VOLUME 35 No.10 October 2007 - Intercity Railway Society

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