Yet Another Cycling Forum

Off Topic => The Pub => Topic started by: Pancho on 26 April, 2013, 05:06:34 pm

Title: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Pancho on 26 April, 2013, 05:06:34 pm

I've not had to travel up North recently so haven't been to Birmingham since Australia played a few years back - so hadn't realised that the ghastly station is in the process of being replaced.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-22311215

Anyone seen it?

I believe I met Basil in the old one once.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 26 April, 2013, 05:33:32 pm

I've been following with a usual level of disinterest, knowing that:

a) They can't change anything railway-related due to grandfathered safety standards.  There's always going to be last-minute changes and the platforms are always going to be cramped and stink of diesel fumes.  We call it Mordor Central for a reason.
b) The standard Birmingham culture of 'improving' things by building yet more identikit Retail Opportunities next to the old ones.
c) The architecture of the new entrance itself looks like a weird hybrid of the Bullring, that giant urinal outside Sheffield station and Peterborough bus station.
d) The plans to upgrade the cycle parking from the current 20 wheelbenders include parking for either 300, 160, 3000 or zero bikes, depending on who you ask.  It's definitely zero in the short term, though, as the parts haven't arrived.
e) Whatever they do, it's still going to be surrounded by Birmingham on all sides.

Consequently, while I accept that refurbishing was undoubtedly necessary, my realistic hopes for improvement are limited to better lighting and slightly higher-throughput lifts than the current efforts.


Birmingham is currently plastered with signs announcing that the old main entrance (from Smallbrook Queensway) is closing on the 28th April, while the new entrance on Stephenson Street opens.  I went for a wander round the site yesterday, to determine the new pedestrian route from Moor Street station.  It appears that there's going to be an as-yet unopened walkway round the back of the Odeon, which is a marginal improvement on a lengthy detour via New Street itself.  I also note that Stephenson Street itself is relatively cramped and overlooked. I'm anticipating that the new entrance will therefore become packed with loitering smokers (and possibly people waiting for buses?), with all the unpleasantness that entails.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 26 April, 2013, 05:36:09 pm

Gosh, Mr. Notresponding.  That was a few years ago.

The new bit doesn't open until next week, so not much to see yet.

I'm not getting too excited.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Jaded on 26 April, 2013, 05:54:30 pm

Last time I was there I followed the signs to my platform along a temporary corridor. When I got there all the signs pointed back the way I had just come.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 26 April, 2013, 06:16:28 pm

That's just a cunning plan we have to keep rif-raf away.  ;-)

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: giropaul on 26 April, 2013, 06:29:06 pm

I'e been there a bit recently, on my way to a bit of work at Five Ways.

Some young people in T-shirts were handing out leaflets. I asked a question - "I don't work for Network Rail, I just give these out"

I suggested that some sort of training programme to help the Network Rail "staff" at the station help the public more during the moves could be useful. "You need to go to customer services if you want to complain". "I don't want to complain, I want to suggest that there are things that could be done to help people find their way around"

"You need to see customer services"

So I went to customer services. "It isn't our job to talk about customer service" !!

"Anyway, our staff aren't there to be helpful, they are only there to despatch trains - they aren't supposed to help people" (I had noticed that much)

"But why do other stations have helpful staff?" - "We have too many trains here, we can't help people , we're too busy".

Will the refurb make a difference - what do you all think?

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Littlesox on 26 April, 2013, 07:29:30 pm

Quote from: Giropaul on 26 April, 2013, 06:29:06 pm

Will the refurb make a difference - what do you all think?

Doubt it. We are talking Brumigham, after all.

Second City ?

My arse.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 26 April, 2013, 07:30:39 pm

Quote from: Littlesox on 26 April, 2013, 07:29:30 pm

Second City ?

As in "factory seconds"

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Jaded on 26 April, 2013, 08:08:42 pm

Quote from: Basil on 26 April, 2013, 06:16:28 pm

That's just a cunning plan we have to keep rif-raf away.  ;-)

It worked.


...until Monday  >:(

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: davelodwig on 26 April, 2013, 08:13:13 pm

I have to use Mordor Central next weekend to get to that London far too early in the morning.

This should be fun.

It's right up there on the crap stations list, but it used to have a canopy roof and not be in a hole in the ground

(http://www.photobydjnorton.com/StationStEntrance.jpg)

(http://www.photobydjnorton.com/P7and8fromW.jpg)

I found these here >> http://www.photobydjnorton.com/NewStreetStation.html

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Regulator on 29 April, 2013, 06:38:26 am

Quote from: Kim on 26 April, 2013, 07:30:39 pm

Quote from: Littlesox on 26 April, 2013, 07:29:30 pm

Second City ?

As in "factory seconds"

Number Two?

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Polar Bear on 29 April, 2013, 07:23:14 am

Having 'experienced' it yesterday I was massively underwhelmed.   The signage is not very effective for the visually impaired, the design can confuse as to where you are, the indirectly-lit frigate grey colour scheme feels claustrophobic even with modest crowds and the really potentially very useful touchcreen info system fed us mis-information resulting in a 1 hour curry diversion in Coventry yesterday evening.

Fortunately, the curry was in fact excellent!  :)

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: davelodwig on 29 April, 2013, 08:18:06 am

Quote from: Regulator on 29 April, 2013, 06:38:26 am

Quote from: Kim on 26 April, 2013, 07:30:39 pm

Quote from: Littlesox on 26 April, 2013, 07:29:30 pm

Second City ?

As in "factory seconds"

Number Two?

While I will admit our railway station is rubbish, well one of them is rubbish anyway the rest of the city is really good and often underestimated.

