University (Birmingham) Station Rebuild

[DavidGrain]

I must say I'm impressed at the rate of construction of the main station buildings, perhaps a product of the rather modular design. I presume the bridge linking the two halves will form part of the next phase, and as such a line blockade will need to take place?

There is a report that the bridge could go in this weekend. There is a scheduled blockage of the line.
Correction the blockage is scheduled for 19th September.

 

[city dweller]

Yes, you're probably right - after all, they've got a captive audience, so it makes sense.

There is a fly-through video on page 1 of the thread.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Sep 2021 ==

There is a report that the bridge could go in this weekend. There is a scheduled blockage of the line.
Correction the blockage is scheduled for 19th September.

This is from Cross Country

 

[Fidelis]

Thanks for these images, everyone.

They're very impressive, and help me to understand what's actually happening there. I passed through a couple of times a few weeks ago but as I was on the train, I couldn't get any perspective on what was happening. The buildings seem to be very large - what's going to be in them, especially on the upper floors?

I've tried to find a video of the fly-through released in 2020 but so far without much luck. However I have an image of the interior from the WMCA press release in 30th July 2019 announcing planning consent. The plans show that the first floor will have the retail outlets including food.

 

[DavidGrain]

Yes there is something of a captive market at the station for food shops both for the university students and staff at the QE. However there are a few market type stalls on the University campus mainly selling fruit & veg. It will be interesting to see what is 'landside' and what is 'trackside' as the station will have maned barriers. Apart from the Worcester and Cardiff services, the station has a 'metro' type service for local traffic so there is not a high need for waiting rooms on the upper level.

 

[edwin_m]

The barriers are immediately before entering the platforms themselves, so the rest of the building including the footbridge is "unpaid".

 

[Sheddyone]

I've tried to find a video of the fly-through released in 2020 but so far without much luck. However I have an image of the interior from the WMCA press release in 30th July 2019 announcing planning consent. The plans show that the first floor will have the retail outlets including food.
View attachment 102776

Hi. The video is in post #17 on the first page.

 

[HSTEd]

I get the larger platforms but I must say this station seems somewhat excessive.

Are we building stations for the purpose of moving people, or for the purpose of enlarging Network Rail's commercial property portfolio? Which given current events is unlikely to be the money spinner it once was.

 

[The Planner]

I get the larger platforms but I must say this station seems somewhat excessive.

Are we building stations for the purpose of moving people, or for the purpose of enlarging Network Rail's commercial property portfolio? Which given current events is unlikely to be the money spinner it once was.

Pretty sure this is significantly third party funded.

 

[city dweller]

I get the larger platforms but I must say this station seems somewhat excessive.

Are we building stations for the purpose of moving people, or for the purpose of enlarging Network Rail's commercial property portfolio? Which given current events is unlikely to be the money spinner it once was.

This is from the business case for the station.

 

[alf]

I must say this station seems somewhat excessive.

Are we building stations for the purpose of moving people, or for the purpose of enlarging Network Rail's commercial property portfolio? Which given current events is unlikely to be the money spinner it once was.

Very good question & very good point.

As an aside, the vast structures block any chance of putting in extra tracks in the future.

Long distance trains on this two track section to & from New Street often replicate the stops the all station trains make, except they stop outside every station belting out extra CO2 & increasing journey time & passenger frustration.
Now this monument to NR’s commercial property maestros will ensure this stop start show happens for another century.

 

[WesternBiker]

I get the larger platforms but I must say this station seems somewhat excessive.

Are we building stations for the purpose of moving people, or for the purpose of enlarging Network Rail's commercial property portfolio? Which given current events is unlikely to be the money spinner it once was.

I agree - but presume there is an element of it being a "Gateway" station to the University.

In terms of the usage envisaged in the business case (7.2m), a lot of stations handle comparable volumes with a lot less infrastructure - Balham springs to mind (over 8m pre-pandemic). I'm not saying that is a 'gold standard' in any way, shape or form, but it's clear the generous cafe and waiting space is about additional commercial opportunity.

 

[The Planner]

Very good question & very good point.

As an aside, the vast structures block any chance of putting in extra tracks in the future.

Long distance trains on this two track section to & from New Street often replicate the stops the all station trains make, except they stop outside every station belting out extra CO2 & increasing journey time & passenger frustration.
Now this monument to NR’s commercial property maestros will ensure this stop start show happens for another century.

Would never be 4 tracked, and there are plenty of other worse obstacles to that anyway. Why do you think there are proposals for the Camp Hill chords?

 

[Fidelis]

Would never be 4 tracked, and there are plenty of other worse obstacles to that anyway. Why do you think there are proposals for the Camp Hill chords?

