Railway stations in Birmingham are among the most popular stations worldwide. Birmingham is a metropolitan city in the West Midlands, United Kingdom, with an excellent railway network connecting different parts of the city.
These networks intertwined the connection between people and historic places in the city and improved the city’s transportation. So, here in this article, we’ll look into railway stations in Birmingham.
1. Railway Stations in Birmingham
Birmingham, the second largest city in the United Kingdom, is a busy metropolis in the West Midlands region. Many major railway stations form a network across the city, connecting places and smoothening transportation. These railway stations are not just a mode of transit. Instead, they are the gateways to promote tourism, business relations, and explorations.
Railway stations like Birmingham New Street, Snow Hill Station, and Moor Street Station help the city to connect with other English cities like Edinberg, Glasgow Central, etc.
So let’s delve into the popular railway stations in Birmingham and their influences on the development of the city throughout time.
2. Birmingham Station Group
The Birmingham Station Group is a group of three stations in Birmingham’s city centre: New Street, Moore Street, and Snow Hill. This group of stations is printed on national rail tickets as BIRMINGHAM STNS. It is located next to Birmingham International Airport and the National Exhibition Centre, approximately 14 km from the city centre.
2.1 Birmingham New Street Railway Station
Birmingham New Street, which is also known as the New Street Station, is one of the busiest stations in the Birmingham Station group. It is the largest and busiest station in Birmingham city and is the main hub of the British Railway System. It is the 5th largest station in the United Kingdom.
Popular railway services like Avanti West Coast, Cross Country, West Midlands railway, etc., are based at New Street Station. The station code is BHM for New Street Station.
2.1.1 History of the BHM
The construction was started in 1846 by the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) in central Birmingham when they found a large area known as the ‘Froggery.’ The station was finally opened in 1854 by sharing with Midland Railway station. Later, the Midland railway station was split into separate extensions. This was to allow exclusive train services through each station, such as Avanti West Coast.
The New Street Station was formed as an individual station in the year 1885 when the Midland Railway station was separated by a central roadway named Queens Drive. At the beginning of the station, there were only 40 trains that departed from the station a day. And now it can hold trains ten times more than the beginning of the station.
2.1.2 Involvement in the Growth of the City
The evolvement of New Street Station gave rise to the city’s commercial growth. A mall named Grand Central Shopping Centre was opened near the station in 1971. This gave a facelift to the Railway station and Birmingham city. Grand Central contains all the amenities for passenger assistance, such as a wide variety of shops, restaurants, car parks, etc.
Although the city kept on evolving each time, Birmingham New Street railway station is an emblem of Birmingham’s growth journey. It marks the connectivity and tapestry of life in Birmingham.
2.2 Birmingham Moor Street Station
Birmingham Moor Street Station is another railway station that is among the Birmingham Station Group. Popularly known as Moor Street Station, it stands as a symbol of a bygone era in the modern world. It is situated in the centre of Birmingham city, making it a great mode of transit for travellers of all kinds.
2.2.1 History of The Moor Street Train Station
Moor Street was opened in 1909 under the Great Western Railway. It was a terminus rail for supporting local trains. Later, in 1987, a new station was built for goods transit which was shorter than the first. These two stations were combined into a single Moor Street Station in 2002, which gave it a new look. The station code given to it is BMO.
2.2.2 About the Train Station
After the reopening of the Station, the attorney was handed over to Chiltern Railways from the Great Western Railways. Now, the station has a great number of services from all over the United Kingdom and is the second busiest railway station in Birmingham.
2.2.3 Services from the Moor Street Train Station
The services that run through Moor Street are currently the local services by West Midlands Railway and long-distance services to London City and Marylebone, which is managed by Chiltern Railways.
The convenience and the large network of rail in the local places is the reason for its increased popularity. It takes us on a journey through the roots of the city, through its history and pieces of a bygone era.
2.3 Birmingham Snow Hill Station
Birmingham Snow Hill Station, known as the Snow Hill Station, is the last in the Birmingham Station Group after the New Street Station and Moor Street Station. It is also located in Birmingham’s city centre. It was the oldest railway station that was opened even before New Street Station.
2.3.1 History of Snow Hill Stations
Snow Hill Station was first named Birmingham and later named Snow Hill Station in 1858. When looking into the history of the Station, it was built on the site of a glassworks factory by Oppenheim, which was then demolished to build the railway station. It is believed that pieces of machinery and other parts of the factory are still buried under the station building. The station has great archaeological importance.
2.3.2 Present-Day Snow Hill Station
The station was once the main railway station of Birmingham city, managed by the Great Western Railway. It had many services all over the United Kingdom, like London City, Wales, South West England, Paddington, Birkenhead etc. But at present times, it is a station for local services like Snow Hill Lines that serve Kidderminster, Stourbridge Junction, Worcester Shrub Hill, etc. It also has a long-distance service to London Marylebone through the Chiltern main line.