And I mean that seriously, I wouldn't have stayed here for 16 years if it wasn't, much better than some of the other concrete hell holes claiming to be the second city.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Jaded on 29 April, 2013, 08:28:09 am

I'm there right now. Luckily still in a carriage. Next to the black horse.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 29 April, 2013, 06:35:07 pm

Quote from: Polar Bear on 29 April, 2013, 07:23:14 am

Having 'experienced' it yesterday I was massively underwhelmed.   The signage is not very effective for the visually impaired, the design can confuse as to where you are, the indirectly-lit frigate grey colour scheme feels claustrophobic even with modest crowds and the really potentially very useful touchcreen info system fed us mis-information resulting in a 1 hour curry diversion in Coventry yesterday evening.

Barakta was similarly scathing about it.  Rower40 was quietly optimistic about something called "natural light", which I assume means that of the fires of Mt Doom.  I'll try to get down there later in the week and form my own opinion.

I expect they'll fix the curry-related bugs in the information system in due course, but the rest is probably doomed.


On the other hand:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BI76mGrCEAA2QZ8.jpg) (https://twitter.com/Feltip1982/status/328475355369312256/photo/1)

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Polar Bear on 29 April, 2013, 06:55:08 pm

As Barakta will have no doubt told you a billion times, what an able-bodied person thinks is great for a disabled person and what a disabled person thinks are almost always worlds apart.

I recall reviewing disabled facilities for HMPS at one of their local establishments.   There was a disabled loo.   The 'room' was barely wide enough or long enough for a wheelchair so the door opened outwards.   Trouble is, once inside you could not turn around at all and thus could not close the door, nor could you get out of your chair and onto the loo easily.   If you did manage this then you invariably could not reach paper, flush, sink nor soap.   I finally got it through to the idiot who approved it by asking them to sit in a wheelchaiir and try the place out.

Even though he reluctantly agreed with my observations he said that people in wheelchairs are used to a little difficulty so perhaps they could manage anyway.   :facepalm:

The most galling factor in all of this was a women's loo with excessive numbers of cubicles and a huge open central area right next door to this cubby hole.   The reason this was galling is that it was a male prison.    Yes, there were female staff but they didn't need all those facilities.   They could have danced around their handbags in there.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Jaded on 01 May, 2013, 05:26:36 pm

I ventured upstairs today, whilst I was waiting for a connection. I felt like a mole that went underground in Autumn and has just surfaced in Spring.

Still, the good thing about BNS is that either just after (or as in right now, just before) I see the T junction at the end of the tunnel.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: barakta on 01 May, 2013, 07:39:04 pm

Similarly to Polarbear I found the NewMordor REALLY confusing to navigate, it was all wide open spaces and crowds with $Commercial-Opportunities around the side.  I was most pissed off at the increased distance one has to walk from platforms to bus stops - easily 3-5x my usual walk inside Mordor and enough to make it painful and difficult for me.  My mobility impairment is minor, I can do 2km a day on average but add crowds and visual stress hell to that mix and you probably turn it to 200m max without fucking up my balance. 

I am sure there was a better way I could have gone, but THAT was so unobvious that I think it proves my point.  WHY are the entrances not near a cashpoint (which I needed to get cash for a taxi to the MAC) and WHY are the bus stops MIIIILES (well ok some significant number of hundreds of metres vs 100-150m) from the entrances.  I don't give a flying fuck about trams which won't go where I want if they're meaning the form of transport poor people use isn't accessible.  I saw at least one disgruntled crutches user mobilising the distance from bus stops to newEntrance.

They were giving out maps and there were staff but I couldn't understand any of them cos they were too Brummie.  I'm not good at all with strangers in noisy environments and many of them didn't know more than "go that way" or "over there" so no idea where cashpoints were.

I need to go back at a quieter time and when I'm not running late and stressed and see if it's less vile but I suspect it's going to end up like Man Picc being a visual processing hideousness which is maddening.  Acoustics are probably horrendous as well.  >:( to modern "light" "airy" architecture cos that basically means no sightlines and too much bright light and bling error.


The staff I spoke to and said "This is 4x further to walk, this is a problem" didn't get it.  I'm supposed to not mind.  It may mean I can't use Mordor properly, or have to use a bus to get to Selly Oak THEN go to Mordor but that's probably just as much walking which on some days I can't do. 

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Euan Uzami on 01 May, 2013, 09:24:11 pm

have they took all those mdf/plasterboard walls down yet?

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: barakta on 01 May, 2013, 09:37:26 pm

No, there's more of em in different places.  Most platforms are 50% MDF walls so they're too crowded too :(

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Jaded on 01 May, 2013, 11:01:55 pm

Yes, but there are nice suspended lights that disappear into the aforementioned ceilings...

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: davelodwig on 02 May, 2013, 08:50:32 am

When the upgrades to New Street where first mooted I had hoped this would mean they were going to nuke the retail opportunities from orbit and turn it into a proper station. Like with natural light, and platforms that didn't involve millions of stairs lifts and escalators.

Apparently what network rail have done is cover the same crappy building with a load of cladding and shuffled stuff around a bit.  It's still a hole in a hole.

I'd much rather get a train from Moor Street.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 02 May, 2013, 01:43:10 pm

Indeed.  The only real improvement so far seems to be in the form of new lifts (which don't do that silly subway contention thing) and escalators.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 09 May, 2013, 06:44:37 pm

Okay, I finally made it down there this afternoon for a wander around (at least of the bits outside the ticket barriers - you can no longer bypass them by using the lifts).

Entered via the drop-off area ramp on Hill Street.  This seems like reasonably functional car access for the purpose, with plenty of disabled bays.  There's also a short-stay car park that I didn't explore.  The signs lead you through a plasterboard tunnel and a set of fire doors to the main station foyer.

The Initial impression is that it's clean and grey, indirectly lit in a way that seems both bright and dim simultaneously.  I saw two wireless (they had big aerials hanging out the back) cash machines immediately next to the entrance (barakta had trouble finding one last week).  There's a left luggage, a Network Rail reception desk, a proto-Starbucks and a nice big set of departure screens as per the previous incarnation.  A bit further down is the new ticket area (several desks and an abundance of machines, and another 6 cash machines), then a big confusing central atrium area with paths heading in all four directions (left to the new platform access area, right to the old one), and escalators leading upwards to the Pallasades.  I can see how PB and barakta had trouble here - all you can really see at this point is grey, crowds and the prominent shopfronts of Boots and WHSmith.  A conspicuous lack of signage just where you need it, and plenty of people changing direction and standing around looking confused.

