarked for the scheme by the Strategic Rail Authority, was not transferred to the Department for Transport after the SRA was wound up.

The report said: ‘It is recognised if they do not change their position the scheme will collapse as they are the only source of money.’

However, a spokesman for Centro said the report had created unnecessary confusion because its author had accidentally neglected to add that the Department for Transport had stated that the funding would still be forthcoming.

The Department for Transport also confirmed that it would honour all existing Strategic Rail Authority commitments.

Network Rail declined to comment on both the question of funding and the final design of the scheme.

good news, where did you get hold of this??? i might write to them and add mt support...

Dee, you dont get here often but u choose your moment well!

Good find Dee.Sounds very interesting.

If those two are built there will be a little cluster in that area.

Don't like the idea of them sitting on top of the rail hub, surely when want to get as much light in to the concourse two big towers on top aren't going to help.

I wonder where they would be placed?

i do believe the idea will bethat (as in the bullring) u'll arrive in the station, look up through a huge glass roof at towers towerig over you.... would be great....and anyway, you say why would people like to live above a rail hub.....Orioj i pretty much the same !

wow, a refurbed stevenson coudl be good, if they spend some money !!!

What do you guys prefer?
A) Two new towers.
B) A refurbished Stephensen Tower.
C) No towers .

By the way ,do you think that Stephensen Tower and Stephensen St were named after the father George or the son Robert (both famous for their railway influence) ? Or maybe the tower was named after one of them and the other named after the street?

A- has long as there not cheap and allow light to flow onto the platforms, theres no way option b should be considered

Dee - you are a star! I can come clean now seeing as I am not letting the cat out of the bag....

"My" mystery towers are these twin towers, expected to be located as the gateway to the station where Stephenson Tower is now.

There is also the potential for another lower tower at the other end of the station.

It's not certain if they are going to be resi or office, or even if they are going to go ahead, but several partners seem to be keen. And the heights are not determined yet but the figure I heard was 30 storeys, with some partners wanting higher... :)

damn cnat wait till december!

is that HSBC building gona go ?

this does sound truly amazing.. i can wait tosee the plans and its encouraging to see developers wanting to build tall....... these towers,and HCT...would be nice.....and i HOPE that the way the market is going that we got offcies instead...bring some life to the area..........

role on December

WOO HOO ... yip yip yipee ...

Bahh humbug, didnt we talk about towers at Birmingham New Street not long ago, 2 would be fantastic and at 30 storeys, that is even better, residential or office who cares, Bio, get those bastards to go higher, we want to rival those pesky northerners ;)

Fuck me - all we need now is for an aircraft to fly into the two towers and they topple straight into the pit that is New Street Station. Sounds like a crackpot idea to me. Towers - by all means yes - but as someone else says - we need MORE space around the platforms, not less. Especially not even more buildings being placed OVER the station structure.

Yet more clutching at desperate straws, me thinks.

There is plenty of room for towers at the side. but i thought that was to be used for more platforms. Also office towers would best suit the site. as residents would want to be over looking the platforms really. think of the pollution for one

your forgetting, the New street satation rebuiold is not just the station itself....... its the entire area.... these tower(s) have plenty of room and would not limit the growth of the stations

anyway, towers over a station would be no more noisy, polluted than the likes of orion and NCT

Well if they could be REALLY ambitious and actually create something spectacular like CANTILEVER THE TOWERS OVER THE STATION SUBSTRUCTURE, then we are talking radical ideas! :)

It's about time people stopped being so fucking conservative in this country when it comes to truly breathtaking design and implementation of buildings - all we get on the provincial deal are projects that are aesthetically diluted because they're ultimately hamstrung or compromised by budgets, feasibility studies or the pathetic self-defeating nimbyist attitudes we have so much of everywhere we care to look - well - apart from London of course.

Fuck me - all we need now is for an aircraft to fly into the two towers and they topple straight into the pit that is New Street Station.

only in the world of mg

Well if they could be REALLY ambitious and actually create something spectacular like CANTILEVER THE TOWERS OVER THE STATION SUBSTRUCTURE, then we are talking radical ideas! :)

It's about time people stopped being so fucking conservative in this country when it comes to truly breathtaking design and implementation of buildings...

Just wait until you see the design MG ;)

The towers are not above the station - the design brief says there must be a glass roof with floor penetrations down to the platforms in order to flood the area with natural light.

They would be at the side and are there to provide a focal point - the gateway to Brimingham Gateway.

