Birmingham New St / Grand Central construction thread (large images)

[loadbang]

One more month to go until the new concourse opens. 16 escalators to install, cladding to get completed for the new entrance. Paint will certainly be wet for the first passengers.

ReissOmari, SkyScraperCity.com

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/7994/imag1816l.jpg[
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/8763/imag1817.jpg

http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/9854/imag1818.jpg

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/6867/imag1819.jpg

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http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/7089/imag1826.jpg

Mod note - images changed to links

 

[dvboy]

Nice photos of "Pacman" as it's become to be known around here.

 

[loadbang]

Or Sauron's Eye.

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Some more

Credit: oldbury63 http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/ANDYZEBRA/New_st_23_02_13_005_zpsd814a98c.jpg


http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/ANDYZEBRA/New_st_23_02_13_006_zpsa5ae4ba7.jpg


http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/ANDYZEBRA/New_st_23_02_13_007_zps13e145f7.jpg


http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/ANDYZEBRA/New_st_23_02_13_008_zps0ea407c4.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/ANDYZEBRA/New_st_23_02_13_008_zps0ea407c4.jpg

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk209/ANDYZEBRA/New_st_23_02_13_011_zpsac12c827.jpg

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Some of my own photos:


_MG_9752 by simonhowes, on Flickr


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8368/8468662496_50d4af267c_b.jpg[/img]
_MG_9749 by simonhowes, on Flickr


_MG_9748 by simonhowes, on Flickr


_MG_9747 by simonhowes, on Flickr

 

[Geezertronic]

There used to be a great chippy where the new entrance is. I've avoided Birmingham City Centre/New Street recently so look forward to visiting later in the year when it should be a "little bit" different

 

[loadbang]

I think the only chippy left in the city centre is at Dale End.

 

[O L Leigh]

The area where the seats and concrete lifts shafts are is going to be a John Lewis department store. Most of the work for the station itself is going on inside behind all the external works, therefore it's a bit harder to gauge the progress being made. There will be quite a lot more to the finished complex than just the station.

BTW: Nice pics but a bit large. Could you not have posted lower resolution versions or a link?

O L Leigh

 

[OxtedL]

BTW: Nice pics but a bit large. Could you not have posted lower resolution versions or a link?

Much of it is a direct quote from skyscrapercity, where the style is very much to post huge high quality pictures.

Lovely pictures of course, the surfaces really are as reflective as the CGI suggested...

 

[swt_passenger]

Regarding the thread title, wasn't 'Grand Central' the previous plan for a station somewhere else to replace New St, but now completely abandoned?

This project is known as Birmingham Gateway, (or Gateway Plus) - perhaps the OP could alter his title?

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Or Sauron's Eye.

Inane bit of related trivia: Toilken was a Brummie (or at least an adopted one) and most of the geography from his books were based on or inspired by places in Birmingham.

Barad-dur, Sauron's dark tower was inspired by the clock tower at Birmingham University, which is known on campus as "Old Joe". It's huge btw, taller than Big Ben and as far as I am aware it is still the tallest free standing clock tower in the world. It certainly was in Toilken's day. You can see it from the train as you head towards University station.

 

[The Planner]

There used to be a great chippy where the new entrance is.

Baileys, and indeed it was quality. I was expecting interior shots of the station when I saw the thread title though...

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Regarding the thread title, wasn't 'Grand Central' the previous plan for a station somewhere else to replace New St, but now completely abandoned?

This project is known as Birmingham Gateway, (or Gateway Plus) - perhaps the OP could alter his title?

I believe the shooping centre that is currently known as the 'Pallasades' will be renamed 'Grand Central' when the work is finished.
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Are there any interior shots anywhere? I was quite disappointed that there was only external shots when I opened this

Inane bit of related trivia: Toilken was a Brummie (or at least an adopted one) and most of the geography from his books were based on or inspired by places in Birmingham.