As I didn't have a ticket, I carried on towards the new entrance on Stephenson street.  This leads up a gentle slope, with signs pointing to 'Moor Street and Buses'.  There were a couple more ticket machines this side, but no ATMs.  At the top of the slope, a set of shopping-centre-style doors lead onto Stephenson Street, with the walkway (more in a minute) on the right.  I turned left here, and walked past a long row of closed doors to the new entrance area.  This was light and airy, and contained ...some stairs to the car park.  Exiting onto Stephenson Street, I retraced my path on the outside of the building, through what I correctly anticipated to be a crowd of loitering smokers.  It has a murky 'bus station' feel to it, but no actual bus stops.

Signs pointed to Moor Street station, along the newly opened walkway that passes around the back of the Odeon, parallel to New Street.  The under-cover part of the walkway acts as a wind-tunnel, and I had to push against a viscious headwind on my way through.  In the plasterboardy gloom is the new temporary bike parking: bolt on Sheffield stands.  I parked my bike here briefly in order to visit the shops, and did not find a note declaring it too ugly for the new station's aesthetic on my return, even though it has enormous alloy forks, butterfly bars and a propstand fitted.  The area is currently well overlooked by bored Network Rail contractors, and plenty of people pass through it, so I don't think anyone's likely to unbolt the stands during peak hours.  A quick attack of the bolts with a MIG welder wouldn't have gone amiss, though.

The exposed bit of the walkway has glass panelling on the station side, so people of normal height can now peer down and watch trains passing through the 'A' end of the station.  There's some raised soil on the right, which will presumably have things growing in it eventually.  The walkway emerges right up near the Moor Street underpass thingy, where the bus stops are.  From here the existing signs point the way to Moor Street station and assorted retail opportunities.  After visiting the shops, I approached the walkway from the direction of the old main entrance, and noticed that the large sign pointing to "Birmingham New Street Station" down the walkway is hidden behind a concrete wall until the last minute.  Combined with the "Bimringham New Street" sign on the exterior of the old building, I expect confusion, at least amongst people arriving by bus.  It's another couple of hundred metres to Moor Street station from here; a significant distance if you're visually or mobility impaired.


In summary: Meh.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Polar Bear on 09 May, 2013, 07:00:02 pm

I have discovered that I know somebody who knows the person responsible for the signage.  The thoughtfully unhelpful retort is that the signage is standard.   

This is the sort of totsl bs that lurks within the able-bodied world and such people need their branes extracting through their anuses.   Well jobsworth, have you ever considered that what is 'standard' is in fact totally rubbish and that by consulting the right people you could become leaders in best practice?  No?  Thought not.   Lacking in commitment and imagination as usual.   >:( >:( >:(

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 09 May, 2013, 07:06:54 pm

I'm not qualified to comment on sizes, colours, fonts and the like (they do indeed appear to be standard, and some could certainly benefit from being bigger), but the placement of the signs - or lack thereof - leaves a lot to be desired.

That they've had to employ dozens of people to stand around handing out maps and telling people which way to go says an awful lot, I think.  I expect it would have been much more confusing if I hadn't entered from street level with a good level of familiarity with the fixed infrastructure of the station.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Jaded on 09 May, 2013, 07:50:42 pm

The people I saw with the maps were talking to each other and trying desperately not to make eye contact with the obviously lost.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Polar Bear on 09 May, 2013, 08:04:37 pm

Kim,

That was a very good summary btw - thank you.   :)

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 09 May, 2013, 08:04:53 pm

Quote from: Jaded on 09 May, 2013, 07:50:42 pm

The people I saw with the maps were talking to each other and trying desperately not to make eye contact with the obviously lost.

They probably didn't know where anything was...

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 15 December, 2013, 05:46:46 pm

There have been a spate of overcrowding problems with New Street station recently.  Staff seem to be limiting the number of people they're allowing in...

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/new-street-station-uses-crowd-6384097

https://vine.co/v/h2Er9PZ0EYZ

They're blaming an unanticipated increase in passenger demand due to people visiting the area's extensive retail opportunities in the run-up to Christmas.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: mcshroom on 15 December, 2013, 05:50:56 pm

Is there a different form of mathematics used in Mordor? According to the Station manager, 200k-140k is 75k ???

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 15 December, 2013, 05:54:44 pm

I think it's a form of bistromathics.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Polar Bear on 15 December, 2013, 05:56:39 pm

Remarkable isn't it that all that work, all that money, all that so-called planning and  Mordor Nouveau just isn't big enough!   

Great job there Netwrok Rail!

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 15 December, 2013, 05:58:26 pm

Quote from: Polar Bear on 15 December, 2013, 05:56:39 pm

Remarkable isn't it that all that work, all that money, all that so-called planning and  Mordor Nouveau just isn't big enough!   

To be fair, it's not Mordor Nouveau quite yet.  That's still a few years away.  Until then it seems we're going to have to make do with enormous crowds as everyone tries to enter via the back passage.   :facepalm:

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 15 December, 2013, 07:32:08 pm

After watching the progress of this refurbishment with keen interest for a few years now, I've noted that the grand vision is now slowly beginning to take shape, turning New Street into
 

(click to show/hide)

the same bloody station.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Morrisette on 16 December, 2013, 09:17:10 am

I started reading this thinking it was about Cambridge. Oh yes, we are getting a 'refurbishment' too, if the bunch of shysters sitting on the pots of money contract ever actually start to do anything. They've already said they can't build a multi-storey car park/cycle park because it is 'architecturally impossible'. We always have overcrowding - just recently they have been opening the back gate to let people out, common sense at last, and very funny seeing the miserable bastards on the barriers watching all their 'penalty fares' commission walking out scot free.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: meddyg on 16 December, 2013, 11:14:00 am

I visit Brum but rarely
I think there's some great architecture -Town Hall ,
new library - huge amount of  'footfall' with tourists taking the escalator to the top.

