Gateway Takes Shape

This article describes a project to renovate and expand the railroad station in Birmingham, England. The Gateway project will transform the current dark and drab New Street station into a bright, modern focal point for the city. The project will double passenger capacity and triple the size of the concourse. The renovated station will also offer better accessibility, including new escalators and public elevators. A stunning new façade and better links for pedestrians are also planned. During the first part of the project, engineers are turning a parking garage into a concourse. In an effort to minimize disruption to passengers, the project is being managed in two distinct phases. First, half of the new concourse will be built and then passengers will be moved across to start using it. Only then will the existing concourse area be revamped. By 2015, both halves will be linked up. Turning the garage into a concourse has required the removal of an entire floor of the garage. Workers have removed 7,500 tonnes of concrete, all moved with live railway lines below and a major shopping center above. Concrete removal was completed last year and contractors have now started the fitout phase. A crucial part of the initial phase of the work has been the construction of a new service spine that will carry electricity, gas and water for the station. The new spine weighs 260 tonnes and has been brought onto the site in modular form. Contractors have also been bringing in a new power supply to the station, and constructing new substations and buildings to house them. Another part of the project involves building a new walkway connecting New Street station to nearby Moor Street station. The renovation has proceeded slowly, since there were no proper drawings of the 1960s-era station and the building had to be surveyed from scratch. Part of the Gateway project involves a significant upgrade for a shopping center above the mall. The first phase of the station project is expected to be open to passengers by 2013, while the whole project is due for completion in 2015.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/49957551
• Authors:
  • Plisner, Peter
• Publication Date: 2012-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: pp 30-31
• Serial:
  • Rail Professional
  • Issue Number: 181
  • Publisher: Cambridge Publishers Limited
  • ISSN: 1476-2196
  • Serial URL: http://www.cpl.biz/ourwork/general/rp.htm

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Case studies; Construction management; Construction projects; Railroad stations
• Uncontrolled Terms: Renovation
• Geographic Terms: Birmingham (England)
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Terminals and Facilities; I50: Construction and Supervision of Construction;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01372574
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 14 2012 10:56AM