<Off-topic> Indeed, one of his most famous creations was inspired by the name of the old Aston Villa footballer Alf Gand. </Off-topic>

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Yes, it will be.

www.newstreetnewstart.co.uk/grand-central.something

Birmingham finally gets a John Lewis (not sure how happy the Solihull branch is about that fact) which will be the flagship store of the Grand Central shopping centre, opening Autumn 2014.

 

[loadbang]

Regarding the thread title, wasn't 'Grand Central' the previous plan for a station somewhere else to replace New St, but now completely abandoned?

This project is known as Birmingham Gateway, (or Gateway Plus) - perhaps the OP could alter his title?

Grand Central will be the new name for Birmingham New St. I think the official announcement is either when phase 1 or 2 opens.

Palisades is also renaming to Grand Central. Both are being renamed the same to avoid confusion so I'm told by BCC.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Grand Central will be the new name for Birmingham New St. I think the official announcement is either when phase 1 or 2 opens.

Do you have a source for that? I've never heard of it and I would have thought such a change would prompt at least some discussion or news article somewhere. Further, every artist's impression I've seen calls it 'Birmingham New St', some are here as examples: http://www.newstreetnewstart.co.uk/construction-progress/photo-gallery/artist-impressions.aspx

 

[loadbang]

Do you have a source for that? I've never heard of it and I would have thought such a change would prompt at least some discussion or news article somewhere. Further, every artist's impression I've seen calls it 'Birmingham New St', some are here as examples: http://www.newstreetnewstart.co.uk/construction-progress/photo-gallery/artist-impressions.aspx

If you want to go through the thread on Skyscrapercity and find it. Planning applications for rename are there somewhere, with two very large Grand Central names to go on top of the station, one on Navigation St other near to Bullring. I have also been told this by Birmingham City Council, all to avoid confusion with names as the shopping centre is now the railway station as it will be all overlooked by a balcony.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

That is interesting. The cost of renaming a station is expensive anyway, I'd imagine doing one the size of Birmingham New Street would cost a small fortune simply in the amount of documentation you would have to reprint.

 

[The Planner]

First I have heard of it being renamed, and I find it incredibly hard to believe as it will cost shedloads to do that. The system changes alone would be astronomical and who would be paying?. I know Birmingham Airport tried it on with International, they soon baulked when asked if they were going to pay...

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Aston Villa FC wanted to rename Witton station to Villa Park and were put off by the price too and I'm pretty sure some people involved with the Bullring were talking about renaming Moor Street at the time all of that opened but it never happened. I don't know what their budget was, probably less than the £600m+ that the New Street rebuild is going to cost but still, it seems a particularly expensive waste of money.
I cannot imagine just how many things would need to be changed for a place as important as New Street. Posters, maps, timetables, weekly operating notices, the list is just endless and people will still call it New Street if they did change the name of the station anyway. I just cant see it happening.

 

[Class172]

Barad-dur, Sauron's dark tower was inspired by the clock tower at Birmingham University, which is known on campus as "Old Joe". It's huge btw, taller than Big Ben and as far as I am aware it is still the tallest free standing clock tower in the world. It certainly was in Toilken's day. You can see it from the train as you head towards University station.

I think you are right in that it is the tallest free standing clock tower in the world, certainly in it's brick-built construction.

Baileys, and indeed it was quality. I was expecting interior shots of the station when I saw the thread title though...

That's also what I was expecting. I thought we might see some sneak preview shots of the new concourse, which I would guess is at the state where lighting and electrics are being installed (though that is a rough guess).

Aston Villa FC wanted to rename Witton station to Villa Park and were put off by the price too and I'm pretty sure some people involved with the Bullring were talking about renaming Moor Street at the time all of that opened but it never happened. I don't know what their budget was, probably less than the £600m+ that the New Street rebuild is going to cost but still, it seems a particularly expensive waste of money.
I cannot imagine just how many things would need to be changed for a place as important as New Street. Posters, maps, timetables, weekly operating notices, the list is just endless and people will still call it New Street if they did change the name of the station anyway. I just cant see it happening.