The new Mordor Central I found quite arresting  - well, I didn't have to go in and take a train.
It looks like a bullet train has just crashed into the city centre
(maybe that 's what the architect intended?)

I did then find my way to Digbeth Coach Station (for old times' sake).
What a dump !

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: CAMRAMan on 16 December, 2013, 11:17:34 am

Blimey! That's the coach station AFTER a refurb a while ago. You should've seen it before...

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Canardly on 17 December, 2013, 08:07:11 pm

We met mid building site for the night ride to the roll rights last year and it just seemed big and unfriendly. Has it improved?

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 17 December, 2013, 08:11:54 pm

Quote from: Canardly on 17 December, 2013, 08:07:11 pm

We met mid building site for the night ride to the roll rights last year and it just seemed big and unfriendly. Has it improved?

Depends on whether you consider cramming an addtional 70,000 angry shoppers in there to be an improvement...


(No, the layout hasn't changed significantly since then.  While they've changed some of the boarding-off of platforms as the work continues, the proper entrance remains a work in progress.)

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Jaded on 20 December, 2013, 09:39:33 pm

Theres's two ped entrances now, and a taxi one on the other side. Very confusing.

Trains were still late though.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 23 December, 2013, 03:12:15 pm

I needed to pop into Town today to pick up a couple of last minute items.  I didn't fancy the weather, so took the train in.
The train was almost empty, which surprised me.  But New Street station was completely rammed.  No, not with travellers, but with literally hundreds of "Crowd Control" and "Event Security" type bods who where all milling round desperately trying to find someone to Control or make Secure.
I tried to help out by deliberately to entering the "wrong" door on my way back which gave about eight of them a chance to joyously swoop to control and secure me.  (And to call me "Sir" a lot)
Honestly, there did appear to be more staff than punters.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 23 December, 2013, 03:13:49 pm

Quote from: Basil on 23 December, 2013, 03:12:15 pm

I needed to pop into Town today to pick up a couple of last minute items.  I didn't fancy the weather, so took the train in.
The train was almost empty, which surprised me.  But New Street station was completely rammed.  No, not with travellers, but with literally hundreds of "Crowd Control" and "Event Security" type bods who where all milling round desperately trying to find someone to Control or make Secure.
I tried to help out by deliberately to entering the "wrong" door on my way back which gave about eight of them a chance to joyously swoop to control and secure me.  (And to call me "Sir" a lot)
Honestly, there did appear to be more staff than punters.

Possibly related to an overhead line failure at Walsall and speed restrictions on the WCML.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 23 December, 2013, 03:19:03 pm

Quote from: Kim on 23 December, 2013, 03:13:49 pm

Possibly related to an overhead line failure at Walsall and speed restrictions on the WCML.

The reason for there being very few travellers, or the reason for there being excessive numbers of security staff?

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 23 December, 2013, 03:21:01 pm

Quote from: Basil on 23 December, 2013, 03:19:03 pm

Quote from: Kim on 23 December, 2013, 03:13:49 pm

Possibly related to an overhead line failure at Walsall and speed restrictions on the WCML.

The reason for there being very few travellers, or the reason for there being excessive numbers of security staff?

Few travellers.  Security staff were probably brought in on Friday and haven't found the way out yet.

Barakta will be attempting to get back from Personchester later this evening.  Could be interesting.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 23 December, 2013, 03:38:01 pm

Quote from: Kim on 23 December, 2013, 03:21:01 pm

few travellers, or the reason for there being excessive numbers of security staff?

Barakta will be attempting to get back from Personchester later this evening.  Could be interesting.
[/quote]

Hope that goes OK for her.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 23 December, 2013, 04:08:49 pm

Quote from: Basil on 23 December, 2013, 03:38:01 pm

Quote from: Kim on 23 December, 2013, 03:21:01 pm

Barakta will be attempting to get back from Personchester later this evening.  Could be interesting.

Hope that goes OK for her.

I've suggested that under no circumstances should she do anything that involves changing at Crewe, so hopefully it'll be okay.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: barakta on 23 December, 2013, 08:44:26 pm

I did change at Crewe and got lucky with a seat for part 1 and a virtually empty London Midland train for part 2.

Security nobbers at Mordor were BLOCKING the damned exit doors so I had to squeeze round one to get out.  They also have the in/out routes the wrong way round damnit, the out-route is the one with ticket machines and nearer access to departures/arrivals screens which most ppl don't need on the way out.  Also the route from bus stops is now several hundred meters excessively longer than it was before which annoyed me on access principles but I was too tired to pick a fight with people who won't be allowed to apply common sense and switch them round.

Stupid heap of crap station which doesn't work well with pinch points and how people move around ;-/

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 31 March, 2014, 10:53:05 pm

They appear to be having a survey, if anyone feels like snarking about signage, cycle parking, or whatever...

http://www.demographix.com/surveys/3G4N-QFBR/N5KCD2ZS/

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 31 March, 2014, 11:26:18 pm

Done.
Main points.  Secure cycle parking. Obv.

Less generic announcemens filling the space between genuine information.  (The constant barrage of noise causes me to zone out and miss real useful info.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 31 March, 2014, 11:34:04 pm

Quote from: Basil on 31 March, 2014, 11:26:18 pm

Less generic announcemens filling the space between genuine information.  (The constant barrage of noise causes me to zone out and miss real useful info.