The Snow Hill station currently has three platforms in use. It had four lines, but eventually, one line was converted for West Midland metro trams through the station street.
2.3.3 Accessibilities of the Snow Hill Street Train Station
The station street has a well-defined main concourse, local travel information office, and customer reception. Each platform has priority seating areas in the centre of the platform, namely the blue, yellow, and red areas. Telephones are opposite the reception inside the Hill Street entrance. Also, each platform has WiFi and car parks that are available free of cost.
In its architecture, atmosphere, and storytelling, Snow Hill station embodies the journey of Birmingham itself as it navigates change, embraces diversity, and emerges as a thriving centre of culture and commerce. As trains continue on the tracks, Snow Hill station is a poignant reminder of the thread that connects Birmingham’s past, present, and infinite possibilities for tomorrow.
3. Other Network Rail Stations in Birmingham
3.1 Birmingham International Railway Station
Birmingham International is a railway station not located in Birmingham’s city centre. But it is directly linked with the Birmingham Airport in the Solihull of West Midlands. Monuments like the National Exhibition Center, Resorts World Birmingham, etc., are also near this Railway station.
3.1.1 History of BHI
Birmingham International Station was opened on the 26th of January in 1976. It was designed by Ray Moorcroft to help air travellers reach the city centre and other places in the United Kingdom. It has many local and long-distance train services connecting many parts of the country.
The station got its name from the Airport adjacent to the railway station. Later, there was a suggestion to change its name to Birmingham Airport and NEC. NEC was because of the National Exhibition Center near the station.
3.1.2 About the Station
The Avanti West Coast group manages it. But it also services Wales, CrossCountry, West Midlands, etc. When looking into the platforms of the station, BHI has a total of 5 venues to serve the arrival and departure of regular train service.
3.1.3 Amenities and Facilities of the Station
It has a local travel information office and accessible taxis available at the station. Also, it has dedicated business areas that are fully equipped for the passengers to sit and work on. It also has one accessible space for baby change facilities and feeding rooms comfortable for moms. It also has accessible taxis and accessible public telephones at the
Being more than a transit hub, Birmingham’s international is a facelift for the emerging global outlook of the city. It is also noted for fostering the network between cities and people. Birmingham International Station is a great example of the technology and accessibility blended for convenience.
3.2 Birmingham Central Coach Station
Birmingham Coach Station, which was earlier known as the Digbeth Coach Station, is another railway station in Birmingham city. It is a coach interchange for cities like Britain, Dublin, etc.
3.2.1 History of Central Coach Train Station
Birmingham Coach Station is the national headquarters of the European coach providers and the largest scheduled coach provider. It was opened in 1929 by the Midland Red West company. First, it was meant to be a bus depot and later was converted to a coach interchange station.
3.2.2 Struggles and Closing of the Station
It was mainly considered a black county operation in Birmingham and was built according to it. This coach station has struggled to become the present-day station, even being considered undesirable once. Finally, the coach station was closed in 2007.
3.2.3 Amenities at the Central Coach Station
The refurbished station was much improvised, matching the cityscapes and the era. The amenities and services are very reflective of the modern world and capable of providing a great experience to travellers. It has neat and clean waiting areas, information kiosks to contact passenger assistance, ticketing rooms, and many more amenities for customer reception and to fulfil the passengers’ needs.
Birmingham Coach Station is a testament to the rise and resilience of a place that could ever be experienced in a lifetime. It is a grand railway station connecting people from various diversities to the city’s heart.
3.3 Birmingham Curzon Street Station (Upcoming Project)
Birmingham Curzon Street Station is an upcoming railway station in Birmingham that is said to be the high-speed network rail. It connects London Euston and Old Oak Common through the Birmingham Interchange.
3.3.1 Construction of the Curzon Station
The design and construction of the station and its lines are managed by two organizations, WSP Global and Grimshaw Architects. It is said to have many modern amenities for the station, including pedestrian connectivity with the Moor Street Station, which is nearby. Also, it will be integrated with the Midlands tram network for more passenger convenience.
The station is said to have seven platforms and is the first phase of the High Speed 2 project of the United Kingdom. It will have around ten arrivals and departures every hour and will be increased eventually.
3.3.1 Net Zero Carbon
The HS2 station will be the first net zero Carbon station in the United Kingdom with reduced energy use and waste recycling. To do that, accessible spaces will be created to accommodate around 500 cycles at the station. Also, the buildings will be permitted as per the industry standards.
Final Note
Railway stations in Birmingham do more than serve as transit points. These are cultural hubs where people from all walks come together to create dynamic experiences and stories. They reflect Birmingham’s resilience, adaptability, and cosmopolitan character. It also embodies the role of a thriving centre of commerce, culture, and diversity.
Last Updated on November 23, 2023 by Apeksha Soni
