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Elliott Brown Transport
12 Jan 2022 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

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.

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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

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Elliott Brown Transport
12 Jan 2022 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Perry Barr Station in 2012 and 2022

Since May 2021, Perry Barr Station has been closed to passengers for redevelopment ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The last station building was built in the 1960s and was very tired and dull looking after 55 years. Outside roadworks after the Perry Barr Flyover was pulled down in 2021. Should be complete by May 2022. Only time Elliott got a train here was August 2012.

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Perry Barr Station in 2012 and 2022





Since May 2021, Perry Barr Station has been closed to passengers for redevelopment ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The last station building was built in the 1960s and was very tired and dull looking after 55 years. Outside roadworks after the Perry Barr Flyover was pulled down in 2021. Should be complete by May 2022. Only time Elliott got a train here was August 2012.


Perry Barr Station history

The first station was built by the Grand Junction Railway in 1837, and is one of the oldest continually served stations in the world (until the 2021-22 redevelopment).  The GJR became part of the London and North Western Railway (LNWR), later the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS), who all owned the station in turn, before the nationalisation of the railways in 1948 under British Railways in 1948 (later British Rail). The station was rebuilt in 1966 when the line was electrified towards Walsall. After privatisation in the 1990s, the station was run by Central Trains (from 1997), then London Midland (from 2007), and now West Midlands Railway (from 2017).

 

The station is on the Birchfield Road in Perry Barr, near Walsall Road and the One Stop Shopping Centre.

 

The visit of August 2012

The only time I got a return train journey to Perry Barr was in August 2012, for my then first photo walk around Perry Barr. Arriving on London Midland 323220.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

First view of the 1966 station building, with a pair of steps up to the exit.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The train I got off continues towards Walsall.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There used to be a ramp exit on both sides.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

View from the steps towards platform 2.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The old British Rail Station Perry Barr sign was there for a long time.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Plus at the time the Network West Midlands station sign for Perry Barr.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There used to be a subway under the road here which you could use to get to Birmingham City University's City North Campus.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Later after my walk, heading down the steps to platform 1, to catch a train on the Chase Line back to Birmingham New Street.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Waiting for my train.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Time to leave Perry Barr on London Midland 323202.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station (Aug 2012) (11).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

2nd January 2022

Been so busy over the last 6 months, that I've had no time to travel up to Perry Barr. Traffic always seemed busy, if you were going to the cemetery at Witton.

 

On the second day of the new year, I caught an X51 bus to Perry Barr. An express bus service towards Cannock. First wanted to check out the Alexander Stadium / Perry Park, and the stop was near Perry Avenue. Bit hard to see the stadium or proper park access, so walked down Walsall Road past the One Stop to check out the new station building.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 02012022 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The new station building is partially complete / cladded. But at least five more months work to complete it, ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 02012022 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Temporary bus stops on the Birchfield Road.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 02012022 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I went down Wellington Road at one point, so much traffic, and realised that there wasn't a distant bridge view of the station, so crossed over and headed back up to the island.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 02012022 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading up Wellington Road, behind the new station building was the construction site of what was formerly going to be the Athletes Village for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 02012022 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

After crossing at the temporary lights over Birchfield Road (subways and footbridge have gone). Got this view from near Aston Lane.

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 02012022 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading onto the other side of the Birchfield Road, for one last view of Perry Barr Station, before waiting to catch a no 51 bus back to the City Centre. I wonder how they will deal with the crossing of this busy road, no subways, no footbridge!

dndimg alt="Perry Barr Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perry Barr Station 02012022 (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It is a bit of a walk from here to Perry Park, for visitors going to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games from July - August 2022. A lot of roadworks are still unfinished. Hopefully they will finish everything here on time, fingers crossed.

 

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

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Elliott Brown Art; Culture & creativity
06 Jan 2022 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Some more rainbow crossings

It's not just in Birmingham's Southside that you will find rainbow crossings. All around the UK. Such as in Taunton in Somerset. As well as closer to home in Solihull, and in Royal Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. Happy New Year 2022. Not done many posts recently as they don't seem to get published by Jonathan as fast as Daniel's get's up, and nothing much to post.