"This is a special announcement.  Don't leave your stuff lying around, it may vanish."  "Ladies and gentlemen, the buffet car is still open, and still serving the usual assortment of overpriced cardboard in a range of fucking flavours, and a substance almost but not quite entirely unlike tea."  "Your attention please.  The pope is still catholic."  "Customers are reminded that smoking is not permitted anywhere on this station.  Stabbing isn't permitted either.  Acts of terrorism will make us very cross.  Stealing unattended items is however encouraged, as it saves work for the security services."  "The train now arriving on platform 7 isn't.  It's on platform *mumble* you fuckers."  "Please take care when boarding the train."

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 01 April, 2014, 12:02:29 am

"And you know that stuff that's yours?  Well it's still yours, so you can take it with you when you get off."

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 April, 2014, 11:41:19 am

Quote from: Kim on 31 March, 2014, 11:34:04 pm

Quote from: Basil on 31 March, 2014, 11:26:18 pm

Less generic announcemens filling the space between genuine information.  (The constant barrage of noise causes me to zone out and miss real useful info.

"This is a special announcement.  Don't leave your stuff lying around, it may vanish."  "Ladies and gentlemen, the buffet car is still open, and still serving the usual assortment of overpriced cardboard in a range of fucking flavours, and a substance almost but not quite entirely unlike tea."  "Your attention please.  The pope is still catholic."  "Customers are reminded that smoking is not permitted anywhere on this station.  Stabbing isn't permitted either.  Acts of terrorism will make us very cross.  Stealing unattended items is however encouraged, as it saves work for the security services."  "The train now arriving on platform 7 isn't.  It's on platform *mumble* you fuckers."  "Please take care when boarding the train."

Bisexual cardboard!? :D

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 01 April, 2014, 12:13:10 pm

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 01 April, 2014, 11:41:19 am

Bisexual cardboard!? :D

(http://www.bisexualindex.org.uk/uploads/Main/idcard.jpg)

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 April, 2014, 02:23:23 pm

Index?!!! A bit Big Brother... But anyways, it was "a range of fucking flavours", so clearly should be polysexual not just bi. Is there an index for that too?

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 01 April, 2014, 06:09:57 pm

It was a misquote of Trainspotting, anyway.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 01 April, 2014, 06:32:34 pm

Didn't recognise it. Even though it's a film that overall sticks in the memory.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 19 July, 2014, 04:47:43 pm

The molishers have been molishing...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTyz6uX4Y1w

http://youtu.be/CTyz6uX4Y1w

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 20 November, 2014, 04:54:59 pm

Looks like another Christmas of special crowd-control measures at Mordor Central:

http://birminghamupdates.com/post/103127886663/network-rail-is-urging-passengers-to-leave-more


Combined with the engineering work at Watford Junction, it's probably best to give the WCML a miss entirely...

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/71618.aspx

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 20 November, 2014, 05:41:16 pm

Hmm, I do need to pop into town on Saturday.  Perhaps I'd better consider using some other form of transport.
Let me think..........

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: hellymedic on 20 November, 2014, 07:11:23 pm

Virgin Trains have just given barakta a really useless reply to a query she Tweeted.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Mr Larrington on 20 November, 2014, 08:17:25 pm

Quote from: Basil on 20 November, 2014, 05:41:16 pm

Hmm, I do need to pop into town on Saturday.  Perhaps I'd better consider using some other form of transport.
Let me think..........

One doesn't simply walk in there.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 27 February, 2015, 02:15:52 pm

The awesome Mordor Central bike parking facility has been on the news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VCHFXj7GII
http://youtu.be/1VCHFXj7GII

The plastic policeman visible at 0:50 has had the top of his head peeled off.

Note for Londoners, Yorkists and other bemused forriners: Yes, that's all of it.  28 23 Sheffield stands.  Seriously.

Note for Brummies: Stop using Poundshop cable locks round the toptube to secure your bike.  Seriously.

Note for those thinking of leaving a bike at New Street station:  On Your Bike are just down the road and sell Bromptons.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: nicknack on 27 February, 2015, 03:41:28 pm

They've got CCTV so they can say, "Ooh, look. Someone's stealing a bike. That's interesting".

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 16 April, 2015, 04:31:20 pm

If something's worth doing, it's even better with screens on... http://birminghamupdates.com/post/116475928813/new-street-station-set-to-get-media-eyes   ::-)

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 16 April, 2015, 09:46:34 pm

 :facepalm:
The eye of Sauron.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: rafletcher on 17 April, 2015, 11:01:54 am

I happened to be in Birmingham last week, in the area close by Mordor Central. Good God is there any part of the centre that isn't being dug up!  In addition to the general chaos around New Street (nice and shiny isn't it?) I understand the tram system is being extended (who knew there was a tram system), and sundry underground pipes are being replaced  ::-).  At least I only have to get to/from Moor Street (now there's a curiosity) for my appointments.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 17 April, 2015, 12:10:59 pm

It's worse than that, they're digging up Paradise Circus (the clue's only partially in the name), too.

The tram system isn't that bad, but it goes to Wolverhampton via West Bromwich.  Or, to put it another way, it goes to Birmingham via West Bromwich.  It's currently being extended from Snow Hill (the station nobody can find) to Mordor Central, with hilarious consequences.  Plans are to continue the line out to through Digbeth (useful for the bus station) to Curzon Street for HS2.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 17 April, 2015, 01:09:08 pm

I've found Snow Hill! Rather a nice station, IIRC. Can't remember where I was going from there though.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 17 April, 2015, 01:22:23 pm

I think I've used Snow Hill exactly once.  Most of the useful trains that go from there also go through Moor Street.

IIRC they've done a half decent job of cycle parking there.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Dibdib on 17 April, 2015, 05:51:35 pm

I used to commute into/out of Snow Hill, and always found it infinitely preferable to Mordor Central. Haven't been there for years, mind.

