The New Street Station in Birmingham
The railway station in Birmingham New Street is the largest and busiest of the city's three main railway stations. The New Street is a central hub for the railway system in Britain. It is also home to some of Birmingham's most famous buildings, such as the John Lewis department store. If you're heading to the city for business, you should stop by the John Lewis store. The False ceiling panels, modern signal box, and 12 through platforms are all worth a look.
John Lewis store
You may have heard of John Lewis, but have you ever visited their flagship store in Birmingham? This British department store is a chain that has stores across the United Kingdom. It also offers international delivery to 37 countries. The Birmingham New Street branch is no exception. Here, you can find a wide range of clothing and accessories. You can find the perfect gift for anyone on your list, whether it is for a friend or a family member.
The store is located at Grand Central Shopping Mall, adjacent to Holloway Circus on the A38 and Suffolk Street Queensway. Birmingham City Centre, Edgbaston, Ladywood, and Bordesley are all served by this store, which is open Tuesday to Sunday. You can also find it on Lower Temple Street, Navigation Street, and the Grand Central Shopping Centre. Visiting the store is free, but parking is limited.
The John Lewis store in Birmingham New Street is the first in four years to expand. It is the biggest store for the British department store chain and is located in the new Grand Central shopping centre above Birmingham New Street station. Before moving to Birmingham, the department store struggled to find a suitable location. The city's economic revival is a key factor behind the move. The West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, said the closure of the Birmingham store is "deeply disappointing" and has promised to fight for its continued success.
The West Midlands has made big bets on high street retail in recent years. The Bullring was redeveloped and is home to the iconic Selfridges department store. Andy Street, the former Selfridges managing director, has been battling for leadership of the region by presenting himself as an outsider, entrepreneurial businessman. Earlier this year, he opened a vast new John Lewis store at New Street station in Birmingham.
12 through platforms
The construction of the 12 through platforms at Birmingham New Street station was a complex undertaking. The original station was a six bay one, with eight through platforms. The current station features a seven acre concrete deck supported by 200 columns. The platforms themselves are covered by a large concourse, which features stairs, lifts, and escalators. The new station was constructed on the site of the former Birmingham Shopping Centre, which was demolished in 2005.
The station is a hub for transport in the Midlands region. It is approximately 1.8 km from the city centre, making it accessible by car or public transport. Birmingham New Street station is linked to the Bullring shopping complex, which provides direct access to the station. There are also buses and taxis available from the station. During peak hours, buses from Birmingham city centre to the station operate four times daily. The average journey time is 45 minutes.
There are three lounges in the station, each providing optimum access to different platforms. The lounges add to the unique experience of using the station. First-time users might not be aware of their existence, as the departure screens don't mention them. So, a quick look at the departure screens might help you find the right place to wait for your train. And once you find your seat, you will be happy you took the time to take advantage of the lounges.
In March 2011, the former Stephenson Tower was demolished and replaced with a 200m2 station area, constructed of mirror-polished stainless steel. As part of the upgrade, the station is serviced by Arriva Trains Wales, CrossCountry, and First Great Western. Virgin Trains also operates through the station. The new signalling will be installed over the next 18 months, affecting all train operators. If you have any questions or concerns about the project, you can follow @NetworkRailBHM on Twitter or Facebook.
False ceiling panels
This magnificent train station is the latest example of using false ceiling panels in an unusual location. Formerly known as the 'dark, grey concrete box', Birmingham's New Street railway station is now an iconic new atrium and concourse, accommodating 175,000 passengers daily. The station's original 1960s design was designed to accommodate 60,000 passengers daily, but the new, more streamlined interior has room for more than 1,200 trains a day.
The redeveloped Birmingham New Street train station, one of Britain's busiest, was a landmark project for both Clark and Skanska. The two companies developed a unique system to meet the needs of the project. As this was a first-time project, they created working-size mock-ups that replicated structural movement and identified areas for joint reduction. This value-engineering approach led to improvements in both the visual and structural appearance of the finished project.
The new ventilation system at Birmingham New Street was installed during a PS750 million redevelopment project. The new station opened to the public in September 2015 with an iconic new atrium and a passenger concourse five times the size of London's Euston. It also boasted improved entrances, platforms, and a whole host of new facilities. Ultimately, the installation of false ceiling panels helped to make this transformation a successful project.
The new station also features a signal box that is unlike most pitched-roof buildings. The fabric of the building is made of corrugated concrete panels. It is triangular in shape and features narrow runs of steel framed windows. The only clue that the building is occupied is the triangular-shaped shape of its steel-framed windows. The New Street signal box is inaccessible to the public, so it may not be in use until later.
Modern signal box
The modern signal box on Birmingham's New Street station is a Grade II listed building. Built in 1966, it controls a vast area stretching from Hampton-in-Arden to Tipton. This area includes parts of New Street and avoids Grand Junction lines. The signal box also controls a cross city route. There is no automatic route setting at the New Street signal box, so signallers must set routes manually and cancel them manually.
The building is covered with a massive roof that shades the window displays and protects the signallers from the sun. The massive roof leans forward and creates a dramatic effect, while a fire escape on the side of the building adds vertical emphasis. In fact, the building is made up of three levels and two storeys of skeletal cylinder construction. Although this building is quite large, it does not feel overly imposing or unattractive.
The new signalling will replace the existing Westpac MkIIIB and MkI geographical relay interlockings. In addition, the two SSIs at Proof House Junction will be replaced by a Siemens Trackguard Westlock. The remaining outdoor signalling infrastructure will remain in place. A new PSB will control the former New Street area, which will be operated by three Siemens Westcad workstations. It will be the first signalling box built in the UK since 1850.
There are very few remaining signal boxes alongside closed railways. The Broomielaw signal box is an example of a derelict signal box. The streetscape around closed railways is dramatically variable, and survival depends on the amount of economic activity in the area and whether the railway is located in a conservation area. Ultimately, the New Street signal box on Birmingham New Street is one of the last of its kind in the UK.
Construction of birmingham new street station
The station is a huge feat of engineering, and the new design is reminiscent of a spaceport. The station was constructed in the 1960s, and features 5,500 stainless steel panels. During construction, a computer simulation was used to ensure that the station would not be impacted by light, which would cause glare on the tracks and the trains themselves. In addition to the new design, the station also features a new shopping complex.
The reconstruction of Birmingham New Street railway station began in 2009 and was completed in September 2015. The old station served 60,000 passengers a day, but today it carries around one-fourth that number. It is an important rail hub, serving long-distance trains from London Euston Station and other major stations in the capital, as well as trains to Scotland, Newcastle, Manchester and Newcastle. The project's ambitious goals include creating a modern hub that is accessible and efficient for commuters.
While it took years for the project to get off the ground, the new station reflects the ambitions of the Birmingham Combined Authority and the city's local economy. Once completed, the new station will act as a focal point for regeneration of areas around the station. The Birmingham station is just the beginning of the investment's benefits to the city, but its wider effects will become clear over the next decade. It is worth noting that it was delayed for over two decades due to funding shortages and a lack of a viable plan.
The construction process was fraught with challenges. For example, the existing station had to be demolished and a public walkway had to be maintained through the construction site. The concourses were switched, but the original stairs had to remain open for station traffic. The construction project required a large temporary structure to be moved halfway through the build. Thankfully, Mace was able to engineer a tunnel using modular prefabricated sections and plug-and-connect M&E. The tunnel was then moved in just over a weekend and is now open to the public.
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