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Some more rainbow crossings





It's not just in Birmingham's Southside that you will find rainbow crossings. All around the UK. Such as in Taunton in Somerset. As well as closer to home in Solihull, and in Royal Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. Happy New Year 2022. Not done many posts recently as they don't seem to get published by Jonathan as fast as Daniel's get's up, and nothing much to post.


Taunton, Somerset

Near the end of the first South West holiday at the end of August 2021 (Devon and Somerset). On Saturday 28th August 2021 in Taunton, Somerset, heading to the Museum of Somerset, we entered Goodland Gardens (near The Bridge and River Tone). Saw this rainbow path. No cycling is allowed down this path. Stopped for coffee nearby at The Shed.

dndimg alt="Rainbow Crossing Taunton" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Pride Taunton (Aug 2021) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Solihull, West Midlands

On Sunday 19th December 2021, heading to Cineworld at Touchwood in Solihull, to watch Spider-Man: No Way Home. A little early, so took a side path to the rear entrance near Manor Square. Found this rainbow path between Touchwood and the Solihull Council House. I don't think there had been a crossing at this point before.

dndimg alt="Rainbow path Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rainbow crossing Sol CH 19122021.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

It had been a few months since I last got a train, so on Thursday 30th December 2021, I bought off peak return tickets in the Chiltern Railways app, and travelled down to Leamington Spa again, on the Chiltern Mainline, for a bit of walk around the Town Centre, and to have a coffee at Caffe Nero. On The Parade I spotted a rainbow crossing between Jephson Gardens and Pump Room Gardens. It was raining on and off, and took these from Pump Room Gardens later on the walk back to the station.

dndimg alt="Rainbow path Leamington Spa" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rainbow crossing Leamington Spa 30122021 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Rainbow path Leamington Spa" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rainbow crossing Leamington Spa 30122021 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

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

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Elliott Brown Green travel
17 Aug 2021 - Elliott Brown
Inspiration

Children with guides kayaking up the BCN Mainline - 11th August 2021

I was walking past Gas Street Basin, when I saw a couple of kayaks full of children and their guides. They went through the Broad Street Tunnel, then up past Brindleyplace and the Brewmasters House towards Utilita Arena Birmingham. They were probably heading for Icknield Port Loop (according to Civic Square on Twitter). I left at Oozells Street Loop. Click View article for five photos.

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Children with guides kayaking up the BCN Mainline - 11th August 2021





I was walking past Gas Street Basin, when I saw a couple of kayaks full of children and their guides. They went through the Broad Street Tunnel, then up past Brindleyplace and the Brewmasters House towards Utilita Arena Birmingham. They were probably heading for Icknield Port Loop (according to Civic Square on Twitter). I left at Oozells Street Loop. Click View article for five photos.


Kayaking from Gas Street Basin to Icknield Port Loop

Starting this brief canal walk from The Mailbox, on the 11th August 2021, I walked up to the end of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Worcester Bar, Gas Street Basin. On the Birmingham Canal Navigations Mainline side, I saw a couple of kayaks attached together, with a guide and several children in both of them.

The kayaks at the back near Gas Street Basin, heading into the Broad Street Tunnel.

dndimg alt="Canoeing BCN Mainline" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canoes BCN Mline (Aug 2021) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It was now apparent that there was two pairs attached to kayaks. The first one I saw was going through the Broad Street Tunnel, while the second was was metres behind.

dndimg alt="Canoeing BCN Mainline" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canoes BCN Mline (Aug 2021) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A Just Eat delivery man in orange on his bike. The pair of kayaks, children and their guides. It was time to duck as I walked under the tunnel.

dndimg alt="Canoeing BCN Mainline" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canoes BCN Mline (Aug 2021) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