Cantilevering the towers over station substructure is pointless - only that kind of engineering is worth it when the cost of not doing it exceeds the cost of doing it - and I thought you didn't want the towers above the station? ;)

As for platforms, there is no point in having more platforms until there are more lines going in, and that can only practically happen when there is a deep-level tunnel bored below the station. What is needed is more concourse-level waiting like Euston, or even better, holding pens like an airport. Most of the chaos ar New St happens when one train is late so you get passengers for 2 or 3 trains waiting on the same platform.

As the others said - roll on December!

Sounds exciting! Does that mean that no renders will be released of the proposals until a final design is picked in Dec?

Bio, any chance of describing the towers for us? any spires on them, Birmingham needs spires ;)

Yeah, 2 new towers, or even ONE new one would be better than refurbishing Stephenson tower I reckon!! But regardless of towers, i just wanna see the whole monstrosity that is New Street raised to the ground (or below the ground, as it is now)... even if it has to happen in stages, I am sure that whatever they replace it with, will be a MASSIVE improvement!

Eh?? Raised to the ground?? Isn't that a bit of a paradox in a manner of speaking? ;)

True.... it is getting late!! Well, PULLED down or FLATTENED to the ground! As long as they demolish the fucker I don't care!!!!

What I meant to say was - the correct spelling is RAZED to the ground! :D

Soz - I'm just a pedantic stickler for detail! :lol:

I actually quite like the station in a 70's concrete home kind ov way, but I am not too keen on therailway pub, it's a bit of a cess pit for away fans, when you live in brum you get used to covered shopping areas, even the new bullring is covered, more so than the old one, WTF is that about?

WTF are you about tonight, EK?


;)

sorry, I go t lost for a minute there, I had Polly by NirvNA on my Hed FONERS... Kurts voice cross vertilised with my own thoughts and I typed a right load of old shit!

I bloody hate New Street. What a shit-hole.

When we were kids we used to take shopping trips from the sticks to the 'big city' to go shopping.

We loved it until myself and a mate got cornered by a bunch of dickheads above New Street station who pulled a knife and told us they'd use it on us if we didn't give them our money.

Stupidly, we didn't offer it to them, so the cheeky pricks put their hands in our pockets, helped themselves, then buggered off.

C***s.

So if anyone sees two dark fellas, one dressed in an orange puffer jacket and the other in a black puffer jacket, along with 5 of their mates hanging around New Street station looking a bit shifty, stop 'em and tell 'em I want my fucking Fiver back.

Or else.

Let's see 'em be cocky this time. I'm 19 years older now.

Bio, any chance of describing the towers for us? any spires on them, Birmingham needs spires ;)

No idea I'm afraid BC - the towers are just being factored in as far as I know - the actual designs for towers are on the back burner compared to the station (as far as I know). They might not even be included in the planning application because they'll might be done by a private developer separate to the station (the station is in a bit of a rush for the Olympics isn't it?).

IT's a big site that one, and no mistake, I'd be happy if they just get the station complete with a nice arch loads of light and all that ready by 2012, then stick in some towers/spires around it.

Does this mean that Ramp i'll go? You know the one!

btw those of you who think that new street is a dirty overcrowded mess should check out Amsterdam Centraal station, it may look cute from the outside but christ its rough once you get in. I think they may be fixing it by 2011, though. I was in the dam this weekened and had a major craic. For all you tram lovers, yes the place is full of them but they are VERY slow. They make a lot of noise though so my fears of being run over by one didnt materialise. The real problem are the thousands of cyclists cos theyre silent - trying to navigate you way down any street after a few mushies and white widows is a mammoth task let me tell ya!

I used New Street today....a very depressing entrance to the city

christ try visiting paddington station and then goin to new street . London gets away with keeping most of its original stations and birminghams gets fucked over ...years ago

christ try visiting paddington station and then goin to new street . London gets away with keeping most of its original stations and birminghams gets fucked over ...years ago

Euston station?

Barcelona Sants is similar to new streeet but badly located

Barcelona Sants is similar to new streeet but badly located

yeah i only went through it on a train from the airport to the city centre but I thought it looked very similar with loads of underground platforms. It looked a lot cleaner tho...

I used New Street today....a very depressing entrance to the city

Its only depressing because it go's under gournd when your actually close enough to see the skyline lol, I look a right div when we make our entrance and I gradually rise out of my seat to look at HCT and then run acorss the other side to see McLaren :hahaha:

No but seriously, the entrance is rather drab. Eastside and hopefully The Irish Quarter and Digbeth in a few years time will change that so much that it will be unrecognisable.

Barcelona Sants is similar to new streeet but badly located

Yes,it's very similar.It has a nice park next door and does have a ample space around it.Mind you just down the road by Mercat Nou,the area is extremely rough.

Yep, New Street isn't exactly the best entrance to the city, but compared to the coach station, it is the nicest gateway in the world!

