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Birmingham New Street the worst UK station?

S

SLC001

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173
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Northampton
On Thursday we traveled by train from Northampton to Birmingham Street. At Northampton we had time to have a coffee and then go through barriers to our train. We arrived at Birmingham, picked up our coffee cups so as not to leave litter on the train and followed the crowd through the barriers. Wanted the toilet badly as those with prostate issues will understand.
No signs for toilets. Nothing. Informed that toilets are barriers side! That is inaccessible. No toilets, no signage and no bins for our rubbish.
Eventually we found something masquerading as toilets which may be part of the Bull Ring. No cubicles, all barriered off, and half the urinals blocked off.
Why, unlike Northampton say, are toilets on the barriered side? Is it so that Network Rail protect their toilets from non rail users? Is this a Grand Central issue?
I have complained to Network Rail but I can feel the response now. Not our responsibility. Write to Grand Central. We don't accept the complaint and will not take ownership.
You can sit by Bully waiting for your train but cannot go to the toilet easily. It is a total disregard or consideration of those with medical issues, arguably a disability.
A horrible station and it was compounded by the fact our train home was 25 minutes late. This happens but rather than put the platform number up, in this case it would have been better to put up, if possible, TBA (to be advised). The train arrived on platform 4 and not 3 as indicated at first.
Last time the cables came down, this time the toilets went AWOL and then the train was late! (Loved the solution to the latter. We will miss 5 stations to catch up time! Which was reasonable as the next train was on time, running I assume just behind ours).
 
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R

RailUK Forums

L

LowLevel

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Toilets at many stations are on the barriered side, it's not exactly unusual.
 
8

81A

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Worst station? Probably not (considering the number of desolate urban stations with anti social behaviour issues). A confusing labyrinth that doesn't seem fully thought through? Definitely, in my opinion...
 
M

md2016

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Surely you could explain that you’ve just gone through the barriers, before realising where the toilets were?

I’d be very shocked if they didn’t let you through.
 
Johnnie2Sheds

Johnnie2Sheds

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When New Street was "rebuilt" a few years ago, they could have designed a lovely glass roofed open plan station. But they didn't. Instead they chose to make a bigger, more confusing gents bog rat hole with a plethora of rancid lard emporia atop than they started with. For the icing on the cake, choose a nice warm day and go and stand on platform 10 when a couple of voyager trains are in. Yummy. So glad I do not have to go there anymore.
 
N

Non Multi

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The toilets in the Grand Central shopping centre (above the station) are on an upper floor adjacent to the entrance by Navigation Street. It should be signposted and on any maps.
 
1

172007

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I find it frustrating how many people do not use an onboard train toilet. The OP does not state they even looked for the toilet yet were bursting.

I can understand if the toilet is lock out of use or too grim to use bit so many dont even check and it something i have observed countless times.

Yes the layout of New Street is not very good and does lack waymarkers.
 
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W

wildcard

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13 Feb 2011
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121
It took me sometime to realise :
Never use the A exit - well maybe if you are just going to the Wetherspoons. Edit : Well Ok if you really need to go shopping for fast fashion and yet another Apple gadget ....
Use the B exit if changing platforms for an onward connection , need the toilets and don't need to go shopping other than for snacks
Use the C exit if heading to the Victoria, Chamberlain or Centenary Squares , the Town Hall , Museums , theatre , library , Symphony Hall, Convention Centre
 
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T

takno

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New street suffers slightly from having been designed as an open station, to which barriers have been added later. The toilets being inside the barrier now is partly because that's where they were built, and partly because it has a very large number of passengers changing trains who may need rapid access to the toilet without messing with barriers. As you note there are toilets outside the barrier in Grand Central.

Bins are always in short supply at major stations in the UK ever since the Victoria bomb. That's frustrating but not unusual sadly.

I can appreciate that you've had an embarrassing and awkward experience. It's frustrating when you've just tried to do what seemed like the sensible thing. I've felt the same in unfamiliar busy stations and other public buildings across the world, not being able to find the facilities, or not wanting to pay a pound to spend a penny, and not wanting to leave rubbish. It's awkward at the time, but firing off angry emails and forum posts about it has never really cheered me up or helped me forget it.
 
H

Harpo

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172007 said:
I find it frustrating how many people do not use an onboard train toilet. The OP does not state they even looked for the toilet yet were bursting.
Click to expand...
In my experiences of travelling to Birmingham, most train toilets seem to become engaged from Coventry and stay engaged all the way to New Street.
 
