The new buildings at University railway station in Birmingham which serves the adjacent University of Birmingham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital are to be brought into service next Sunday, 28th January.
With wider entrances, stairways and exits, the new buildings provide more space to circulate and wait, lifts to both platforms, a larger ticket office, and improved customer facilities.
It also has space for a future café or convenience shop and an NHS facility on the first floor.
Construction took three years, during which time the station remained open and operational, and required the construction of new bridges over both the railway line and the adjacent Birmingham to Worcester canal.
Longer and wider platforms with new canopies were constructed in the first stage of the redevelopment, which was completed in time for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The development was led by Transport for West Midlands and the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, the NHS University Hospitals Birmingham Trust, Birmingham City Council, the Department for Transport, Network Rail, West Midlands Trains, and Cross Country Trains.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of both the West Midlands Combined Authority) (WMCA) and WMRE, said: “Given the millions of people a year the University of Birmingham and QE Hospital collectively draw in, it's been clear for some time that a new fit-for-purpose station was needed. So I'm pleased that finally – despite the sometimes less-than-ideal pace of progress – we can unveil the new University Station.
“From the outset, the project team have involved partners at the University of Birmingham and the NHS in a collaborative approach that has ensured the building has been designed and delivered to meet their needs.
“It's good news that we now have a superb gateway for thousands of people arriving at University every day – no longer having to queue on stairs and funnel through what was a fairly tiny building on their way to lectures or hospital appointments. This is a high-quality facility that will serve local people in the months and years ahead.”
Cllr Liz Clements, Birmingham City Council cabinet member for transport, said: “This is fantastic news and a really good example of partnership working to provide a station that is suitable for such a busy and growing area. Investment in our railways and wider public transport network must continue if we are to prioritise people and communities over private vehicles and keep our city and region moving.”
Professor Adam Tickell, University of Birmingham Vice-Chancellor, said: “The station is an important gateway to the University, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and our local community. As the University continues to grow, this new, more accessible space creates a welcoming experience for all.”
Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at West Midlands Railway, said: “University is one of the busiest stations on our network with crucial links to the University of Birmingham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital so I am delighted that work at the station is now complete. The redevelopment will improve rail connectivity at University which is a huge boost for the millions of passengers who travel through the station every year.
“We will also be introducing new trains on the Cross City Line later this year so the capacity increase is a further benefit to the region.”
Neil Gaskin, route programme director for Network Rail, said: “I'm delighted to see the opening of the upgraded University station, providing the millions of passengers that use the station each year with a fantastic and fit-for-purpose station that supports the ambitions of the city and the significant growth in passengers expected in the years to come.
“This has been a highly complex project and I am proud of how hard our teams have worked in close conjunction with our partners to deliver a station upgrade, whilst keeping the railway open, that makes journeys to the university and nearby hospital much easier for all passengers and encourages people to travel by rail, the cleanest and greenest way to travel.”
James Hindes, managing director for VolkerFitzpatrick, said: “We are proud to have played our part in the new station delivery at University Station Birmingham, all of which has taken place whilst maintaining a live operational station. Our team has worked in collaboration with our partners and key stakeholders since the outset of the project. The station has been completely transformed and now provides a modern, future-proofed solution to the ever-increasing demands in this area, and will leave a lasting legacy for Birmingham.”
Cllr Mike Bird, WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of Walsall Council, added: “University may now be complete but our work on the railways will not stop there – we have construction well underway on five new stations in Birmingham and the Black Country which will offer our communities even better connections to the wider region. There are also plans in the pipeline to develop even more stations. This investment in quality public transport networks acts as a catalyst for further investment, regeneration and jobs for our towns and cities.”