View from the Broad Street Tunnel (where the head room was a bit higher at the Brindleyplace end). Both sets of kayaks were heading under the Brindleyplace and Brewmasters Bridges. With Utilita Arena Birmingham, The Malt House and the Brewmasters House nearby. Oh and the red Water Bus on the left was about to depart.

dndimg alt="Canoeing BCN Mainline" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canoes BCN Mline (Aug 2021) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One last view as they headed under the Brewmasters Bridge, past The ICC Energy Centre. I would leave the Main Line via the Oozells Street Loop, heading to Brindleyplace. I assume that they were heading for the Roundhouse.

dndimg alt="Canoeing BCN Mainline" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canoes BCN Mline (Aug 2021) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

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Elliott Brown Transport
03 Aug 2021 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Emirates taking off from Birmingham on a Boeing 777-300ER

It's nice to see that Emirates have resumed their route from Birmingham Airport to Dubai. Although they are not using the double decker Airbus A380 at the moment. So back to the Boeing 777-300ER they were using before. Emirates had been alternating them over the years anyway. Once saw a Boeing 777 taking off while I was plane spotting at the Sheldon Country Park several years ago.

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Emirates taking off from Birmingham on a Boeing 777-300ER





It's nice to see that Emirates have resumed their route from Birmingham Airport to Dubai. Although they are not using the double decker Airbus A380 at the moment. So back to the Boeing 777-300ER they were using before. Emirates had been alternating them over the years anyway. Once saw a Boeing 777 taking off while I was plane spotting at the Sheldon Country Park several years ago.


15th March 2017

That day I spent about an hour plane spotting from the Sheldon Country Park, mainly to spot the Emirates plane. Turns out that lunchtime it was the Boeing 777-300ER taking off from runway 15. It was a glorious sunny blue sky day at the Birmingham / Solihull border. The Emirates Boeing 777 plane took off around 1:50pm during the day, bound for Dubai. At the time they were using the Airbus A380 plane in the evening instead.

dndimg alt="Emirates Boeing 777" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Emirates 777 BHX (Mar 2017) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Emirates Boeing 777" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Emirates 777 BHX (Mar 2017) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Emirates Boeing 777" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Emirates 777 BHX (Mar 2017) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Emirates Boeing 777" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Emirates 777 BHX (Mar 2017) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Emirates Boeing 777" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Emirates 777 BHX (Mar 2017) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Emirates Boeing 777" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Emirates 777 BHX (Mar 2017) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Emirates Boeing 777" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Emirates 777 BHX (Mar 2017) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Emirates Boeing 777" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Emirates 777 BHX (Mar 2017) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Emirates Boeing 777" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Emirates 777 BHX (Mar 2017) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

6th August 2017

That time I spotted a Emirates Boeing 777 while walking through Boldmere in Sutton Coldfield (on The Big Sleuth trail). I was on the Boldmere High Street. In this case this Emirates plane was coming into land at Birmingham Airport from Dubai shortly before 12pm that day. Shortly after this I saw a Qatar Airways plane coming into land.

dndimg alt="Emirates Boeing 777" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Emirates 777 Boldmere (Aug 2017) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Emirates Boeing 777" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Emirates 777 Boldmere (Aug 2017) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Emirates Boeing 777" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Emirates 777 Boldmere (Aug 2017) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Emirates Boeing 777" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Emirates 777 Boldmere (Aug 2017) (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Emirates Boeing 777" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Emirates 777 Boldmere (Aug 2017) (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

1st August 2021

I travelled by bus (the 11A changing in Acocks Green) to the Oaklands Recreation Ground in South Yardley, for another look at the City Skyline. First I saw a TUI plane taking off from Birmingham Airport, and before I left the park, I saw this Emirates Boeing 777 taking off for Dubai, just before 2:40pm in the afternoon. I think it's the first Emirates plane I've caught on camera since the pandemic began. Would be nice to see the Airbus A380 over the skies of Birmingham again.

dndimg alt="Emirates Boeing 777" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Emirates BHX Oaklands (Aug 2021).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

 

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