Hi,
The revamp at New Street will put a very 21st century gloss - and admittedly a much needed one
- on Brum's main rail link, but in real terms with the site problems I can't see it making a significant difference to the throughput of trains.
One truly significant improvement will be in accessability by physically disabled, in particular those reliant on wheelchair use. I've witnessed the current 'provision' a few times and it's hardly believeable that when the present design was put together it was considered suitable on that score.
I think the inherant problem with new St station is that it was built in a cutting. Without ,probably imposible, amount of re construction I doubt if it will ever be any better.
The far superior Snow Hill was a much better bet but I believe the steelwork was in poor condition, I seem to remember reading this somewhere, unless it was an invention by those who had vested interests elswhere.
The Snow Hill revamp from 1912 was very much restricted in a similar way by the GWR not being able to do anything about widening Snow Hill tunnel or extending the station over Livery Street and/or Snow Hill thoroughfares. Taking the platforms northward beyond Great Charles Street was the only realistic solution then, and it's hard to see how there could have been any better option now if the station in that form had survived.
With internal politics at BR and the financial situation then Snow Hill was pretty much doomed to be left to rot, with the electrification of the route through New Street being the last nail in the coffin. With the lack of significant maintenance it was only a matter of time, the station was even reportedly "falling" down Snow Hill by 1974 - these problems could have been avoided if there had been the finances and forward thinking to invest in it.
I've always felt that Brum deserves two purposeful and architecturally significant rail gateways - we
are still the 'second city' aren't we
, with this refurbishment we'll have one that at least looks the part:smile2:
Regards, Gerry.