What's the plan? Reworked Birmingham New Street

[SephenWorceste]

Does anybody know if mobile and print at home tickets operate the barriers. Virgin sells these types of tickets I know. Perhaps using QR codes. I know Eurostar barriers read them ore some equivalent.

Thank you, Stephen.

 

[ag51ruk]

Does anybody know if mobile and print at home tickets operate the barriers. Virgin sells these types of tickets I know. Perhaps using QR codes. I know Eurostar barriers read them ore some equivalent.

Thank you, Stephen.

There are barcode readers on the new barriers at all Virgin stations (including New Street) but I've not seen anyone try to use one yet

 

[SephenWorceste]

That is good to know. I will have to try them. Thank you, Stephen.

 

[WesternS]

Interesting to note the various bits of feed back to the new concourse. Went through it myself on Saturday on the way to Villa Park. What seemed like loads of ticket machines when it was 'July smaller' seemed way not enough for all those queueing to buy for Aston. Caught a cab out on Navigation St in the end.

As for the 'big space', I don't think it's called Grand Central by accident, although it would surprise me if the overwhelming feature of the 'real' Grand Central, which is the big circulation hall/concourse - not the platforms (tiny and dark), nor the exits/entrances right onto sort of Park Avenue - was really in the mind of Centro, Network Rail and Birmingham City Council ! Although perhaps the architects had that much conceit. Still, it's certainly a great deal better than the old Pallasades and once finally sorted and properly open, then I'd say it will be an adornment to the Second City......
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oh yes, and most of the South Africans I spoke to were favourably impressed with it - certainly better than Euston, although not quite as pretty as Marylebone !

 

[CharlieSpotted]

There are barcode readers on the new barriers at all Virgin stations (including New Street) but I've not seen anyone try to use one yet

I saw someone go through the barrier at New Street with a printed confirmation, with (I think) a QR code on it yesterday morning. They didn't seem to have any trouble.

 

[crosscity]

As for the 'big space', I don't think it's called Grand Central by accident, although it would surprise me if the overwhelming feature of the 'real' Grand Central, which is the big circulation hall/concourse - not the platforms (tiny and dark), nor the exits/entrances right onto sort of Park Avenue - was really in the mind of Centro, Network Rail and Birmingham City Council ! Although perhaps the architects had that much conceit.

I think you are confusing the 'real' Grand Central with the one in New York. When 'New St' was opened in the mid 19th Century it was called 'Birmingham Grand Central'.

 

[WesternS]

I think you are confusing the 'real' Grand Central with the one in New York. When 'New St' was opened in the mid 19th Century it was called 'Birmingham Grand Central'.

Really ? I have to admit in 30 years of living in Birmingham I've never heard that. Although it wouldn't surprise me, have you a source for that please ?

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Really ? I have to admit in 30 years of living in Birmingham I've never heard that. Although it wouldn't surprise me, have you a source for that please ?

Here you go, Doubting Thomas.

 

[adrock1976]

Would that have been related to the Grand Junction Railway?

 

[WesternS]

Here you go, Doubting Thomas.

Thanks for the link as requested. I'd seen this quote from the Richard Foster volumes before and noted the 'described as Grand Central' as being different from being 'called Grand Central'.

Would certainly agree however that whether its official LNWR/Midland Railway name when opened in 1854 was New Street or anything else (the Grand Junction Railway joining with the L&B and M&B to form the LNWR some years prior in 1846), Grand Central would doubtless have seemed an apt description at the time and is probably a good one today, not least for the 'crossroads of the rail network' concept. It will be interesting to see if Grand Central replaces New St as the unofficial (Brummie) name for the station into the future......

 

[Cherry_Picker]

I don't think it ever will. Grand Central is the shopping centre above the station, much like the Pallasades was the shopping centre above the station before it. Trains will still be announced as calling at New Street, New Street (the actual street) is still a major thoroughfare in central Birmingham so the name won't fade.

 

[40907]

Passed through whilst changing trains a couple of weeks ago. Found the new concourse area a bit confusing, as were a number of other travellers. Going to a certain "lounge" for a particular platform. Not as many displays of arrivals and departures I thought. Still a long walk to change platforms if you go via the concourse.
Anyway on my return later in the day, problem solved! Ignore the concourse, walk to the south end and use the footbridge. Much quicker!

Perhaps when I have a longer wait at New Street I will be able to work it all out rather better.

Downstairs, platforms still appear somewhat dark and rather unwelcoming.