One of Midlands Connect reasons for restoring platforms 5 and 6 plus at Moor Street plus creating the Camphill Chords to form the Midlands Rail Hub is not only to increase the number of services to the Southwest and North East but to remove many diesel services from New Street. They see this route as faster than following the Cross City stoppers
Rather than post here detailed service proposals those to the Southwest via Cheltenham are shown on page 81 of the Network Rail "Bristol to Birmingham Corridor Study" dated June 2021 available on : -
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/2108166/bristol-to-birmingham-corridor-strategic-study-final-report-v10.pdf

 

[Sprinter107]

With the frequent train service on offer at University, will the commercial outlets be all that busy ? In addition, you pay more on a station for items than from outside.
There was a small shop at University, it took over the waiting room on the Birmingham platform. It sold coffee, sandwiches etc, but im not sure if it was well used. It got demolished when they widened the platform.

 

[The Planner]

One of Midlands Connect reasons for restoring platforms 5 and 6 plus at Moor Street plus creating the Camphill Chords to form the Midlands Rail Hub is not only to increase the number of services to the Southwest and North East but to remove many diesel services from New Street. They see this route as faster than following the Cross City stoppers
Rather than post here detailed service proposals those to the Southwest via Cheltenham are shown on page 81 of the Network Rail "Bristol to Birmingham Corridor Study" dated June 2021 available on : -
www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/2108166/bristol-to-birmingham-corridor-strategic-study-final-report-v10.pdf

Can't see the Cross City getting past 4tph for a good while, especially when 730s come in so XC will be along there for the long term. Always take those documents with a pinch of salt. None of its funded and not all of it may happen.

 

[adamedwards]

In the very long term there will be an HS4 from Birmingham to Bristol Parkway bypassing all this. So 4 tracks not at all likely.

 

[Purple Orange]

In the very long term there will be an HS4 from Birmingham to Bristol Parkway bypassing all this. So 4 tracks not at all likely.

I would expect that a high speed line between Birmingham & Bristol will involve the GWML, with a spur south of Birmingham Interchange. I can’t see it ever following the existing alignment.

 

[Jorge Da Silva]

In the very long term there will be an HS4 from Birmingham to Bristol Parkway bypassing all this. So 4 tracks not at all likely.

That definitely not on the cards. There is no chance of HS4

 

[365 Networker]

Will the signage be replaced by the GBR Rail Alphabet 2 signs?

 

[ABB125]

Will the signage be replaced by the GBR Rail Alphabet 2 signs?

I assume so.


There doesn't appear to have been anything obvious done during last night's closure. Though clearly something must have happened! I saw one of the cranes used driving through Selly Oak this morning.
The view from the canal:

And from the platforms:

Cladding work appears to mostly be finished on the lower floor exterior:

 

[Fidelis]

Can't see the Cross City getting past 4tph for a good while, especially when 730s come in so XC will be along there for the long term. Always take those documents with a pinch of salt. None of its funded and not all of it may happen.

Network Rail have already been given £25 million by the DfT to prepare an Outline Business Case for Midlands Rail Hub.

 

[Bald Rick]

Network Rail have already been given £25 million by the DfT to prepare an Outline Business Case for Midlands Rail Hub.

Have they been given it, or is it simply budgeted for but not yet committed?

 

[The Planner]

Network Rail have already been given £25 million by the DfT to prepare an Outline Business Case for Midlands Rail Hub.

Which still doesn't mean it gets built.

 

[Liam L]

There is a report that the bridge could go in this weekend. There is a scheduled blockage of the line.
Correction the blockage is scheduled for 19th September.

No bridge yet, just passed through about 5 minutes ago

 

[DavidGrain]

I get the larger platforms but I must say this station seems somewhat excessive.

Are we building stations for the purpose of moving people, or for the purpose of enlarging Network Rail's commercial property portfolio? Which given current events is unlikely to be the money spinner it once was.

The whole station needs a rebuild as the current situation is completely inadequate. I think that the latest (normal) figures show it to be running at nine times the planned capacity. The platforms are two narrow for the current traffic. The booking hall/entrance currently is a very small building on the bridge which serves as the West Gate to the University, suitable for a small suburban station which the it no longer is in terms of numbers. The gate line has only three gates which again is insufficient for the traffic. It therefore made sense to rebuild and in order to provide entrances from both sides of the line as the traffic will come from the University one side and the hospital and bus interchange on the other side then bridges had to be built spanning both the railway and the canal. Any retail facilities that will be provided will be only a minor revenue producing activity compared with the need for a much larger station.

Another consideration has been that the University will be one of the main sporting venues for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games which has determined when the rebuild should take place.

In answer to another point. Four tracking this line is just not possible. There are four tracks beyond Kings Norton where the Camp Hill Line joins the Birmingham West Suburban which does give four tracks from the city centre to the south west which is why the upgrade to the Camp Hill line is in the pipeline with new stations on that line having received planning approval.