E

EuxtonNeutral

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Joined
5 Apr 2025
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London
172007 said:
I find it frustrating how many people do not use an onboard train toilet. The OP does not state they even looked for the toilet yet were bursting.

I can understand if the toilet is lock out of use or too grim to use bit so many dont even check and it something i have observed countless times.

Yes the layout of New Street is not very good and does lack waymarkers.
Click to expand...
Pls don’t victim blame. The public realm should be accessible, including to infrequent travellers. You shouldn’t have to think ahead and plan every last aspect of your day out. Plus if everyone tried to use the onboard toilet before getting off at new st, there would be long queues on the train.

(I always try to do this myself as I know not to rely on toilet provision in stations - but this should not be necessary).
 
Dr Hoo

Dr Hoo

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It’s worth pointing out for the benefit of all that there are sets of toilets in all three lounges. The Red, at the ‘B’ end serves all platforms; the Blue and Green, at the ‘A’ end serve groups of platforms. The Green is a bit wider, covering 6-12, but in the Blue, commonly serving Northampton, they are literally just ahead of you as you come up the escalator or stairs from the platform. There are lifts too, but differently orientated.

If you are waiting for an uncertain departure, wait in the Red area, inside the barriers, rather than on the concourse.
 
TT-ONR-NRN

TT-ONR-NRN

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Cambridge
SLC001 said:
On Thursday we traveled by train from Northampton to Birmingham Street. At Northampton we had time to have a coffee and then go through barriers to our train. We arrived at Birmingham, picked up our coffee cups so as not to leave litter on the train and followed the crowd through the barriers. Wanted the toilet badly as those with prostate issues will understand.
No signs for toilets. Nothing. Informed that toilets are barriers side! That is inaccessible. No toilets, no signage and no bins for our rubbish.
Eventually we found something masquerading as toilets which may be part of the Bull Ring. No cubicles, all barriered off, and half the urinals blocked off.
Why, unlike Northampton say, are toilets on the barriered side? Is it so that Network Rail protect their toilets from non rail users? Is this a Grand Central issue?
I have complained to Network Rail but I can feel the response now. Not our responsibility. Write to Grand Central. We don't accept the complaint and will not take ownership.
You can sit by Bully waiting for your train but cannot go to the toilet easily. It is a total disregard or consideration of those with medical issues, arguably a disability.
A horrible station and it was compounded by the fact our train home was 25 minutes late. This happens but rather than put the platform number up, in this case it would have been better to put up, if possible, TBA (to be advised). The train arrived on platform 4 and not 3 as indicated at first.
Last time the cables came down, this time the toilets went AWOL and then the train was late! (Loved the solution to the latter. We will miss 5 stations to catch up time! Which was reasonable as the next train was on time, running I assume just behind ours).
Click to expand...
The worst UK station?? You have to be trolling.

As someone who's local station has NOTHING except for a shelter and a partially open toilet, I would die for the variety of shops, cafes, takeaway places and restaurants that New Street has.
 
S

SLC001

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173
Location
Northampton
If you have prostate issues, you can suddenly and unexpectedly need to go. On the train you are fine, then suddenly have a need to go. So don't have a pop at the elderly through your ignorance and or prejudice.
No signage is the issue and trying to find one in a rush was unnecessarily difficult.
Not all people are readily conversant with Apps - another judgemental view. If we were, why have any signs?
As for the quality of the toilets we found, least said but that isn't really NR's fault.
One thing I found out yesterday, you need a dummy run to find out problems before your big day out. Those who travel regularly won't see the ongoing issues.
Anyhow, I will see what NR says when they answer my complaint. Pass the buck I fear to some extent.
 
U

urbophile

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Liverpool
172007 said:
I find it frustrating how many people do not use an onboard train toilet. The OP does not state they even looked for the toilet yet were bursting.

I can understand if the toilet is lock out of use or too grim to use bit so many dont even check and it something i have observed countless times.

Yes the layout of New Street is not very good and does lack waymarkers.
Click to expand...
Some medical conditions can mean the urge to pee comes on suddenly and without warning. It's quite possible too get off the train feeling OK then half a minute later feeling desperate. Plus, you don't want to be stuck on the loo when the train arrives at your station.

For a vast station like New Street, surely there should be toilets (primarily for passengers, but not exclusively) on the public side of the barriers as well as beyond. After all, if you have a while to wait for a train you are not going to want to go through the barriers too soon when you will be forced to wait on a dismal platform and then maybe have to hurriedly relocate when there is a last minute change.
 