This came through from the Chamber of Commerce today. If you have a business you may want to respond
New Street Station survey goes on-line

Time is running out for you to have your say on the future of Birmingham’s New Street Station. The massive survey among West Midlands businesses into the future of the station is now available for you to complete on-line through the website www.sdgvisuals.com/surveys/birmingham

Your views are extremely important and your urgent response is required by Wednesday, 28 September. Results from the survey will form part of the business case being presented in November to convince Alastair Darling, the Secretary of State for Transport, that a completely transformed station is the only option.

Jerry Blackett, policy director at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry and chairperson of the West Midlands Business Transport Group (WMBTG), said: “The business case for a complete transformation of New Street Station will be strengthened by the number of companies which take part in the survey. The replies to the on-line questionnaire will boost the West Midlands business case considerably.”

“We have to make the case irresistible to the Government and that includes a sizeable response of quality which clearly demonstrates the strength of feeling about the importance of a New Street Station re-development.”



Make your opinions count


The survey takes into account the economic impact such as creating and saving jobs as well as increases in sales and revenue on companies just like yours so make your opinions count. To complete the survey, visit the website www.sdgvisuals.com/surveys/birmingham. Your response is required by Wednesday, 28 September.

option 1 is awful

It seems a loaded survey.I think your meant to choose option 2.

you can see the designs for it if you click the link in the top corner, intresting to see where there moving the enterance to

stick ya boot in lol


Time to stop talking and start station plan Oct 5 2005




By Jonathan Walker, Political Editor


Birmingham's civic leaders must stop wasting time and get the rebuild of New Street station underway, the Director General of the CBI has warned.

Sir Digby Jones, the Birmingham lawyer who leads the CBI, said it was time to stop talking and start doing.

Businesses depended on rail links, he warned a meeting at the Conservative Party conference in Blackpool.



Story continues




Sir Digby said: "As a city, Birmingham has to pee or get off the pot. There are a lot of different ideas, but the time for a decision has come. Unless the private sector and the public sector work together, it will never happen. This is overdue, and it has to happen."


Sir Digby's comments were backed by Birmingham lawyer Andrew Sparrow, deputy chairman of Birmingham Forward, who says projects are stalled because of the council.


He said: "I have had numerous people approach me over several months from business circles questioning the lack of decision-making on the part of the city council. Their concerns are shared by others. From the ill-fated proposals for an underground system, always wholly unrealistic in cost terms, to the library plans, and, just this week, the threat to the Royal College of Organists' relocation to Eastside, the culture of indecision has become ingrained."


Plans have been drawn up for a £350 million redevelopment of New Street, backed by the city council, business leaders and Centro, the transport authority. Businesses warn the existing station is the worst possible welcome to Birmingham for travellers.


The station is operating with twice as many passengers as it was designed for and has often closed at peak times because of overcrowding and safety fears.


The current scheme was revealed three years ago, and has progressed slowly because of the financial crisis faced by the rail industry after the Hatfield crash in 2000.


But plans to revamp New Street - openly referred to as a "blot on Birmingham's landscape" by city officials - were first mooted in the early 1990s.


Last July Prime Minister Tony Blair promised it was a case of "when and not if" the station would be rebuilt.


Sir Digby called for improvements in the West Midlands rail infrastructure.


He said: "The handling of freight into the region has to improve, and that means investment in Network Rail."

All parties across Birmingham City Council (what ever colour) need one heck of a kick up the backside over this. The government should hand over the dosh post-haste and we should get on with it ASAP!
The Labour controlled council have been thinking about it from the early 1990s, and now the new lot (lib dem/tory) seem that they could be dithering about it for a similar period of time!

i just thank god that the olympics are coming...... something for us to aim for!

The Olympics are coming... and you can bet all the UK's transport money gets sucked into London...

As an aside, I reckon Digby Jones knows that all major cities/regions are going to get elected mayors, and he is angling for the top job for Brum.

I think I'd vote for him!

I think he'd like to be in control of a £2 billion budget.

I agree Bio, i would vote for him to. Im sure that for a change to elected mayors there has to be a public vote? Or can the goverment force councils to adopt the system?

There would be a public vote - bare in mind, the area thought to be most in favour of this i.e. the NE voted 72% - 28% against it in their referendum.

You can force a referendum by getting 5% of the electorate to petition the council.

Metrolink - we have already had a referedum on WHETHER to have a directly-elected mayor, and the majority (around 55-60%) voted in favour. But as per usual political conniving came into it and it was claimed that most people wanted it to stay the way it is. How? Because the for-vote was split between mayor + executive and mayor + cabinet. That way the no-mayor camp was the single largest grouping (by a few percent), even though most people wanted a mayor!

