Glimpse at future of 'one of the world's oldest' railway stations in Birmingham near HS2 site

Opened in 1838, the station was the first direct railway line linking Birmingham to London and has been described as one of the world’s oldest surviving pieces of monumental railway architecture.

Earlier this year, proposals for various repairs and works to restore the historic station near the new HS2 terminus were approved.

And now new images have revealed how public spaces could be built around the new Curzon Street Station – and what that means for the old building.

HS2 confirmed recently that next to the eastern entrance, a new square is being proposed to face the disused Old Curzon Street station building.

It adds that a new terrace and gardens would be created to the rear of the old station “to complement the setting of the historic building”.

It’s also being proposed that passengers pass through a paved ‘station square’, edged by gardens facing Moor Street Queensway, at the front of the new station.

“The new images released today show recent landscape design refinements that are being submitted to Birmingham City Council for approval,” HS2 said recently.

“These include improvements to the management of rainwater drainage and improvements to the integration of cycling and walking routes connecting to the wider city.

“They also show the tree-lined promenade with landscaped terraces that will stretch along the side of the building.

“A second entrance at the other end of the station – giving access to Digbeth and the east side of the city – will include a tram stop and taxi drop-off points as well as improved cycle access.”

HS2 Ltd’s senior project manager Alistair Morgan said earlier this month that Curzon Street will be a “new landmark for Birmingham once complete.

[It will] provide a fitting city centre terminus for a railway that will improve journeys and free up space on the existing West Coast Main Line,” he said.

“These new images also show how it will be integrated into the rest of the city – with new green spaces, better accessibility and onward public transport links.

“It’s great to see how much progress has been made on the foundation works and I’d like to thank everyone who’s been working so hard to get the job done.

“But we’ve still got a lot of work to do before the first passengers arrive, and I look forward to seeing more significant progress in the year ahead.”

The new images came as engineers working for the HS2 project completed the last of more than 2,000 concrete piles that will underpin the foundations of Curzon Street station.

With the piling now complete, the main focus has turned to preparing the way for the Digbeth extension to the West Midlands Metro – which will stop under the station on New Canal Street – and completion of the remaining foundation works.

‘Government needs to get on with HS2’

A council report on the repairs said back in January: “The primary purpose of these proposed works is to safeguard the Old Curzon Street Station building while incorporating measures to improve sustainability and thermal efficiency.”

“It is not the intention of this application to refurbish the building for re-occupation.

“The aim is to protect the structure, recognising the significance of the building and its interior, and to prevent further deterioration.”

Several Birmingham councillors welcomed the plans, with Coun Philip Davis describing old Curzon Street Station as a “really significant” building.

Coun Lee Marsham, chair of the planning committee, added: “What I will say is that I think the government needs to get on with HS2 at the quickest pace it can, at the best value for taxpayers.”