 

[alf]

The whole station needs a rebuild as the current situation is completely inadequate.
In answer to another point. Four tracking this line is just not possible. There are four tracks beyond Kings Norton where the Camp Hill Line joins the Birmingham West Suburban which does give four tracks from the city centre to the south west which is why the upgrade to the Camp Hill line is in the pipeline with new stations on that line having received planning approval.

I was one of the posters who pointed out that the massive new University station buildings will destroy all future plans to quadruple what is already a very busy line.

I based it on using Five Ways, one station nearer New Street & seeing a former 2 track solum between the existing 2 tracks & the canal.
I investigated further & several road bridges had empty arches for 2 more tracks.

The Scottish library vintage map showed one of these extra tracks & a disused double track tunnel running to the edge of New Street.
The map also showed the third track running all the way to the old station that University replaced.

So it is true that 3/4 tracks were possible at least northwards from University station until these huge track blocks were erected.

The route via Five Ways station looks much shorter than the route via Camp Hill which will involve busy conflicting junctions.

So I still think those massive commercial buildings have permanently destroyed an opportunity to increase capacity via the Five Ways route.

 

[Sprinter107]

I was one of the posters who pointed out that the massive new university station buildings will destroy any future plans to quadruple what is already a very busy line.
I based it on using Five Ways, one station towards New street & seeing a former 2 track solum between the existing 2 tracks & the canal. I investigated further & several road bridges had arches for 2 more tracks. The Scottish library 1910 map showed one of these extra tracks & a disused double track tunnel running to the edge
of New Street. The map showed the third track running all the way to the station that University replaced.

So it was true that 4 tracks was possible at least northwards from
The University station.

The route via Five Ways station looks much shorter than the route via camp hill whicjph will involve busy conflicting junctions. mu

So I still missing Tain those massive commercially orientated building gs are a big handicap for a future rail operation.

Theres no way you'd get 4 tracks along that line. Its too close to the canal. I cant think what bridges you mean that are available for 4 tracks. I work along there several times most days, and can't recall seeing such bridges. The abandoned track near Five Ways was the line from Church Road junction to the Central Goods depot.

 

[The Planner]

I was one of the posters who pointed out that the massive new university station buildings will destroy any future plans to quadruple what is already a very busy line.

I based it on using Five Ways, one station nearer New Street & seeing a former 2 track solum between the existing 2 tracks & the canal.
I investigated further & several road bridges had empty arches for 2 more tracks.
The Scottish library 1910 map showed one of these extra tracks & a disused double track tunnel running to the edgeof New Street.
The map also showed the third track running all the way to the old station that University replaced.

So it is true that 3/4 tracks were possible at least northwards from University station until these huge track blocks were erected.

The route via Five Ways station looks much shorter than the route via camp hill whicjph will involve busy conflicting junctions. mu

So I still missing Tain those massive commercially orientated building gs are a big handicap for a future rail operation.

Three tracks over such a short distance is of no use. Its not a handicap for future use. How do you funnel four tracks of traffic into two at Five Ways and into New St?

 

[alf]

Three tracks over such a short distance is of no use. Its not a handicap for future use. How do you funnel four tracks of traffic into two at Five Ways and into New St?

You don’t have to Funnel, as I said in my post 146, there is a long disused two track Tunnel almost from Five Ways all the way to the New Street Station boundary... Confirmed by Sprinter107.
It is a massive & wasted Victorian investment that could be put to very good use.

I accept that the disused solum only went as far as the existing University station. But it would have allowed stoppers to be passed in both directions at Fiveways & University. And also allow a stopper queuing to get into New Street to be overtaken.

I would have linked to the Scottish Library map but I am not a computer hero. Maybe if someone thinks it relevant they could show the historic map. It makes my point as far as 3 tracks & the double track tunnel are concerned.

 

[Sprinter107]

You don’t have to Funnel, as I said in my post 146, there is a long disused two track Tunnel almost from Five Ways all the way to the New Street Station boundary... Confirmed by Sprinter107.
It is a massive & wasted Victorian investment that could be put to very good use.

I accept that the disused solum only went as far as the existing University station. But it would have allowed stoppers to be passed in both directions at Fiveways & University. And also allow a stopper queuing to get into New Street to be overtaken.

I would have linked to the Scottish Library map but I am not a computer hero. Maybe if someone thinks it relevant they could show the historic map. It makes my point as far as 3 tracks & the double track tunnel are concerned.

It doesnt go all the way to University. The disused formation joins the West Suburban line at the former Church Road junction. Then its a 2 track formation through the old Church Road station, next to the canal, thro the 106yard Church Road tunnel, with the railway next to the canal towpath. It then briefly leaves the canal, on an embankment on one side, as it passes Hallfield school and the allotments. It then goes into a cutting on one side, as it approaches the former Somerset Road station, now almost on the canal towpath. Through the next bridge at Pritchatts Road, it then curves into University station. It couldn't reasonably be 4 track after the former junction at Church Road, which is just a quarter mile from Five Ways.