VOLUME 35 No.10 October 2007 - Intercity Railway Society

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Virgin WC 390036 approaching platform 5 from New Street Tunnel (north side) as seen from eastern end of platform 6/7 B’ham New Street, 25 September 2007 Virgin XC 220008 approaching platform 10 from New Street Tunnel (south side) as seen from eastern end of platform 8/9 B’ham New Street, 25 September 2007 Road: Birmingham City Centre is easily accessible, as it is, encircled by the M5, M6 and M42 motorways. The M6 passes within 3 miles to the north-east and this is the shortest and most direct route into the city centre from Junction 6, ‘Spaghetti’ Junction via the A38(M) Aston Expressway. There is no long stay parking at the station but there are plenty of car parks in the area for shoppers, however this can be quite expensive. Central Trains (Centro) 323210 approaching platform 8 from footbridge above western end B’ham New Street, 25 September 2007 Central Trains 350125 heading west from platform bay 4c under Navigation Street road bridge B’ham New Street, 25 September 2007
Station Layout: The station lies on an east / west alignment beneath the Pallisades shopping centre, which is connected to the Bull Ring shopping centre. Only the ends of platforms are exposed to varying degrees with tunnels on both approaches, with road bridges also crossing above the western approaches between station and tunnels. It therefore has the claustrophobic atmosphere of an underground station, overshadowed on all sides by the surrounding city centre and the centres of the platforms being fairly gloomy. The ambience of the platforms is very stark and dreary as no buffet facilities are present. Access to all platforms is from above, the main level entrance concourse and short stay car park being off Queensway. Pedestrian access is also from the shopping centre above. There is an additional new footbridge giving access to the western ends of platforms 2-11, the stairs of which are enclosed with glazing. This connects onto Navigation Street. The station operates ticket barriers. There are 12 platforms, numbered from north to south, of which numbers 1-11 are through platforms. Platforms 1-5 are fairly straight with 6-12 becoming progressively more curved away from the main east / west alignment. The west end of platform 4 has been extended to accommodate a five car bay which is designated 4c for trains terminating from Wolverhampton / Liverpool, usually Cl.350s. South of and at either end of platform 12 there are two very short non-designated bays, one facing west, the other east. All platforms are divided into a and b, this means they can and regularly do hold two separate trains, only Pendolinos require the use of both parts owing to their length. Trains on the south-west route can use platforms 5-12, while those on the north-west route have all available. Trains from the east can access all platforms. As mentioned, access is from above, via stairs split into two flights, with an up escalator only from platforms 2-11. The government announced in July 2007 that New Street is to receive investment to improve facilities. Stabling: Multiple units use all 3 bay platforms. There are three through lines with no access to platforms between platforms 5/6, 7/8 and 9/10. These are also used for stabling units, particularly Voyagers and a Class 57/3. Virgin Thunderbird 57313 ‘Tracey Island’ between western ends of platforms 6/5 looking west from platform 5 B’ham New Street, 30 November 2006 note footbridge above in both photos Virgin XC 221105 stabled between Central Trains 170632 & Virgin XC 220021 at platforms 5 & 6 respec. looking east from platform 6 B’ham New Street, 25 September 2007 Passenger Traffic: New Street is extremely busy and congested, being the hub of Virgin XC services providing Cl.220 and 221 Voyagers in abundance, but this franchise is to be changed and largely taken over by Arriva from November 2007. Direct services to the extremities of Britain will be curtailed or replaced by other operators and different rolling stock. Virgin West Coast handle the services to Euston and northern destinations on the WCML, Cl.390 Pendolinos being the preferred haulage with tilting Cl.221 Voyagers also to be used from November. In the event that a Pendolino is not available, a Cl.90 and a DVT are used, at present one set per day on the Euston services. A Class 57/3 usually stands by on Thunderbird duties. Central Trains provides all local services in West Midlands concurrent with several long distance services. Cl.158 and 170 DMUs are used on services to Cardiff, Nottingham, Hereford, Shrewsbury and Stansted Airport, whilst Cl.150 are used on the Stafford service via Rugeley. Cls.153 / 156 are occasionally seen on these services. To allow Virgin WC faster timings on the WCML, Central Trains
Page 1 and 2: INTERCITY RAILWAY SOCIETY Monthly M
Page 3 and 4: Society Notice Board Editor’s Com
Page 5 and 6: 17 th August: 66420 4A66 47854 1H85
Page 7 and 8: 17 th September: 66232 4V17 66194 4
Page 9 and 10: Preservation News Severn Valley Rai
Page 11 and 12: Traffic & Traction News by John Bar
Page 13: Location ‘Spot’light by Trevor
Page 17 and 18: weather is particularly inclement.
Page 19 and 20: NORWICH - 7 September 2007: At last
Page 21 and 22: TRAM NEWS: Light Rail and Metro New
Page 23 and 24: HQ TTLS: 08411 08441 08460 08484 08

VOLUME 35 No.10 October 2007 - Intercity Railway Society

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