After West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) bosses agreed on the full business case, the £56 million University Station redevelopment is now confirmed.

This confirmation means that work can start later this year. A brand new fit-for-purpose station with modern facilities will be built. This station will be capable of handling 7.2 million passengers a year.

The station rebuild is in great need as the current 1970s station is one of the busiest in the region and is currently unable to accommodate the four million passengers a year that currently use it and is unable to allow future growth.

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the WMCA, will be leading the consortium which is to include the University of Birmingham, Birmingham City Council, Network Rail, West Midlands Trains and the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP to fund and develop the project.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, who chairs the WMCA Board, said: “I am delighted that the full business case for the new University Station has been approved by the board, meaning we can now get on and start building the new station ready for the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

“Over the last decade or so we have seen huge growth in both the university campus and the hospital site, making University one of the busiest railway stations on our network – but also in need of a major upgrade.

“By working collaboratively with partners across the city, in just a few short years we will be able to offer those many millions of passengers a brand new state-of-the-art station, which is fit for purpose.

“Not only is this project a brilliant example of teamwork and our ambition to improve public transport across the West Midlands, but infrastructure investments like these are also going to be critical to the region’s economic recovery from coronavirus.”

Cllr Ian Ward, WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of Birmingham City Council said: “This new station will not only provide a magnificent gateway to Birmingham for those visitors coming for the Commonwealth Games, but for the many more who pass through here day in, day out.

“Not only that but improved public transport is vital if we are to meet the climate challenge and clean our air. Getting more people onto trains across the region is one of the key elements of our work to reduce traffic congestion and reliance on the car, as we improve our air quality and progress towards a zero-carbon economy.”

Professor Sir David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Birmingham, said: “We are delighted that the government and WMCA have confirmed their commitment to the upgrade of University Station.

“The development will not only help make the Commonwealth Games a success for Birmingham and the West Midlands, but also provide a University Station that is fit for purpose for our staff, students, visitors and local community. We are proud to be playing a central role in the consortium leading this project.”

Dave Penney, Network Rail’s Central route director, said: “This investment supports our commitment to putting passengers first in the West Midlands. With the Commonwealth Games on the horizon, it will transform University into a modern station that will meet the demands of the millions of passengers who use it every year for decades to come.”

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