THE FIRST part of the enlarged station at Birmingham New Street has opened its doors to weekday commuters. 

An army of volunteers as well as Network Rail and Birmingham City Council staff are helping passengers find their way around a new concourse which has replaced the surface level station. This was opened at the end of the 1960s after the West Coast Main Line had been electrified, but became very overcrowded in recent years.

The first half of the new concourse and three new entrances opened to passengers on Sunday (28 April), and cars are now using a new entrance off Hill Street. These changes will allow the old station and the existing entrances to be closed for redevelopment.

When completed, the new concourse will be three and a half times bigger than the old one and will be enclosed by a giant atrium which will provide the station concourse and shopping centre with natural light.

A major information campaign has taken place over the last few months, reaching over 1 million people, to inform passengers about the changes to the station.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “The opening of the western concourse is a key milestone for the New Street project and gives the public a real view of how the redevelopment is progressing.

“When I visited the works at the end of February I was very impressed – the transformation of the site is giving the West Midlands the fantastic travel hub it deserves as well as opening up this part of the city centre to pedestrians.

"The regeneration potential of this £600 million development is plain to see and I am pleased that Government funding is being put to good use."

Network Rail and contractors Mace will now be turning their attention to the old concourse and the remainder of the Pallasades shopping centre, which is to become Grand Central Birmingham, incorporating a four storey John Lewis store, over 40 other shops and more than 15 cafes and restaurants.

The scheme should be complete in 2015.