Midland Metro Extension | Birmingham City Centre

[metrogogo]

From this view you can almost see the full length of the new metro bridge and the location of the metro tram stop.
image hosted on flickr
P1010430 by metrogogo, on Flickr

The trams will be highly visible from around this location.
image hosted on flickr
P1010429 by metrogogo, on Flickr

image hosted on flickr
P1010454 by metrogogo, on Flickr

[woodhousen]

a plan view of my proposal also...

[i_like_concrete]

Originally Posted by blahblahv2

Have you ever used Snow Hill Station to catch a train? While you are correct that the entrance is on Colmore Row, the point where you access the platforms isn't. It's about half way down the length of the building. Someone working at say Direct Line on the one side or Wragg & Co. on the other actually has to walk further to catch a train at Snow Hill using the Colmore Row entrance than they would do using the new entrance on Livery Street.

If you're commuting in by Train and then transferring to the Metro, then it's yet more convenient to change with the proposed new stop and the new entrances - even without an entrance on the Metro side then it is at the moment

I use Snowhill regularly, having access directly onto Colmore row is handy as it is where all the buses are and requires no uphill walking.

The point of convenience is that even if you have to walk a bit from the concourse to get to Colmore row, it is a level walkway suitable for all users. Having an exit halfway along Livery st doesn't provide the same convenience. Simple.

No, I'm not suggesting that Network Rail would be interested in doing this all by themselves, I', suggesting that Network Rail may be interested in selling this potentially high value land from which the proceeds could be used to fund other things

Not when they can just sell the potentially high value air rights above the station with no need to pay for anything themselves and no need for heavy engineering works. Selling the air rights means they make money, the city gets improved and none of it is down to public money.

Rebuilding the station would take a lot of public money, which they may well be able to make back from selling the land freed up, but to go to so much effort when you could just build above the current station with none of the hassle?

Yes, you may have to walk up a hill to get to the city centre. Or if you're a regular commuter, then you'll likely have an n Network pass which means you can just change, jump on the Metro and get off at Bull Street or Corporation Street. Cost of using the metro is included in that ticket.

I'd anticipate that many regular commuters who currently use Snow Hill on a regular basis may start using this pass once the extension opens

Or you could stay on and use Moor Street instead?

I don't think you get it, Snowhill is ideally placed for a lot of places, because you arrive on the plateau and it is greatly convenient. It's a good station to arrive at and then walk to find your destination, Moor St isn't, because it is in a bad location, all the buildings around it face away from it, and it is an uphill walk to get anywhere central.

Again, you talk about 'most commuters', without realising that most commuters would probably just want to go to Snow Hill, then walk to their office/shop, they don't want to have to get the Metro 2 stops in the busy morning rush hour if they can help it. So why force them to simply because you want to provide office space that it is STILL POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE WITHOUT MOVING THE STATION? How many people will benefit from those offices? How many people will be forced to change their route to work because of the change you propose? Who are more important?

Now who's logic is confused? You slammed my idea based upon the convenience of access to the railway station in it's current place, but argue against convenience of access for people in the Jewellery Quarter

Eh? I pointed out the Jewellery Quarter is already well served and that moving the railway station wouldn't change much in terms of what is already available. I certainly didn't argue against convenience of access for people in the Jewellery Quarter, who, given they have the new entrance, are now as well served as they would be if we did what you want to do...

We get the point. You don't like the Green Wall.

I'm interested to hear your ideas and suggestions on how to solve this tricky problem in less than 10 years given the limited funds available to private property developers, Network Rail, the Council and the Government.

What problem? As far as I can see you have invented this problem? Snow Hill station is shit, but we all agree that eventually it will be redeveloped. You are advocating an expensive redevelopment that will cost tax payers, cause huge amounts of inconvenience and only really benefit private developers who get to build easier office buildings.

Snow Hill station doesn't have to be redeveloped in the next 10 years, that is your time frame, nobody elses. If there is an economic case for building above the station, like at Cannon St in London, then the costs should be covered by private developers, it should have nothing to do with Network Rail moving a station for the benefit of developers.

[blahblahv2]

Originally Posted by i_like_concrete

I use Snowhill regularly, having access directly onto Colmore row is handy as it is where all the buses are and requires no uphill walking.

The point of convenience is that even if you have to walk a bit from the concourse to get to Colmore row, it is a level walkway suitable for all users. Having an exit halfway along Livery st doesn't provide the same convenience. Simple.




Not when they can just sell the potentially high value air rights above the station with no need to pay for anything themselves and no need for heavy engineering works. Selling the air rights means they make money, the city gets improved and none of it is down to public money.

Rebuilding the station would take a lot of public money, which they may well be able to make back from selling the land freed up, but to go to so much effort when you could just build above the current station with none of the hassle?





I don't think you get it, Snowhill is ideally placed for a lot of places, because you arrive on the plateau and it is greatly convenient. It's a good station to arrive at and then walk to find your destination, Moor St isn't, because it is in a bad location, all the buildings around it face away from it, and it is an uphill walk to get anywhere central.

Again, you talk about 'most commuters', without realising that most commuters would probably just want to go to Snow Hill, then walk to their office/shop, they don't want to have to get the Metro 2 stops in the busy morning rush hour if they can help it. So why force them to simply because you want to provide office space that it is STILL POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE WITHOUT MOVING THE STATION? How many people will benefit from those offices? How many people will be forced to change their route to work because of the change you propose? Who are more important?