Surely with a station as large and well known as New St, it would be infeasible to rename it - with the costs already mentioned and the fact no-one, unless they have never heard of the station have heard of it before, are going to call it by it's new name; after all my mum still refers to any TOC as British Rail, and HSBC as Midland Bank...

 

[moggie]

The station will still be Birmingham New St, just the shopping centre above will be Grand Central. Always did get the Palasades and the Pavillions muddled. Have always known where New St station is!

http://www.newstreetnewstart.co.uk/about-the-development/grand-central.aspx

The space age entrance illustration picture next to the new John Lewis confirms if you zoom in.

 

[Harbon 1]

Am I the only one to feel a little sad about the old concourse going?

 

[swt_passenger]

I believe the shooping centre that is currently known as the 'Pallasades' will be renamed 'Grand Central' when the work is finished.

Trust me to find the link that hasn't been updated...

http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/new-street-new-start

As you and others have worked out it does seem to be the shopping centre only.

 

[the sniper]

The station will still be Birmingham New St, just the shopping centre above will be Grand Central.

Yeah, no doubt about that.

Am I the only one to feel a little sad about the old concourse going?

No, I'll be sad to see it go too, only for nostalgic reasons though. It lost a lot of it's character when they took down the old 'analogue' departure board years ago.

The new concourse will open Sunday 28th April. The old concourse and Smallbrook Queensway entrance will close on the same day.

 

[Centr8l]

I had the good fortune to recieve a tour behind the hoardings yesterday. No photos taken but, believe me, you will all be more than impressed with what you see come late April. It will completley transform peoples' perception of New St Station and possibly Birmingham as a whole.

 

[Jeni]

The new concourse will open Sunday 28th April. The old concourse and Smallbrook Queensway entrance will close on the same day.

Do we know if there will still be any access from the Palasades?

 

[SprinterMan]

Or Sauron's Eye.

The cruel irony of that is that New Street looks a lot friendlier in this picture than it does currently :P

The station will still be Birmingham New St, just the shopping centre above will be Grand Central. Always did get the Palasades and the Pavillions muddled. Have always known where New St station is!

http://www.newstreetnewstart.co.uk/about-the-development/grand-central.aspx

The space age entrance illustration picture next to the new John Lewis confirms if you zoom in.

Thank god for that, everyone is so used to Birmingham New Street it would just be idiotic to change it :P

Am I the only one to feel a little sad about the old concourse going?

No, I really like the old concourse, feels like Gatwick Airport :P

Inane bit of related trivia: Toilken was a Brummie (or at least an adopted one) and most of the geography from his books were based on or inspired by places in Birmingham.

Barad-dur, Sauron's dark tower was inspired by the clock tower at Birmingham University, which is known on campus as "Old Joe". It's huge btw, taller than Big Ben and as far as I am aware it is still the tallest free standing clock tower in the world. It certainly was in Toilken's day. You can see it from the train as you head towards University station.

It's odd that you mention this, because I was just reading about it yesterday. Its one of those things that you just find out then it suddenly appears everywhere. Either way, I heard it was Saruman's (Christopher Lee) tower at Isengard that was based upon the Clock tower at Birmingham:

Isengard:

Birmingham University in 1938:

http://www.cracked.com/article_19621_6-fictional-places-you-didnt-know-actually-existed.html

Adam

 

[Cherry_Picker]

I might be mistaken with my claim then, it's been a while since I read about it.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

For anyone who hasn't seen:

http://www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk/media/120416/map_for_web.pdf

 

[Goatboy]

Annoying - I'm passing through New Street on the 30th April but for once I've got a 15 minute connection so no time to check out the new concourse

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Does anyone know if the footbridge that leads out onto Navigation St (the westernmost bridge) is being closed permanently? The map isn't overly clear, but I'd imagine the new concourse / entrance would remove a lot of its purpose. It'd also be one less gateline to staff!