Was the NE a regional assembly thing? Because Middlesbrough has got a directly-elected mayor hasn't it?

There would be a public vote - bare in mind, the area thought to be most in favour of this i.e. the NE voted 72% - 28% against it in their referendum.

And the Northwest didn't even get a chance because of it, personally I would have voted "no" myself because I suspect what would happen is the place where they put the council would get loads of money spent on it, and the infrastructure, and take all the money away from the rest of the area. I'm no expert, but that does seem to have happened in Wales, at least that what they say the few times I accentedly tune my radio to BBC Wales. Unless of course they were going to build it near me!

But that's regional assemblys, City wide Mayors would be of course a rather different matter.

I too dont agree with regional assemblys, a complete waste of money, and another layer or beaurocracy.

I never cease to be amazed how money for transport can NEVER be found yet the odd £3bn gets spirited out of thin air to help out the yanks in Iraq.

The Olympics are coming... and you can bet all the UK's transport money gets sucked into London...

Don't worry. Us Londoners have just found out how the transport improvements will be paid for. Gordon Brown refused to give money to Ken Livingstone, but did allow London to borrow money. This means that a single tube ticket is rising to £3! This is the most expensive on the entire planet.

I too dont agree with regional assemblys, a complete waste of money, and another layer or beaurocracy.I see less and less reason for the national level! Seriously, what do they really do????? Why is there such a large Education department when schools and local authorities manage teaching?

I never cease to be amazed how money for transport can NEVER be found yet the odd £3bn gets spirited out of thin air to help out the yanks in Iraq..

Too true - that kind of money could also give EVERY SINGLE PENSIONER IN THE UK a £10 per week pension increase FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS! Now, I'm not complaining about the Iraq war, just that someone will shrug their shoulders and say "there's not enough money" soon...

Don't worry. Us Londoners have just found out how the transport improvements will be paid for. Gordon Brown refused to give money to Ken Livingstone, but did allow London to borrow money. This means that a single tube ticket is rising to £3! This is the most expensive on the entire planet.

:eek2: That's quite a lot! Won't this be effectively a tourist tax though as most regular users will have a travel pass of some form or another?

Don't get me wrong - the Olympics are a great coup and are good for London and the UK, but I think it is unfair that it will be used as ANOTHER excuse not to fund regional projects.

The UK transport pot will get sucked into London though - we can see it happening to sport already. This has not really received much press coverage, but Sport England is slashing budgets around the country in order to save up for the Olmypics - surely they should be INCREASING budgets so we stand a chance of get more people interested and fielding more sports men and women??

I see less and less reason for the national level! Seriously, what do they really do????? Why is there such a large Education department when schools and local authorities manage teaching?

I don't see any case for regional governance. At a national level they should be looking after defence, national security, international affairs, guiding education and maybe health. We should then have a stronger local government - they are the people that affect our day to day lives.

This should all be backed up by split tax. For example, I pay 25-30% of my wages in tax, NI etc and that excludes VAT! 15% should go as national tax, 10% as local tax and 5% as NI.

Small Central Government, Big Local Government. That's what I think anyway! :)

Well we are spending more public money than ever before under this goverment, either we have to cut back on our overly beaurocratic public services, or something has to give. We can't spend on everything.

what ever the goverment type or size we never gonna be happy,

the first thing i would do is sort out the benfits system we have estates full off people happily living of this

Usherling
Sorry about the last post my cousin was on my lap and began writing and then pressed enter.
The orginal render is impressive the second is breath taking, BUT how long until it is completed and will there by skyscrapers ontop of it. Maybe Maybe not. Usherling

Usherling
Sorry about the last post my cousin was on my lap and began writing and then pressed enter.
The orginal render is impressive the second is breath taking, BUT how long until it is completed and will there by skyscrapers ontop of it. Maybe Maybe not. Usherling

You were cumming in your pants while your cousin was on your lap? :crazy:

;)

It's legal (if they are over 16) :lol:

Usherling
Sorry about the last post my cousin was on my lap and began writing and then pressed enter.
The orginal render is impressive the second is breath taking, BUT how long until it is completed and will there by skyscrapers ontop of it. Maybe Maybe not. Usherling

Lets just try and forget the idea of birmingham EVER having skyscrapers ANYWHERE shall we. We can only kid ourselves for so long.

Ghostdog bog off mate, I think you're getting on everyones nerves :yes:

Hi, a lurker here taking the plunge and posting for the first time. Slight change of subject, but on the train into New Street yesterday I was sat next to two gentlemen discussing the redevelopment of New Street, so I listened in. They basically said that Network rail had run out of cash for the New Street redevelopment and that the original plan where Stephenson Tower was to be demolished, two 30 storey resi towers were to be built and the Palasades to go were being scaled back and that their consultancy had to get the revised plan ready by the end of November. They didn't seem impressed by the short time frame they were working to.