Eh? I pointed out the Jewellery Quarter is already well served and that moving the railway station wouldn't change much in terms of what is already available. I certainly didn't argue against convenience of access for people in the Jewellery Quarter, who, given they have the new entrance, are now as well served as they would be if we did what you want to do...



What problem? As far as I can see you have invented this problem? Snow Hill station is shit, but we all agree that eventually it will be redeveloped. You are advocating an expensive redevelopment that will cost tax payers, cause huge amounts of inconvenience and only really benefit private developers who get to build easier office buildings.

Snow Hill station doesn't have to be redeveloped in the next 10 years, that is your time frame, nobody elses. If there is an economic case for building above the station, like at Cannon St in London, then the costs should be covered by private developers, it should have nothing to do with Network Rail moving a station for the benefit of developers.

Do you know what? I can't even be bothered to reply to your posts anymore.

I've shared an idea of mine. It's a suggestion. It's pie in the sky. You don't like it. That's fine. That's your opinion and you are perfectly entitled to it. However, there is absolutely no need to be so rude and aggressive about it. At least I expended a little effort and used a little imagination in expanding my idea.

[MK Tom]

I thought it was a neat idea - opening up Snow Hill to more directions of access, increasing the platform capacity and making it a functioning interchange would all be good things.

Can anybody tell me as someone who rarely gets to visit Birmingham what street-level works are actually taking place at this stage on the extension?

[DBadger]

The Information centre is being removed from New Street on the junction with Corporation Street, is this part of the extension (not literally part of the line, but something to do with it)? Other than that I don't think there's anything street level until July 22nd when Corporation Street closes to traffic.

[ReissOmari]

Originally Posted by DBadger

The Information centre is being removed from New Street on the junction with Corporation Street, is this part of the extension (not literally part of the line, but something to do with it)? Other than that I don't think there's anything street level until July 22nd when Corporation Street closes to traffic.

Are you sure its been removed, I know they are doing works in front of it but it's still open as far as I know.

[DBadger]

Sorry, I'm jumping to conclusions. It's got hoarding all the way around it and workmen with diggers.

[Qoasis777]

It's going to be an information centre for network west midlands I believe

[sefton66]

Aren't the works on Temple St just outside Size? and Diesel to do with moving utilities to allow the metro line down Stephenson St as well as to do with New St?

[Qoasis777]

Originally Posted by sefton66

Aren't the works on Temple St just outside Size? and Diesel to do with moving utilities to allow the metro line down Stephenson St as well as to do with New St?

I believe so yes. Hopefully these works will accelerate once the buses are moved.

Are the works outside the front of snow hill 2 preparatory works too? My gut feeling is that this is where we will see the first track laying as it must be virtually ready to go?

[Nacho]

Metro works as shown on BBC news :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z75pblTTRo

[metrogogo]

A photo of the green living wall outside the Forum Live at the LG Arena. I think this will give us all an idea of what to expect to be built along side Snow Hill.

image hosted on flickr
P1010478 Green Living Wall LG Arena by metrogogo, on Flickr

From left to right you can you can see how the living wall ascends in hight, the Snow Hill wall will be about the hight of the right end if not taller.
image hosted on flickr
P1010477 by metrogogo, on Flickr

An interesting feature is the back lighting in the stainless steel dividing structures which look very attractive at night.

[feltip]

I spotted this earlier. Not sure if it's test piece to see how build it to design and structure?
Apologies if i've missed this being posted already. Not been in loop for a bit.

[Erebus555]

In the old Snowhill application, the wall was to be about 7 metres high.

[sefton66]

I wonder if they're planning on covering the cores of snowhill phase 3 in a living wall with a void behind to create some city centre bird spots then turf over the ground to create a little park plot with some benches and a place to serve food from a stall until things are ready to move forward, would be a great idea in my opinion

[morestoreysplease]

great idea Sefton.

[oldbury63]

a little bit of the past and present .

swan village 1950s
the line to the left is for wednesbury,dudley, stourbridge
the line on the right is the main brum ,wolverhampton line






and again .
swan village 1960s , looking towards wolverhampton , no wednedury ,dudley line to the left ! notice hill top tunnel in the distance and the sideings to the right of it . the present day metro trams use this tunnel , black lake tram stop is now built about were the end of the platform is .







present day 2012 , taken from the same bridge !
the Houses are about the only thing you can Recognize .

[jrawle]

Originally Posted by oldbury63

and again .
swan village 1960s , looking towards wolverhampton , no wednedury ,dudley line to the left ! notice hill top tunnel in the distance and the sideings to the right of it . the present day metro trams use this tunnel , black lake tram stop is now built about were the end of the platform is .

Thanks for those fascinating photos. The second picture is especially interesting to me. As a child I'd often wondered what the flat bit half way up the embankment was, next to the tunnel entrance. Now I know it was sidings! What a strange place to put sidings. Wasn't there a steep gradient somewhere?

The other fixed reference points in the two photos are the pylons! I don't know about anyone else, but pylons always look like modern things to me, yet they've been around a long time. Thinking about it, it must be nearly 30 years ago when I first played in the park at the foot of that pylon... There was a fantastic slide built on the side of a mound. Sadly it's all long since gone and quite overgrown.

[Typhoon2000]

Just a question: Have any instances of development taken place around any of these trams stops - in the same way that 'tube towns' developed around tube station in north London around the 20's-30's?

I've often imagined that communities with quality apartments and amenities could be built around the tram stops and help provide instant growth in passenger numbers to reinforce the Metro's viability as the mainstream mode of transport from these 'hubs', as opposed to just an alternative to the bus, as things are now.