Using Birmingham New Street

[wfrank]

I am sick & tired of new new street. It is confusing & time wasting & just as fume filled.

 

[Idon'tKnow]

Always, go straight to the red lounge, whether interchaning or starting a journey go straight there without looking at screens

 

[Llanigraham]

First time I used it to change from a Cambrian to the London train I found it confusing, but having now done it a couple of times I find no problem at all.
Biggest problem has been finding that my ticket is always rejected by the machines, presumably because of my Disabled Card, so now I just go to the wide gate that is manned.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

On my last trip through recently, I think there were no upgrade works going on anywhere on the station.
It's taken a year to finish off the platform level changes, notably the high numbers.
Access and stairs/escalators were limited on some platforms.
Presumably the platforms themselves are now finished too.
There was always one platform with an engineering supply train parked in it.
So at last it seems to be 'finished'.

 

[edwin_m]

I must also admit that having been a few times I am just totally confused by the layout. With the old layout there was one way in to a central corridor and platforms went logically from 1 to 12. Access was from either side of the long corridor, which i found so simple! You could also use the subway to get from platform 12 to 1 simply and quickly. The only benefit from the new layout for me is that its much lighter and not so dark and dingy. However if I had a choice I would put up with the old dark and dingy to get back the ease and speed of the old! I expect the commercial aspects of all the new shops had a part to play in the thinking!

There is still one of those, the problem is it's at the "B" end of the platforms which is probably the less busy end. People either don't know about it or can't be bothered to walk further to reach it, especially if the station is crowded. So they end up using the "A" end where different barriers lead to different groups of platforms.

 

[Bevan Price]

and how, exactly, do you make the changes you want to see without reducing capacity and without any land take? The idea, of course, is that you remain in the spacious concourse area drinking tea until the last minute before descending to your platform.

And no what was most unpleasant about New Street was that it was a dark, dank, dingy, horrible cave.

It still is at platform level, but the concourse "upstairs" is a bit of an improvement. I also think that the escalators are too narrow to cope with the numbers of passengers on busy trains.

 

[dangie]

I think Birmingham New Street proves the saying "You can't make a silk purse out of s sow's ear" correct.

Whatever improvements they did upstairs the downstairs is still a dungeon.

 

[Llanigraham]

And will never be anything different!

 

[Bill EWS]

I've used the station a number of times since it fully opened and found it quite easy to find my platforms. The train inscribers are very clear and numerous. It took me a couple of times to work out how to get to the platforms from where they are separated but happy with that now. Sadly the platform levels are still in the bleak underground.

 

[causton]

Can't see a big problem with it at all. For about 10 seconds I was confused at how to exit the "Red Lounge" but I find it easy to navigate and I only visit Birmingham a couple of times a year...

If people think it is awkward to navigate now, I had to commute to/from it for three and a half weeks while the redevelopment was taking place... now that was a challenge much more bright, airy and open now.

 

[D1009]

I think the current confusion among people unfamiliar with the layout could be sorted by clearer signage at platform level to the effect that the A end exits are for people leaving the station only, and people changing trains directed to the B end where there is full access to all platforms and catering facilities.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Thank you for all your comments and advice on this; they've been very useful, even those that aren't really helpful!

Sadly, although I'm not arriving or departing by train, I will have to use the station for local travel whilst I'm there, so "Don't" isn't really an option - but thanks, anyway!

I'll probably be using several of the entrances / exits, depending on where I'm coming from or going to. The main one will probably be the ramp off New Street via The Bullring, but I'd like to use the doors leading onto Victoria Square as well; the third option is the Station Street entrance.

Regarding the doors onto Victoria Square, I see that this is now an entrance and an exit - am I right, please? Google Maps have it as both, although Google Map View still shows it as an exit only; I guess that this is only because they haven't updated it yet.

I think that if I can remember D1009's advice that the A end exits are for people leaving the station and the B end exits allow access to the platforms and the facilities, I won't be too far wrong (Thanks!).

I'll be travelling to and from Coventry (leaving at 09.30) and Rugby (leaving at 09.50). Do the these two services travel from the same platform all the time, or do they move around depending on circumstances?

Finally, I have a couple of questions which widen the original topic but are connected, I hope:

1. I see that the Ian Allan bookshop has moved - has anyone used this and, if so, what's it like, please?
2. Can anyone have any recommend any pubs and / or places to eat near the station, please?

Thanks again.