Don't think I've ever got the tram, though. I try to avoid Wolverhampton whenever possible.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 17 April, 2015, 06:37:34 pm

There are an abundance of perfectly good trains to Wolverhampton from Mordor Central.  So the tram's mostly about West Bromwich.  There is a pretty decent shared-use path for some of its length, but not the useful end.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 April, 2015, 03:29:17 pm

The only station I've ever experienced that comes close to New Street in horridness is Warsaw Central. Both are subterranean, but Warsaw's navigation is easier.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Canardly on 18 April, 2015, 03:59:21 pm

Would have been far better if they had opened the thing right up and put a glass dome over it.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 18 April, 2015, 04:28:01 pm

Quote from: Canardly on 18 April, 2015, 03:59:21 pm

Would have been far better if they had opened the thing right up and put a glass dome over it.

That's sort of the plan, but only for the retail opportunity level.  The actual trainy bits remain as subterranean as ever (if marginally better lit).

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: hellymedic on 28 April, 2015, 03:37:36 pm

Escalator FAIL!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-32493056 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-32493056)

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 01 May, 2015, 02:31:23 pm

Possibly as a result of escalator fail...

Quote from: @NetworkRailBHM

Navigation Street Bridge, will temporarily open UFN, Sunday 03rd May to help with crowding @VirginTrains @LondonMidland @crosscountryuk

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailBHM/status/594032479939534849

(That's the old back entrance.)

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 31 May, 2015, 11:02:46 pm

I haven't watched this yet, but Mordor Central features in this week's episode of The Wrecking Crew:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b05xj1vh/demolition-the-wrecking-crew-episode-3


ETA: And now I've watched it, I can say that the Mordor Central bits are at ~18:30, ~34:30 and ~56:00.  If you just want to see the atrium rather than robotic concrete-gnashers, skip to 56:00.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Vince on 05 June, 2015, 11:12:47 am

It reminded me of the farming pod in Silent Running.

A 1970 look at the future seems appropriate for New Street.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 16 June, 2015, 11:50:29 pm

I can confirm the installation of ~60 Sheffield stands in the murky gloom of the drop-off area.  They're awaiting some concrete to anchor them in place, so aren't ready for use, but it's an improvement.

I can also confirm general chaos inside the station, as the molishers begin to open up the new areas and the escalators halt and catch fire.  They're brought in extra people in orange hi-vis to tell confused passengers where to go, but they don't actually know anything beyond "Platfrom n?  That way.".

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: davelodwig on 17 June, 2015, 08:31:14 am

Actually now I pass through the station on a weekly basis with my bike and possessions for a week I've noticed that the folks in orange do actually do something useful. They make able bodied gits walk to the other side of platform 9* so I can get the bike in the lift otherwise it's a scrum where I never manage to get down to the platform because captain my lifes more important that you is trying to push past a man with two panniers and a bike who is trying to squeeze onto a lift.

Mind you last week an old dear with a walking frame barged me out of the way (actually like physically pushed into me), and said I had to let her on first because she was disabled, I'd only been queuing for 10 minutes mind you so not that long really.

* platform 9 has no escalator at the moment, so you can either go down to 8 then use the navigation street footbridge or use the stairs at the other end of the platform, most people opt for bugger that i'm getting the lift despite being told.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 18 August, 2015, 02:23:48 pm

Mordor update:

I went through there a couple of times this weekend, and note the molishments of this fully armed and operational railway station are continuing apace.

The Eye Of Sauron by the Hill Street entrance was running test patterns, and I noticed the blue screen of no video signal had an uneasy brain-melting intensity to it.  Not so much that it was insanely bright (it was), but that it was unnaturally monochromatic.  Felt like staring at a UV light, without the inability to focus.  No good can come of it, I say.

In other news, I noticed they'd installed a video screen running a short animation warning people not to get injured on the escalators at the top of some of the escalators.  That should fix it.

And flipping the back wheel of my Brompton under in order to better fit in a semi-crowded lift instigated a discussion of James May amongst my fellow lift-mates, who were presumably Clarkson fans.  I was asked what it turned into.   ???

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: davelodwig on 18 August, 2015, 03:04:18 pm

I noticed on Monday morning that all the walkways had shrunk in the area past the (still) non operational ticket barriers, this is owing to the fact you could now see sunlight through the glass roofed bit in the atrium, which I will admit is nice.

It's still carnage on the platforms with idiots and big cases standing in the door ways so you can't get off the trains, and until they remove the plastic wrap and hoardings it'll continue for a bit. mind you the dirty fat wheel of my tourer emerging tends to get them to move pretty sharpish.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Guy on 18 August, 2015, 03:15:31 pm

Quote from: davelodwig on 18 August, 2015, 03:04:18 pm

...you could now see sunlight through the glass roofed bit in the atrium...

Every day is skool day. I didn't kno you could get sunlight in Brum

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 18 August, 2015, 07:06:12 pm

Quote from: davelodwig on 18 August, 2015, 03:04:18 pm

It's still carnage on the platforms with idiots and big cases standing in the door ways so you can't get off the trains, and until they remove the plastic wrap and hoardings it'll continue for a bit.

I don't think that's likely to improve the platforms substantially.  They're just not big enough for the throughput of the station (and it's only going to get worse in future, unless perhaps HS2 eases the load).  I'm hoping that the new lifts will make things much better for those who need them, but the bottlenecks where people alighting are in conflict with those queuing to board will remain.

Quote from: Guy on 18 August, 2015, 03:15:31 pm

I didn't kno you could get sunlight in Brum

It's a funny orange colour.  And isn't in any danger of reaching platform level at Mordor Central.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Bledlow on 18 August, 2015, 08:49:06 pm

Mrs B & I alighted at Mordor Central on Saturday. It's changed a lot since I was last there, but the platforms are still deeply buried, & I don't see any way to change that short of nuking from orbit & starting again.

