Original plans for Birmingham New Street dating back 150 years have been published to coincide with the opening of station’s new concourse later this week.
Plans for the original 19th century station and its 60s makeover have been added to Network Rail’s online archive to mark the next milestone in the site’s history.
The first half of New Street’s new concourse will open on Sunday (April 28).
We’ve been searching for the original plans and drawings of the station and have found some of great interest and importance at this exciting time of change for passengers.
The station first opened in 1851 and featured the largest single span arched roof in the world. It was then redevelopment in 1967 and has since suffered harsh criticism for its design and accessibility.
Vicky Stretch, Network Rail archivist said: “Since publishing the first railway architectural plans on our virtual archive over a year ago, it has been fascinating to gradually work through our collection of over five million records to see what other elements of the railway’s history we can uncover.
“With the imminent unveiling of the new concourse at Birmingham New Street, we’ve been searching for the original plans and drawings of the station and have found some of great interest and importance at this exciting time of change for passengers.
“Very little survives for the original nineteenth century New Street, but what we do have, along with a collection of the more familiar 1960s station, is now published online.”
