University Station originally opened on the Cross City Line in 1978 to serve the University of Birmingham, and now the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Work began to build the new station buildings around Spring 2021. By Winter 2021-22 the main buildings are taking shape and getting cladded. The old station remains open throughout the works. Three photo updates from Elliott.

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The rebuilding of University Station - progress from May to December 2021


The rebuilding of University Station - progress from May to December 2021


University Station originally opened on the Cross City Line in 1978 to serve the University of Birmingham, and now the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Work began to build the new station buildings around Spring 2021. By Winter 2021-22 the main buildings are taking shape and getting cladded. The old station remains open throughout the works. Three photo updates from Elliott.


University Station - West Midlands Railway

First some photos of University Station in the years before the redevelopment.

View of University Station from platform 1 during March 2012. This was my first time getting off a train here.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station (March 2012) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Below a view from Westgate taken in January 2013. Sometimes also called University Road West.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station (Jan 2013) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

In July 2017, a view of a London Midland Class 323 Electric Multiple Unit train, as seen from platform 2. By December of that year the franchise transferred over to West Midlands Railway. 323208 was the number.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/University London Midland 323208.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

By December 2019 there was a new West Midlands Railway sign outside the station on Westgate, replacing the old Network West Midlands one.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station (Dec 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

In August 2020, a view of University Station, after restrictions were being lifted at the time, but was no access to the University of Birmingham's Edgbaston Campus to members of the public who were not members of staff or students.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station (Aug 2020).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

29th May 2021

First views of the new University Station getting built from the Worcester & Birmingham Canal near the University of Birmingham in Edgbaston.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station 29052021 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station 29052021 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The old 1978 station building remains open from the Westgate with a view of Old Joe (before the clock hands were removed).

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station 29052021 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

View from the bus stops of the site from New Fosse Way. The new station buildings would be built alongside Vincent Drive, near NHS Blood & Transplant Birmingham and the Birmingham Research Park.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station 29052021 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

6th August 2021

In the summer of 2021, I got a train down from Birmingham New Street Station. West Midlands Railway 170509. In a purple livery (as it will soon transfer to East Midlands Railway).

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Behind the train you could see the structure of the new building going up.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading down Vincent Drive.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It was possible to see Old Joe behind the new building before it was complete last summer.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Now on Pritchatts Road from the bridge over the Cross City Line and Worcester & Birmingham Canal. There will not be access to the station from this end.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni Station UoB 06082021 (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

28th December 2021

Starting this time from Pritchatts Road, after checking out Old Joe (now with clock hands reinstated), the same view as 5 months earlier from the bridge over the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and the Cross City Line. The new station building has a new footbridge. When complete it will have an entrance to Westgate.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/UoB Uni Station rebuild 28122021 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/UoB Uni Station rebuild 28122021 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading up Vincent Drive to a more complete looking station, although a lot to complete.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/UoB Uni Station rebuild 28122021 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/UoB Uni Station rebuild 28122021 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/UoB Uni Station rebuild 28122021 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Near the bus stops on New Fosse Way. Work was still going on here during the Christmas - New Year holidays.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/UoB Uni Station rebuild 28122021 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown can also be found on Twitter: ellrbrown