Ah well. At least there's a decent art gallery a short walk away. Too many pre-Raphaelites, but you can't have everything.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: nikki on 26 August, 2015, 10:24:07 pm

Oh FFS! Not only will it be covered in advertising, but the Eyes of Sauron will be giving us boys adverts and girls adverts.

https://www.facebook.com/midlandstoday/videos/10153545626399761/

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 26 August, 2015, 10:31:37 pm

I've seen a video of that technology being used in Russia to change adverts when police approached the screen. It was advertising something illegal (nothing terribly dodgy, but something illegal to advertise in Russia, can't remember what) and had been programmed to recognise police insignia. In essence it's no different and probably a lot less sophisticated than the advertising in your browser. Still, I hate all those huge LED screens whatever they're advertising, they're way too bright. As I think I've said before, they make me come over all "Doc Sarvis". Fortunately they're still rare here (oodles of them in Poland though).

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: nikki on 26 August, 2015, 10:40:20 pm

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 26 August, 2015, 10:31:37 pm

I've seen a video of that technology being used in Russia to change adverts when police approached the screen. It was advertising something illegal (nothing terribly dodgy, but something illegal to advertise in Russia, can't remember what

Yeah, I saw that: I think it was tasty Spanish food that it was advertising to everyone else!

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 26 August, 2015, 11:25:23 pm

Quote from: nikki on 26 August, 2015, 10:24:07 pm

Oh FFS! Not only will it be covered in advertising, but the Eyes of Sauron will be giving us boys adverts and girls adverts.

We need to subvert it with a [insert collective noun] of cardboard policemen.  Or policewomen.  Actually, have you ever seen a cardboard policewoman?  I wonder if the recruitment process is discriminatory...

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 26 August, 2015, 11:38:35 pm

Nah, what you need is a group containing equal numbers of policemen, policewomen, male and female burglars. The burglars in stripy masks with swag bags, obvs. That'll fuck with its algorithms!



Or of course it might just mean it plays four different adverts, one after the other.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 18 September, 2015, 02:51:48 pm

http://www.theguardian.com/business/gallery/2015/sep/18/birmingham-new-street-station-in-pictures

I think the exterior has had a polish, for that spaceship from Flight Of The Navigator look.

Observant readers will notice that they've mis-spelt 'Mordor'.

Seriously, the atrium doesn't actually look that bad.  We'll see if it actually leads to a more usable station next week...

Also, it looks like the road chaos on Hill Street (which has been a complete arse, even if you're not following the NCN route) may finally be over: http://www.pushbikes.org.uk/content/ncn5-be-reinstated-hill-street

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Bledlow on 18 September, 2015, 03:56:46 pm

I was there a few weeks ago. Scaffolding, bits fenced off including a big chunk of the road outside . . . .

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 18 September, 2015, 04:47:05 pm

Quote from: Bledlow on 18 September, 2015, 03:56:46 pm

I was there a few weeks ago. Scaffolding, bits fenced off including a big chunk of the road outside . . . .

Yes.  It's been that way for about 5 years now, so is hardly news (see much of this thread).  Exactly what's fenced off changes between visits, like something from Greek mythology.

The news is that it's supposed to be finished and the fencing-off removed on Sunday, with the Exciting! New! Retail opportunities! opening on the 24th.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 September, 2015, 05:11:06 pm

Quote from: Kim on 18 September, 2015, 02:51:48 pm

http://www.theguardian.com/business/gallery/2015/sep/18/birmingham-new-street-station-in-pictures

I think the exterior has had a polish, for that spaceship from Flight Of The Navigator look.

Observant readers will notice that they've mis-spelt 'Mordor'.

Seriously, the atrium doesn't actually look that bad.  We'll see if it actually leads to a more usable station next week...

Also, it looks like the road chaos on Hill Street (which has been a complete arse, even if you're not following the NCN route) may finally be over: http://www.pushbikes.org.uk/content/ncn5-be-reinstated-hill-street

Grand Central? ?!?!?! I suppose that's the name for the retail opportunity, vaguely railway-related although nothing to do with New St. Or perhaps it's meant to relate to the canal (is there a Grand Central Canal in Brum?). Anyways, it's interesting to see the "original" photo cos it looks like... a railway station.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 18 September, 2015, 05:15:20 pm

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 18 September, 2015, 05:11:06 pm

Grand Central? ?!?!?! I suppose that's the name for the retail opportunity, vaguely railway-related although nothing to do with New St.

Indeed.  http://www.grandcentralbirmingham.com/

I assume it's a homage to the scally-infested retail area adjacent to the station in Stockport.  Or something.

Quote

Anyways, it's interesting to see the "original" photo cos it looks like... a railway station.

Like much of Birmingham, it all went wrong in the 60s.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 September, 2015, 05:25:47 pm

First law of retops: try to associate your premises with something more pleasant and somehow more aspirational than mere shopping. An airtight box of air-conditioned aridity dominated by grey concrete and fibreboard? Bluewater. A modest shed in an out-of-the-way location? Grand Central. Etc.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 18 September, 2015, 05:28:43 pm

Ah, so it's trying to associate it with Not Birmingham.  That makes sense.  :)

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 18 September, 2015, 05:40:08 pm

The whole of Birmingham is trying to associate itself with Not Birmingham. West Midlands, innit? Even the sportsball clubs: Aston Villa (posh cars and fancy houses), West Bromwich (dangerously near Brum) Albion (ah, sounds Scottish), Wolverhampton (oh no not Birmingham) Wanderers (even if we were in the West Midlands we wouldn't stay there), etc etc. We'll ignore Birmingham City because that's what everyone does.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 18 September, 2015, 06:03:43 pm

I was there this morning.  A lot of the inside has suddenly opened up. (Not the atrium bit though).  It's much nicer than the previous scuttling about in chip board alley ways.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 20 September, 2015, 06:24:21 pm

Okay, I went and had a look...