Dr Hoo

Dr Hoo

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The whole point is that passengers are NOT intended to wait on the platform for long periods for a variety of reasons - lack of facilities, desire to avoid crowding with people waiting for ‘later’ trains, general noise and ambience that isn’t particularly pleasant.

(I know that some on these Forums seem to thrive on the roar of Voyager engines, breathing lung fills of impure air and actually ‘tasting the disruption’, but this is not what most passengers are best served by.)
 
C

CharlieSpotted

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21 May 2014
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urbophile said:
For a vast station like New Street, surely there should be toilets (primarily for passengers, but not exclusively) on the public side of the barriers as well as beyond. After all, if you have a while to wait for a train you are not going to want to go through the barriers too soon when you will be forced to wait on a dismal platform and then maybe have to hurriedly relocate when there is a last minute change.
Click to expand...

There are, they are just up the central escalators in Grand Central. They're not operated by the station, instead by Hammerson who operate Grand Central, but really the distinction is academic, it's the same building.

The problem here, I suspect, is that you have to know about them and perhaps the signage could be improved.
 
Skiddaw

Skiddaw

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I really dislike Birmingham NS. I can never work out how to get to where I need to go. Somehow or other I always seem to encounter a dead end.
 
Dr Hoo

Dr Hoo

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…
Skiddaw said:
I really dislike Birmingham NS. I can never work out how to get to where I need to go. Somehow or other I always seem to encounter a dead end.
Click to expand...
So that people can advise, what sort of dead ends have you found yourself at?
 
AlterEgo

AlterEgo

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The major disadvantage of New Street is the barriers. As @takno already mentioned the initial concept of the station was that it was open. The barriers were a later thought, not long before completion and nothing was done to accommodate this other than the rejigging of some shop entrances so they didn't allow any cirucumventing of the gatelines.
 
Dr Hoo

Dr Hoo

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AlterEgo said:
The major disadvantage of New Street is the barriers. As @takno already mentioned the initial concept of the station was that it was open. The barriers were a later thought, not long before completion and nothing was done to accommodate this other than the rejigging of some shop entrances so they didn't allow any cirucumventing of the gatelines.
Click to expand...
Do you have a source for the claim that the modern re-design was originally envisaged as ‘open’ please?
 
D

Djgr

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Dr Hoo said:
Do you have a source for the claim that the modern re-design was originally envisaged as ‘open’ please?
Click to expand...
Indeed. Wasn't the redesign way after barriers became de riguer?
 
AlterEgo

AlterEgo

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Dr Hoo said:
Do you have a source for the claim that the modern re-design was originally envisaged as ‘open’ please?
Click to expand...
No (and the Internet has not been helpful in finding the original sketches!) but this was told to us when I worked for Virgin West Coast and visited the site in 2011. The barriers were not a part of the original station design which was supposed to be a fully circulatory space (cynically, to maximise shop revenue!). They ended up being there at the behest of the purse holders at Treasury.

Djgr said:
Indeed. Wasn't the redesign way after barriers became de riguer?
Click to expand...
The initial concepts were from 2006 and then re-imagined in haste (and value engineered!) in 2008.

Ticket barriers were not everywhere then and many large stations did not have them. Almost nowhere operated by Virgin on the Virgin West Coast network had them for example. Virgin had actually removed barriers at places like Coventry, in 2008, the same year the BHM designs were drawn up - to much protest from London Midland!
 
Z

zwk500

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Dr Hoo said:
Do you have a source for the claim that the modern re-design was originally envisaged as ‘open’ please?
Click to expand...
There's a public right of way across the station, isn't there? The ideal design would have an additional mezzanine 'trainside' level for much better interchanging, but obviously that would have required demolishing the shopping centre BR put on top of the station.
The overstation development also limits what can be done at platform level to either provide more platforms or get better station approaches.
 
Dr Hoo

Dr Hoo

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A mezzanine level has always been a non-starter because in the circumstances of a slightly sloping city centre the entrances from Stephenson Place/ Tram and the ‘Bull Ring/ 1,000 Trades Square/ Moor Street are just above the sub-surface tracks. The station is now far more permeable than the 1960s disaster with additional entrances from Hill Street and Station Street giving coverage from all points of the compass. Inside there is a ‘free circulation area’ with Ozzy for company.

Meanwhile, civic morphology has been reclaimed with effective replacement of Peck Lane and Queen Street that were ripped out of the city’s heart by the original Victorian stations(s).

It is a masterpiece of compromise design.
 
T

TheSmiths82

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I think Birmingham New Street is the station that causes me the most anxiety. In many ways it is worse than Euston, but at New Street has good facilities.
 
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