Major redevelopment for 'popular and busy' University station

A new building and footbridge is being built

Author: Megan JonesPublished 30th Jul 2019
Last updated 30th Jul 2019

Plans for the major redevelopment of University Station in Edgbaston have been unveiled to improve facilities for passengers.

More than £3m passengers use the station every year - but it was only designed for 400,000 in the 1970s.

Now, a new station building will be created, located close to the existing station, to accommodate for £7.2m passengers a year.

Platforms will also be connected by a wide footbridge which will also provide access from the station across the canal to the University campus.

The new initial designs are being finalised and a public consultation on the plans is expected to start during the Summer.

The Mayor of the West Midlands said:

“The University and hospital have proved a huge success beyond all expectations when this station was built.

“With a new life sciences campus on the way and the university and hospitals continuing to expand, this area needs an impressive new station for the students, staff, visitors and the Edgbaston community.

"That is why we are putting this investment in place and are committed to delivering. We are very grateful to our partners for contributing funding and delivery expertise."

Professor Sir David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Birmingham said:

"We are tremendously excited by the prospect of an expanded University Station. With the millions of people who use the facility each year, this will be a valuable asset to the city's transport infrastructure.

“In 2022, the University will host hockey and squash as part of the Commonwealth Games, and being able to provide a 21st Century station to competitors, organisers and many thousands of spectators is critical, as well as providing excellent facilities for staff and students of the future, and the local community.

Richard Brooks, customer experience director for West Midlands Railway, said:

“These are exciting times for passengers with improved facilities at University station on the way and our recent timetable changes boosting the evening service on the Cross City Line.

“We are also investing £700m in our trains which will include the arrival of a new fleet serving University in 2020, enabling us to provide more carriages to cater for the increasing demand as the popularity of travelling by rail continues to grow."

The new station is expected to be completed and open in time for the 2022 Commonwealth Games when the University hosts the hockey and squash competitions.

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