by Angel Edwards

Created on: January 06, 2011   Last Updated: January 07, 2011

Birmingham New Street station has barely changed in the past 40 years. Since it passed rights to the Palisades shopping centre which are built above the station itself in 1970. Since them it has become dark, dingy and grotty. The platforms themselves are cold and badly lit with few seating areas, and no on platform food and drinks facilities. The platforms are often cramped, and unnerving. The station itself does provide some seating areas, shops such as WHSmiths, some licensed bars and a few coffee shops too, however none of these are particularly comfortable, with the passenger constantly wishing their train arrived that bit earlier. The toilet facilities are somewhat below par, you are asked to pay 20p to use the facilities, which would be reasonable, however when using them, you will discover that they seem to be rarely clean and are not kept to a high standard with several cubicles being out of service as well as taps which would make you consider not cleaning your hands to be more hygienic, all of which makes the 20p price tag seem totally unnecessary. Despite this, the station is convenient, and has easy access to the shopping areas of Birmingham city centre, actually being linked to the Palisades, which are in turn linked to the Bull ring shopping centre.

On the plus side, Birmingham New Street is soon to under go major changes, with Birmingham City Council investing millions into its redevelopment. The intention is to double the passenger intake and to pull Birmingham straight into the 21st century with its modern design. The design is based around openness and light, with the use of glass windows over head and large open spaces, the designs look set to achieve this. This will be a huge improvement to the station's current dark enclosed feel. The new design will allow passengers to be sheltered from the outside element.

The station will not only create a stunning focal point to the city, but it shall also create a larger space in which passengers may feel more comfortable on their journeys with improved facilities and clearer platform information. The plan should also create improved accessibility for all passengers, with the introduction of 8 new entrances. Links to other stations will also be improved with the intention that more people will commute to work using the rail network.

The station also aims to be more sustainable than the current one. With glass windows creating a light and area atmosphere and high efficiency lighting, they intend to become a greener station. 60% of the rainwater that will be collected from the facade will be reused in the toilets. The lifts and escalators too, are to be energy efficient. Birmingham intends to become a leading city in 21st century design, but also in showing responsibility with regards to sustaining the worlds resources.

The new station is an exciting prospect for residents in and around Birmingham and is on course to open in Autumn of 2012, when Birmingham's current 1960s claustrophobic and uncomfortable station will finally close for good.

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