40907

 

[HowardGWR]

Passed through whilst changing trains a couple of weeks ago. Found the new concourse area a bit confusing, as were a number of other travellers. Going to a certain "lounge" for a particular platform. Not as many displays of arrivals and departures I thought. Still a long walk to change platforms if you go via the concourse.
Anyway on my return later in the day, problem solved! Ignore the concourse, walk to the south end and use the footbridge. Much quicker!

Perhaps when I have a longer wait at New Street I will be able to work it all out rather better.

Downstairs, platforms still appear somewhat dark and rather unwelcoming.

40907

I can't follow that; the station runs east west. Do you mean the footbridge at the eastern end? Is that still there? I downloaded the station map and it is shewn there with stairs access.

edit: see later post sorry!

 

[Radedamer]

I was there yesterday. Platforms perhaps marginally brighter and less grimy than before. Layout with red, yellow and blue lounge – but no colour coding – coupled with 'a' and 'b' platforms confusing. Lifts improved. Retail ops look bright. Eye of Sauron – well, whoever put that in must have a fine grasp of irony.

 

[HowardGWR]

I can't follow that; the station runs east west. Do you mean the footbridge at the eastern end? Is that still there? I downloaded the station map and it is shewn there with stairs access.

Whoops, I meant the western end, apologies.

 

[D1009]

From my experience, if changing trains, use the b end of the station as that is where the catering facilities are inside the ticket barriers. I know the footbridge is still there, but has the old Navigation Street exit now become an emergency exit only?

 

[40907]

For me the south end footbridge is just a quicker transit between platforms, rather than a long walk around "upstairs".

I came in on a late running Cross Country service from Sheffield and needed to catch a Hereford train. The lady sitting next to me had an even tighter connection to a Redditch electric. We both moved quickly to the footbridge, and were soon on 12B ? with my train on one side and hers on the other. Job done!

 

[satisnek]

Still finding my way around the place.... I think it's best to stick to the 'b' end/Navigation Street footbridge as well. The new layout is such that to get to Platforms 6a/7a (and to a lesser extent 8a/9a) it's necessary to 'turn back on yourself', which I don't think is very clever at all.

I'm still wondering if (alright, hoping that...) the ticket issuing facilities are temporary and that a better, centrally-located facility is in the offing. As it is, what we have now appears to be hopelessly inadequate (from my own observation at around noon on a Saturday) and more cramped and poky than the old station ever was.

But the new station has one big plus point which I discovered last time I was there... free toilets!!

 

[40907]

Indeed, and as Mary Rhodes from BBC Midlands Today put it to a rather started official during a live interview " free to pee"" !

I didn't actually find the toilets on my brief transit, but hey, Derby was only 30 minutes away!

40907

 

[trainophile]

For me the south end footbridge is just a quicker transit between platforms, rather than a long walk around "upstairs".

I came in on a late running Cross Country service from Sheffield and needed to catch a Hereford train. The lady sitting next to me had an even tighter connection to a Redditch electric. We both moved quickly to the footbridge, and were soon on 12B ? with my train on one side and hers on the other. Job done!

Did you get a seat? In my experience unless you board the train at least 15 minutes before departure time, you'll be lucky! Maybe you were on a 4-coacher though, I generally cop for the 2-coach sardine tins.

Edited to get back to topic... so what is the point of this "Red Lounge" thing? I can't see anything resembling a coloured lounge. I asked at the Unpaid Fares window and was told to just ignore it!

 

[onlinespotting]

Did you get a seat? In my experience unless you board the train at least 15 minutes before departure time, you'll be lucky! Maybe you were on a 4-coacher though, I generally cop for the 2-coach sardine tins.

Edited to get back to topic... so what is the point of this "Red Lounge" thing? I can't see anything resembling a coloured lounge. I asked at the Unpaid Fares window and was told to just ignore it!

I believe the coloured lounges are going to be similar to the platform 13/14 lounge at Manchester Piccadilly, whereby you wait in the lounge until your train is ready to board

 

[40907]

Waiting in a lounge sounds a bit like Easyjet, "your train is ready for boarding, now run..."! The fittest get the best seats, or "A" seat!

The Hereford 2 car trains are a joke, I have asked London Midland about overcrowding on the Hereford -New Street trains when two car, but they say (as you might expect) "shortage of stock".

Do I remember in the dim and distant past a Government promising 900-or so new carriages...? When, if ever....

40907

 

[Class172]

Did you get a seat? In my experience unless you board the train at least 15 minutes before departure time, you'll be lucky! Maybe you were on a 4-coacher though, I generally cop for the 2-coach sardine tins.

