Council and business leaders have welcomed completion of a five year programme to redevelop Birmingham New Street station, where a brand new concourse was opened to passengers on Sunday.

The £750M overhaul has delivered increased capacity to accommodate the 170,000 passengers who travel through the station every day. The new concourse, which is lit naturally through an atrium, is now five times larger than London Euston’s.

Users will also benefit from improved facilities including refurbished platforms, better travel information, smart ticketing gates and the new, easily accessible Grand Central shopping centre.

Birmingham City Council leader Sir Albert Bore said: “In Birmingham New Street and Grand Central we now have a bright, modern 21st Century focal point for the city that will deliver integrated transport with premier retail that the citizens of Birmingham can be proud of.”

He pointed out that the redevelopment provided more than 3000 construction jobs and is already stimulating economic growth and regeneration in the area.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce chief executive Paul Faulkner added: “First impressions are important and the new look station will greatly enhance the experience for business people, commuters, shoppers and tourists who arrive in the city in their thousands every day.”

Network Rail rebuilt the station alongside delivery partner and principal contractor Mace while trains continued to run.

Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne said: “Rebuilding one of the busiest stations in the country without impacting on passengers’ journeys has been a major challenge, but I’m extremely proud to say that Network Rail and our partners on this project have done just that.

“Birmingham New Street sits right at the heart of our rail network and the transformation which has taken place here is nothing short of stunning.”

Photo courtesy of Network Rail