Anyway I sincerely hope what I heard was wrong, but if it was correct it seems that we may not be getting anything greatly better that a makeover...

well regardless of what we are getting, everything need to be ready and in place by the end of the year....

to rebuild a major station whilenit is still opporational will take around 3 - 5 years of construction and so regardless of what tyhey build, it will need to be ready before the year is out.....

and anyway, new street station is being rebuilt! i shouldnt worry too much about them worrying about the time.....this is what happeens when big schemes like new street ahevdeadlines like the olympics to keep too....esp when the deadline is NT movable.

anyway, the trainstation design will be uilt according to what will attract the most interest in private finance and the one that best suits the transport infrastructure of the station.....as of yet, we still dont kow what that is!

towers would be nice but hey, what can we say...so long as the station is rebvuilt (which is pretty much a dead cert) im a happy man

welcome MD72

new street... old problem.

New Street = forever not enough platforms.

nEW sTREET = oLD PRoblem = :speech: = :gaah: = :crazy: = :tongue4: = :gaah: :gaah: :gaah: = :booze: = :tongue4: = :cheer: = :gaah: = :naughty: :gaah: = :blahblah: :blahblah: :blahblah: :blahblah: :wink2: = :crazy2: :crazy2: :crazy2: :gaah: :skull: R.I.P.

Lay off those mind-altering drugs a little will you, Lizzie? There's a good girl...

:)

has anyone actually said that this has to be done before the olympics? I thought the deadline was 2011, I haven't heard anything about the olympics outside this forum.

Hi MD72 :wave:

I have heard similar stories about New St, with things being called off, then back on, things being changed, with Warner hoping to buy the Pallasades and demanding more retail. I think people are just getting the jitters because they are dealing with a huge sum of money. I think things are being said to frighten people into action - most of all the government.

Listening to info coming from the team, I think they are looking at every eventuality. There is a funding shortfall (it is well-known that they are about £100 million short) but when you consider everything, there's still in excess of £200million going to be spent on it if the funding doesn't come through! :)

They are still trying to get private money involved, and although the DfT is coughing up a few mill for the studies, they haven't put their hands in their pockets yet. The money is comng from Centro, BCC and AWM so far (I think).

The latest I heard was that the towers are going to be in the planning application, but there's no huge rush to get that submitted.

Judging by letters in the papers, this is a very big project in terms of public support and it would be political suicide for any politician, be they a councillor, MP or minister, to put a spanner in the works.

Hmmm.... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4328136.stm

Cheers Biosonic - hopefully they are planning to cover all the possible outcomes which seems wise in the circumstances. I really do hope we get a completely new New Street because as someone who uses the station almost everyday it's pretty depressing. Hopefully we'll get those thirty story towers as well!

Hmmm.... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4328136.stm


Oh what a surprise.......it's LONDON, LONDON, LONDON, LONDON, all over again.....

Those three stations have HAD upgrades already, they're in a pretty good shape now, so what the fuck is this all about spending money on doing THEM up again whilst Brum gets overlooked again? Absolutely no mention of the huge plans for redevelopment for Birmingham New Street is there? Or is it already considered "under way" then?

FUCKING PATHETIC.

Someone dismantle Network Rail now and bring back BR. Then we may just fucking get somewhere!!

:rant:

BBC London Bias?

Didn't the New Street stuff come out in about March,

http://www.renewstreet.co.uk/news/default.asp

There is a document called "Passengers to benefit from station investment billions", sorry been to lazy to read it in Octobers news at Network rails werbsite,http://www.networkrail.co.uk/pressoffice/2005/October/PressOctober.htm

..nice avatar, md72

Someone dismantle Network Rail now and bring back BR. :rant:

Only if your prepared to pay for it! :)

With this goverment your either in London or Manchester, anywhere in between in is a blur.

nice to see us!

Only if your prepared to pay for it! :)

With this goverment your either in London or Manchester, anywhere in between in is a blur.


They can fuck right off - we've pumped quite enough money into this neverending black hole of incompetence (nice phrase that - I should copyright it pronto) that is our "wonderful" privatised railway - despite the fucking government reassuring us that us taxpayers should not have to keep stumping up for it - and yet year in year out this has been the case - spiralling fares and fucking everything else just to line the shareholders pockets and the fucking TOC fat cats' pay rises and bonuses...and the trains keep getting worse and run later and later..... They have been taking the piss out of us for too long now, so they can go fucking whistle if they think us gullible fools will dig even deeper into our pockets. The so-called Rail Regulators and RPCCs are just as bad cos their hands are tied as well - pathetic, what fucking use are they?? when it comes to saying "enough fare rises are enough!!" NO FUCKING USE AT ALL!