The Hereford 2 car trains are a joke, I have asked London Midland about overcrowding on the Hereford -New Street trains when two car, but they say (as you might expect) "shortage of stock".

Do I remember in the dim and distant past a Government promising 900-or so new carriages...? When, if ever....

40907

I see you're both suitably acquainted with the local sardine tins. It's been like that for years and I can't see it changing any time soon unfortunately. I doubt the electrification of the Chase line will help much, as LM will likely be made to forgo the potential extra capacity by losing 153s. Ideally all the trains on the line should be a minimum of 3 carriages, with 5 carriages in the peak - there are the 1749 and 1759 departures from New St, which are unusually closely spaced; effectively it is a 7/8 carriage train if you consider them together yet it consistently manages to be rammed.

The other solution would be to have a 2tph service (every other going to Great Malvern/Worcs), but again, I suspect lack of stock, rather than line capacity is the larger issue (I may be wrong as I don't know any details!).

There was something on the forum a couple of months ago at a rumour LM were looking at getting in a loco-hauled service. Though I don't remember seeing any details so nothing likely came from it I guess.

 

[Mugby]

I was there yesterday but didn't have time to go up above ground level. What exactly is up there apart from dozens of food outlets and John Lewis?

With regard to waiting upstairs in a lounge until your train is ready to board, it doesn't sound like a recipe for punctual departures!

 

[Cherry_Picker]

I was there yesterday but didn't have time to go up above ground level. What exactly is up there apart from dozens of food outlets and John Lewis?

It's mostly that, but there are some more not-quite-upmarket-but-posher-than-average shops too, and some of those are duplicates of whats in the Bullring or full blown stores of what were previously concessions in Selfridges. (list)

 

[40907]

Just out of interest, there was a programme yesterday on BBC2 called "Demolition: The Wrecking Crew", no doubt available soon on iplayer.

Apart from covering a demolition firm blowing up a high-rise block of flats in Hull, in an almost impossibly restricted site, there was detailed coverage of contractors demolishing the Pallisades shopping centre above New Street Station, and the particular difficulties caused by the necessity of keeping the station running. They even built a bespoke remote-controlled "nibbler" to do the work.
Well worth a look.

40907

 

[mirodo]

Just out of interest, there was a programme yesterday on BBC2 called "Demolition: The Wrecking Crew", no doubt available soon on iplayer.

Apart from covering a demolition firm blowing up a high-rise block of flats in Hull, in an almost impossibly restricted site, there was detailed coverage of contractors demolishing the Pallisades shopping centre above New Street Station, and the particular difficulties caused by the necessity of keeping the station running. They even built a bespoke remote-controlled "nibbler" to do the work.
Well worth a look.

40907

Available here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b05xj1vh/demolition-the-wrecking-crew-episode-3

 

[HowardGWR]

Waiting in a lounge sounds a bit like Easyjet, "your train is ready for boarding, now run..."! The fittest get the best seats, or "A" seat!
40907

I can see you haven't travelled by Easyjet for a few years. You are allocated specific seats when checking in following booking or you can choose which seats from those available, by paying extra when booking.

A bit OT perhaps, but what amuses me is that pax still behave as though the free for all was still in operation. When we reach the departure area, we see people in a long queue for the boarding point, whereas my wife and I just take a seat and wait for the queue to disappear - and then stroll on board. I don't know what Ryanair do, you would never get me on any of their flights.

Out of interest, are there scrums at New St now they have these 'lounges'?

 

[40907]

Sorry, I was being "ironic" rather than factual, I appreciate things have changed with at least some budget airlines.

I am not sure about the purpose of these "lounges" at New Street. I am changing trains there, so tend to avoid going "upstairs", it is much quicker and less complicated for me to use the platform- end footbridge as mentioned by other posters above.

The issue not addressed by all this work at New Street is track capacity, and frankly given its constrained location I doubt if there is anything that can be done about that.

With Curzon Street on the horizon for HS2, I wonder if the idea about another Birmingham station elsewhere-was it on the Camp Hill line?-is on the back burner now?

40907

 

[CharlieSpotted]

Out of interest, are there scrums at New St now they have these 'lounges'?

I'm not sure about leisure travellers, but at commuter time, the "lounges" are widely ignored. People make their way to the right platform by whatever route is quickest for them, and wait on the platform, much as they always have.

I'm not even sure if the intention is for people to wait in the coloured lounge, or if it's just to provide guidance on how to get to the platform.

The screens show (scrolling) eg:

Platform 5B
Via Red Lounge

So it reads to me more of a navigational guidance - you get to 5B via the Red Lounge, rather than an instruction to wait in the red lounge.