Express & Star

Space-age design as Birmingham HS2 station revealed

It could be a scaly fish or a leg in fishnet stockings – but this is how the first new railway station to be built in central Birmingham for more than 100 years would look as part of the HS2 development.

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The artist's impressions are of the proposed new Curzon Street station, part of the massive HS2 development in the city

It will be at the heart of a masterplan to breathe new life into the city centre, on the back of the £42 billion HS2 line.

This artist's impression shows how the new Curzon railway station in Birmingham would be linked to the Metro tram system under an impressive canopy

Chiefs at Birmingham City Council claimed it could create more than 14,000 jobs, 600,000 sq metres of new employment space and 2,000 new homes.

They added that the regeneration could boost the city's economy by £1.3bn each year.

It could feature up to seven platforms 1,300ft long – six for domestic train services with the potential for a seventh capable for international services to European cities, if that element of the proposal remains in plans.

The Birmingham Curzon concourse would be under a huge canopy at the new station, with the Rotunda behind it

The masterplan was revealed today despite cross-party backing for the controversial line being thrown into doubt yesterday.

Tory and Labour MPs from flood and storm ravaged constituencies said they would refuse to support the line unless major improvements were made to the West Country railway network.

How the Moor Street entrance could look

Tory Gary Streeter, MP for South West Devon, said he would vote against it unless there was a firm Government commitment to properly replace the wrecked mainline at Dawlish in Devon.

Fellow Tory Neil Parish, MP for Tiverton and Honiton, who said he had so far 'held his nose' when voting in favour of HS2 because he did not want to support it, said it was the duty of MPs in the far South West to stand up for their constituents.

Political leaders in the city however said they 'would not hang around' and urged colleagues to get behind the scheme.

Birmingham Curzon station will be Birmingham's HS2 hub, linking phase one of the project, from London to Birmingham, and phase two from Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester.

The proposed Curzon Square

The station would be served by Metro trams on a new route branching off the extension currently being built through the city centre.

The Curzon HS2 Masterplan is the latest multi-million pound boost for Birmingham's city centre.

The £600 million transformation of New Street Station will be completed next year along with a £128 million Midland Metro extension linking the station with the existing tram line at Snow Hill.

A view of the line from the canal

Proposals have also been tabled for Paradise Circus in the heart of the city including a second Metro tram extension continuing on from New Street Station to Centenary Square.

Eastside City Park was the first new city centre park in Birmingham for more than 130 years when it opened right next to Curzon Street in December 2012, and the critically-acclaimed £188m Library of Birmingham opened last year, proving a magnet for tourists and a centre for learning since.

Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council said: "Today we set out our vision for how Birmingham can use HS2 as a catalyst to transform a huge part of our city, bringing with it jobs and prosperity for people in the West Midlands.

"We're not waiting around for HS2 to get built before we get started. We're announcing our plans today, and we're ready to start building as soon as the new railway gets the green light."

Another view of the HS2 line

Waheed Nazir, Director for Planning and Regeneration at Birmingham City Council said: "The potential of HS2 can only be realised if we build a world class station that seamlessly connects people to the rest of the city centre."

Meanwhile, Lucan Gray, Owner at Fazeley Studios & the Custard Factory, a hub for creative businesses in Digbeth, an area that could be impacted by the proposed masterplan, said: "By getting ahead of the curve and announcing its plans now, Birmingham is going the right way about realising the potential of HS2."

The original Curzon Street station was one of oldest in the UK, and the first ever London to Birmingham service arrived there in September 1838.

The vision for the new HS2 railway station in Birmingham

The historic Grade I listed entrance of the old Curzon Street station will be revived as part of the masterplan.

An eight-week consultation kicked off today on the masterplan. Construction is set to start on the HS2 line and stations in 2017 with the first passenger services arriving in Birmingham in 2026.

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