They STILL take the piss out of us right now, cos thy're having us believe that punctuality has improved over the last year - fucking bollocks has it - considering that in Britain trains are running "on time" even when they're up to 10 minutes late has surely got to be the biggest fucking joke in the history of Christendom. If a train is even a minute late IT IS FUCKING LATE! END OF STORY!!! Many European nations still continue to point and laugh at the British for our cluelessly inept and extortionately expensive railway system you know.

Only if your prepared to pay for it! :)

With this goverment your either in London or Manchester, anywhere in between in is a blur.

Nonsense. If you're anywhere other than London you're a blur.

Facelift for two rail stations Oct 12 2005




By Ben Hurst, Birmingham Mail


BIRMINGHAM International and Wolverhampton rail stations are set to benefit from a massive £4 billion facelift.

But the Network Rail scheme does not include Birmingham New Street - which is currently in desperate need of a £350 million revamp, according to city chiefs.

Network Rail wants to develop Euston, Victoria and Waterloo stations in conjunction with private partners. The company has also identified 50 larger regional stations as needing upgrades.



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A spokesman said that Birmingham International - which serves the airport and NEC - and Wolverhampton had been earmarked.


Network Rail also plans to bundle smaller sites into clusters and offer them as packages to single developers.


Chief executive John Armitt said: "Our plans may well be ambitious, but they fuse imagination with reality in order to leverage additional private capital into improving our assets. This will result in upgraded facilities that passengers rightly demand."


A Birmingham City Council-led taskforce has been set up, including the Department for Transport, Centro and Advantage West Midlands, to bring forward plans to increase the space for passengers at New Street station.

BNS dosn't need a facelift it needs replacment.

This is a bit ominous. Maybe they aren't including BNS because it is a special case. Wolves needs an upgrade but no-one can say that BIS is in a worse state than BNS.

I am told by various sources that NR are a bit jittery about BNS because even if nothing happens to it in terms of redevelopment, they are going to HAVE to spend over £100 million on a safety upgrade alone.

It would be fair to assume that NR are trying to get as many other parties involved as possible so they have to fork out less...

Birmingham International actually HAS space earmarked for further expansion - the area to the right of Platform 5 as you come up from Euston (The NEC) site was left deliberately protected for a sixth platform to be added there. If they ever get round to quadrupling the track between Brum and Coventry (and why not? They fucking did with Lichfield-Tamworth on the Trent valley section) then they will need a sixth platform for extra capacity. I think Bham International just needs more canopies along some of the exposed lengths of its very long straight platforms, that's all.

This is a bit ominous. Maybe they aren't including BNS because it is a special case. Wolves needs an upgrade but no-one can say that BIS is in a worse state than BNS.

I am told by various sources that NR are a bit jittery about BNS because even if nothing happens to it in terms of redevelopment, they are going to HAVE to spend over £100 million on a safety upgrade alone.

It would be fair to assume that NR are trying to get as many other parties involved as possible so they have to fork out less...


Network Rail really piss me off as much as Railtrack. I mean, they really can talk the talk but as ever all their priorites lie in spending as much money as possible on London, no matter how overbudget the schemes are, and leaving Birmingham out of the equation yet again. They are clueless cowards who will stop at nothing to keep coming up with excuses.

Seriously, I can just picture them now sitting their in their luxuriantly upholstered air-conditioned boardrooms....a collective and repeated shrugging of shoulders, noncommittal frowns and sour-lemon grimacings when presented with the detailed plans for BNS's redevelopment...."hmmm.... that's a little expensive.....hmmmm...you sure we should really commit ourselves now to spending so much money on Birmingham....I mean....surely the needs of commuters in London are of far more pressing concern?...."

One word to Network Rail: GET SOME PERSPECTIVE ON THE BIGGER PICTURE OR FUCK RIGHT OFF, you dithering backpedalling bullshitting cheapskates!

Martin G re: B'ham Int'l

I agree - and there is space for something special to be done for those canopies.

And if BNS sneezes, the rest of the country's rail network catches a cold - a 5 min delay at BNS can cause havoc with other services across Britain.

I agree - and there is space for something special to be done for those canopies.