 

[Mugby]

The Ian Allan bookshop moved quite some time ago, I often pop in and it's certainly a great improvement on the old one. The best selection of transport books you'll find anywhere with military stuff downstairs and buses / rail upstairs.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

The Ian Allan bookshop moved quite some time ago, I often pop in and it's certainly a great improvement on the old one. The best selection of transport books you'll find anywhere with military stuff downstairs and buses / rail upstairs.

Ah, thanks; it's quite a while since I was in Birmingham, so I'm well out of date about it's location!

 

[CharlieSpotted]

2. Can anyone have any recommend any pubs and / or places to eat near the station, please?

I highly recommend The Victoria for great beer/cocktails and a bite to eat. Use the Station Street exit. Cross over Hill Street and continue up station street and it's on the right. It's one of my favourite places in Birmingham to spend some time. Follow the road around and there's Brewdog and Cherry Reds, too.

There's also The Railway - good solid food, more of a basic pub though. You'll want the Hill Street exit or the Stephenson Street exit (from the footbridge) for this one. (Or, follow the directions above and there's a "rear entrance" opposite Brewdog).

I hope that helps!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Regarding the doors onto Victoria Square, I see that this is now an entrance and an exit - am I right, please? Google Maps have it as both, although Google Map View still shows it as an exit only; I guess that this is only because they haven't updated it yet.

The Stephenson Street entrance (I think that's what you're referring to here) from the main concourse is both entrance and exit, but the Stephenson Street doors from the A end footbridge are (annoyingly) exit only*. I guess that's where the confusion comes in.



* Well, they're exit only... except when unstaffed, when the barriers and doors are left open, and then who's going to stop you from entering that way?

 

[boxy321]

Look back to my diagram a few posts ago. There are both exit only doors and in/out doors on to Stephenson St. This exit is not directly onto Victoria Square, that is further up behind the tram terminus beyond Ian Allen.

Further along up the (steep) hill is the Post Office Vaults.

 

[F Great Eastern]

I never saw what the whole big argument with the lounges are, since you can reach every single lounge from going through one set of barriers since all the lounges are connected underground without going through any barriers via the platforms.

 

[edwin_m]

I never saw what the whole big argument with the lounges are, since you can reach every single lounge from going through one set of barriers since all the lounges are connected underground without going through any barriers via the platforms.

But (depending on the lounge in question) that could involved going down to a platform at the A end, walking to the B end, going back up and across the B and bridge, then walk back along another platform and back up to the A end. Nobody's going to do all that!

 

[D1009]

Look back to my diagram a few posts ago. There are both exit only doors and in/out doors on to Stephenson St. This exit is not directly onto Victoria Square, that is further up behind the tram terminus beyond Ian Allen.

Further along up the (steep) hill is the Post Office Vaults.

I think when the OP mentioned Victoria Square, he was referring to the Navigation Street exit, which used to be signposted Victoria Square. I believe this is now an emergency exit only, having been replaced by the Stephenson Street exits.

 

[Minilad]

The Navigation Street exit is exit only and has barriers. Although the barriers are not always manned so in effect it then becomes entry and exit as there's no one there to stop anyone.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

I highly recommend The Victoria for great beer/cocktails and a bite to eat. Use the Station Street exit. Cross over Hill Street and continue up station street and it's on the right. It's one of my favourite places in Birmingham to spend some time. Follow the road around and there's Brewdog and Cherry Reds, too.

There's also The Railway - good solid food, more of a basic pub though. You'll want the Hill Street exit or the Stephenson Street exit (from the footbridge) for this one. (Or, follow the directions above and there's a "rear entrance" opposite Brewdog).

I hope that helps!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


The Stephenson Street entrance (I think that's what you're referring to here) from the main concourse is both entrance and exit, but the Stephenson Street doors from the A end footbridge are (annoyingly) exit only*. I guess that's where the confusion comes in.



* Well, they're exit only... except when unstaffed, when the barriers and doors are left open, and then who's going to stop you from entering that way?

I think when the OP mentioned Victoria Square, he was referring to the Navigation Street exit, which used to be signposted Victoria Square. I believe this is now an emergency exit only, having been replaced by the Stephenson Street exits.

The Navigation Street exit is exit only and has barriers. Although the barriers are not always manned so in effect it then becomes entry and exit as there's no one there to stop anyone.

Thank you, folks; this does help a lot - especially the pub information!