Birmingham International was actually a very modern and spacious station when it was opened in 1976 - (it - AND INDEED THE N.E.C. - will be celebrating its 30th anniversary next year, but is anything going to be mentioned of this fact? I doubt it). I remember going there in 1982 for my first ever visit and was impressed with how clean and modern it looked. Mind you that was then, maybe it's dated now. But I DID like the MAGLEV link to the airport, which they decommissioned in 1995 cos they couldn't find the parts to replace it. That's typical cheapskate Brit mentality then isn't it - considering how that was the first such system in operation anywhere in the world at the time (true!) and now we're hearing of very dodgy and spuriously pie-in-the-sky plans from King Bullshit Spouter himself Tony Blair to build a "hover rail" line between London and Glasgow. The guy should take his place as one of our finest stand up comics cos that is hilarious! :lol:

And if BNS sneezes, the rest of the country's rail network catches a cold - a 5 min delay at BNS can cause havoc with other services across Britain.


Too true...too true. Its strategic importance in relation to the ENTIRE COUNTRYWIDE RAILWAY NETWORK really can not be underestimated - unless, of course, you are the government and the clueless dickheads at Network Rail /ex-Railtrack-call-it-what-you-bloody-will.... :evil:

did anyone see the program on the BBC a few weeks ago about the ladbrooke grove and hatfield distaters called "derailed".....if that is a true view of network rail, the i have major fears that it will take something big to hapen for them to take new street seriously......

i have never seen a station so crowded as BNS and i could easily see there being major disatser is something isnt done soon...... its a death trap....... a bomb, a derailments, a crowd crush.......it doesnt bare thinking about!

did anyone see the program on the BBC a few weeks ago about the ladbrooke grove and hatfield distaters called "derailed".....if that is a true view of network rail, the i have major fears that it will take something big to hapen for them to take new street seriously......

i have never seen a station so crowded as BNS and i could easily see there being major disatser is something isnt done soon...... its a death trap....... a bomb, a derailments, a crowd crush.......it doesnt bare thinking about!

And yes - you're right, it WILL take a huge disaster at New Street before the fucking government sit up and listen and take action. After all, that is how they have responded to virtually all rail-related disasters in the past - only instigate pathetic knee-jerk patch-up remedial measures and finally relent to splash the cash after the event......and then STILL make a right proper fist out of that as well..... I'm sorry, but I have NO faith whatsoever in this government ever sorting out our railways - and you can take those words from me as concrete and absolute until the day I drop dead. I have lost what little respect and patience I ever had with them, full stop. I'm not going to be suckered or taken for a mug by them fucking bullshitting wankers - not on my life.

Each time I read newspaper articles about them "pledging more money for the railways" my immediate reaction is - "Oh fuck right off! Who are you kidding? How many times have you said this and said that? You are absolutely full of shit."

They will NEVER ever convince me that they take the public transport issue seriously. They are as uncommitted and biased as it comes.

There won't be any serious rail crash at BNS due to the slow speeds that the trains travel at.

What I can see happening is either a bomb (I know someone who was employed to do bomb-pattern analyses at BNS - they wouldn't tell me the results...) or a crowd surge, throwing people on to the tracks.

It is conceivable that a bomb outside the station could cause this kind of surge too.

It makes for grim speculation.

well i was at newstreet the other day....and as i was arriving at 4pm, there was my train (vigin XC from edinburgh) and the lond euston pendelino arriving at the same time...... plus however many commuters there was.......

the platforms, straiways were packed....a bomb on a train would be catastrophic...... the confidend space would contain the force of the blast directing it straight into the crown (unlike the nice huge open space of atocha sta in madrid) killing hundreds...let alone the stampeed in thousands of people trying to get out!!!!!!

I find it amazing that even after the Kings Cross fire of 1987 the (then Conservative) government did not liaise with (then) British Rail to ensure that more emergency fire exits were provided at BOTH ends of the station platforms. Of course, only one such footbridge and exit was built - at the Hill Street/Navigation Street end, but what about preparing for all eventualities and doing the same at the Bull Ring/Rotunda End, especially bearing in mind just how many commuters use this fucking place???? It's all a question of money you see.

Obviously that is more important than being sensible enough to cater for ALL possible future scenarios.

Fuckwits. FUCKWITS, The whole bleeding lot of them.

I have to say this thread has taken a turn for the depressive, with all these potential death trap stations.

I would like to remind everyone compared to how many people die in RTA's every day, the accidents on trains or at railway stations are almost none existant - as Nick from that Crime programme would say "Don't have nightmares".

WELOCME TO ERMM PAGE OH YEAH 7 NO 11 NO ERM 12 :bash:


The question still remains IS THE BLOODY STATION GETTING BUILT

Sheesh, now I have that out my system :cheers:

Usherling :)

But I DID like the MAGLEV link to the airport, which they decommissioned in 1995 cos they couldn't find the parts to replace it. That's typical cheapskate Brit mentality then isn't it - considering how that was the first such system in operation anywhere in the world at the time (true!) and now we're hearing of very dodgy and spuriously pie-in-the-sky plans from King Bullshit Spouter himself Tony Blair to build a "hover rail" line between London and Glasgow. The guy should take his place as one of our finest stand up comics cos that is hilarious! :lol:[/QUOTE]


The British - really good at inventing things, shit at sustaining them!!!! lol

Yep, the safety aspect of new street does concern me, and the fact its redevelopment has been overlooked for so long is a total disgrace! Not only from a safety perspective, or the fact that B/ham needs a much nice "gateway" or first point of call for people arriving at the city, that doesn't look like a scene from hell, but also as others have already pointed out, BNS is central to almost all rail services in UK, and if it fails, a huge majority of the rest of the rail system does too!!

On a tangent (as i know this is a New St thread), but on a similar subject, it is great that one of our stations has at least been given the facelift it needs, and will become a fantastic gateway for people arriving in B/ham (Moor St)... just a shame they are taking so long to sort the tracks out!! is it just me or was the fact that it wasn't in network rail's (or whoever was responsible for laying the tracks) schedule till 2008 or whenever it was such a lame excuse?? How much planning and difficulty is required to lay some fucking rail tracks??!!! It certainly wouldn't happen if the station were in London!

Still, I shouldn't complain, at least it is going to happen now!! I just hope they can get their arses into gear for new St.....

I have to say this thread has taken a turn for the depressive, with all these potential death trap stations.
I don't know about depressing, it's certainly making me angry.
£200m has been stumped up by local government and organisations and NR isn't falling over itself to offer the remaining £100m. When really they should be funding the whole thing! Okay, it's not your average renovation, but us locals are chipping-in with 2/3rds of the cost. That should be enough of a sweetener. Maybe we should try the lottery, they match the original amount. Maybe charity is the way forward, people with collecting buckets outside the station: "This station is a death trap. Please give generously". :rant:
I certainly hope NR didn't mention BNS in it's list of stations in need of an overhaul because it's a special case. If it's been dropped of the list, then action needs to be taken.

From what people-in-the-know tell me, even if the overhaul of New St doesn't go ahead, NR are going to have to spend huge sums of money in order to bring it up to saftey standards.

NR will fork out £100m just like that if it means that's all they have to pay ;)

Well the logical decision is to spend £100m on a sparkly new station rather than something close to £100m on tarting-up the current building. But there again logic doesn't always prevail.

Here's a photo I took a few weeks ago and shows how horrible New St is.
It's a beautifully sunny day outside but on the platforms you wouldn't know it.
http://www.truplex.com/personal/ssc/05_10_17-NewSt.jpg

Agh, puh how horrible

You're not gonna like this.


Councillors return to street-level metro plan Oct 18 2005


By Campbell Docherty, Transport Correspondent


Birmingham City Council has climbed down over its desire to see a city-centre metro line run underground and is now backing the previously agreed streetlevel option.

The news came as a major infrastructure study criticised the West Midlands for dragging its heels on transport projects.

Last night, one of the authors of the Institution of Civil Engineers' (ICE) annual "State of The Nation" report said the council's study into the possibility of an underground system was a waste of time.



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The Conservative-Lib-Dem administration agreed to fund a consultants' study into tunnelling options 13 months ago.


However, the report, which cost over £300,000 of taxpayers' money, recommends largely the same future surface lines and tunnelling options as had been agreed by the previous Labour administration.


The major difference is a change of priorities, with a desire to see the Airport/NEC line brought forward next.


The report looks at two tunnelling options, at a combined cost of £2 billion, but only one would have a chance of meeting the Government's cost-benefit funding criteria in the forseeable future.


Yesterday, Birmingham City Council leader Mike Whitby (Con Harborne) described talk of delays as a "red herring" and said the work done had " accelerated the process".


He added: "If we had the funding and if the Government wanted to fund a total underground system I would say it is desirable to be underground, but the reality is the Government sets its criteria and we want to move forward with the metro."


The ICE West Midlands Report 2005, which is published today, states that without quick political decisions on public transport, the region will continue to decline.


Terry Mulroy, a member of the ICE and co-author of the West Midlands report, said: "Any transport professional could have told them these conclusions before they started."

i know someone who works at new street and the station is suffering from subsidence.....one side is sinking and the other rising !!!

doing nothing is not an option !!

Yes but that would mean all the litter and crap would in the end slide off the platforms. Think of the cost savings to be made from sacking all those litter pickers.

the thing that annoys me is the amounbt of people that blantly stand there and smoke and the staff never do anything, they just chuck it onto the track

EEEWWW, They should be prosecuted in doing that, no respect for there cit whatso everm, rediculous