The exterior's looking pretty good, at least while it's clean:
(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/bhm/2015_09_20_15_40_01.sized.jpg)

The main atrium is bright and airy as intended:
(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/bhm/2015_09_20_15_44_02.sized.jpg)

Other areas appear murky in comparison, though the large amount of space should ease overcrowding...
(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/bhm/2015_09_20_15_46_32.sized.jpg)

(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/bhm/2015_09_20_15_48_30.sized.jpg)

Dedicated taxi rank exit (currently a building site for the unfinished retail opportunities), with homeless-repellent seating and en-suite "dog spend":
(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/bhm/2015_09_20_16_08_50.sized.jpg)

Navigation Street still looks like Birmingham.  Whoever's in charge of covering things in foil has missed a bit:
(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/bhm/2015_09_20_15_59_22.sized.jpg)

The drop-and-go area complements the platform level gloom, low ceiling and diesel exhaust aesthetic.  Cycle parking has been upgraded from the original 6 wheel-benders to non-standards-complaint^[1] Sheffield stands, with active wheel-bending provided by motorists manoeuvring in the drop-off area (the temporary cycle parking in the Moor Street walkway is due to be removed at the end of the week):
(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/bhm/2015_09_20_16_02_29.sized.jpg)

More here (http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=bhm).

TBH, I reckon they've done a decent job at least on crowd flow and level access.  I'm a bit underwhelmed by the lighting.  Plenty of options for getting in and out of the station, and accessing platforms, mean that it'll be quick and efficient for locals familiar with where they're going, and extremely confusing for everyone else.  Signage isn't bad - previously discussed font issues aside.  And they've done a decent job of having plenty of random ticket machines.  Cycle parking is shite.  Retail opportunities are prolific.  I didn't have a ticket, so couldn't examine the new rail-side facilities, notably the all-important 'A' end lifts.

Basically, I like the roof.  It's a shame there aren't trains under it.


_{[1] I suspect that National Rail are standardising on the Brompton.  These are bolt-on stands buried in concrete, so they're lower than they're supposed to be.  I measured 550mm to the wall.}

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Canardly on 20 September, 2015, 08:35:14 pm

I suspect the platforms level is as unfriendly as always.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 20 September, 2015, 08:40:53 pm

Quote from: Canardly on 20 September, 2015, 08:35:14 pm

I suspect the platforms level is as unfriendly as always.

Slightly better lighting, improved electronic signage, and otherwise much the same.

The platform works aren't due to be completed for a while yet, so some of them are still partly boarded off.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 20 September, 2015, 09:19:04 pm

Not really much you can do to improve a platform.  Lighting, air con and signage, yes for sure.  Chaise lounges instead of benches?  Probably not.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Steph on 21 September, 2015, 02:25:04 am

I've been through Mordor a few times recently, the last on September 1st. Lifts are few and far between and regularly broken down. They are also mind-numbingly slow and far too small. Platforms are dark, dreary and difficult to access with luggage or a bike. Information boards are mostly upstairs, so checking for other platforms is a nightmare.


But they've got retail space aplenty for the real business of a station.

By chance, at a meeting in Sheffield, I shared a station lift with the head contractor for the redevelopment of both Mordor and Reading, and I made the point about the tiny, slow, irritating excuses for lifts.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 September, 2015, 10:26:50 am

Seen the old one described as "a triumph of concrete bewilderment".  :D

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 21 September, 2015, 01:08:20 pm

Quote from: Steph on 21 September, 2015, 02:25:04 am

I've been through Mordor a few times recently, the last on September 1st. Lifts are few and far between and regularly broken down. They are also mind-numbingly slow and far too small.

Those are the new^[1], 'B' end lifts, the addition of which has been one of the real improvements made by the redevelopment.  The main lifts at the 'A' end have been out of bounds since the refurbishment started, and have been reconfigured to go directly to concourse level.  Which is why I'm eager to find out if they're a sensible size or not (the old ones were a decent size, but mostly took you down to an underpass from where you'd have to use one of two heavily-contended lifts to reach ground level, which could mean a 20 minute wait if there were a lot of prams ahead of you).

I think the official line on lift reliability is that at least they're better than the escalators...  :facepalm:



_{[1] For "a few years old now" values of new.  Obviously the 'A' end lifts are now even newer, but are replacing ones that already existed in the concrete bewilderment days.}

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 21 September, 2015, 01:19:34 pm

Quote from: Kim on 20 September, 2015, 06:24:21 pm

Dedicated taxi rank exit (currently a building site for the unfinished retail opportunities), with homeless-repellent seating and en-suite "dog spend":
(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/bhm/2015_09_20_16_08_50.sized.jpg)

I think that is anti-skateboarder rather than anti-homeless. I could curl up on that quite easily, but couldn't grind my trucks along the edge.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 21 September, 2015, 01:27:16 pm

Quote from: mrcharly on 21 September, 2015, 01:19:34 pm

I think that is anti-skateboarder rather than anti-homeless. I could curl up on that quite easily, but couldn't grind my trucks along the edge.

Ah, that makes sense.  I didn't think they were particularly well-engineered.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 September, 2015, 04:21:21 pm

Is a "dog spend" the drain with the grille over it?

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 21 September, 2015, 04:24:13 pm

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 21 September, 2015, 04:21:21 pm

Is a "dog spend" the drain with the grille over it?

No, they get a dedicated facility:

(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/bhm/2015_09_20_16_09_44.sized.jpg)

...which I assume, like the cycle parking, isn't quite finished yet:

(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/bhm/2015_09_20_16_09_50.sized.jpg)


Some dogs don't like being emptied on concrete.  I don't think painting it green will fool them.

It's still up-market compared to the dog-emptying facilities at an institution not a great distance from where I am now, which consist of a fenced off bit of car park, unfortunately at a higher elevation and without any special drainage...   :sick:

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 21 September, 2015, 04:29:33 pm

Ah, so it's an actual thing. I thought it was just a euphemism referring to the function the drain will no doubt end up serving.

Dedicated of you to photograph it.  :hand:

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 21 September, 2015, 04:36:46 pm

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 21 September, 2015, 04:29:33 pm

Dedicated of you to photograph it.  :hand:

I was looking round with a mind to accessibility so it seemed worth making a note of, if only so I could tell barakta (who often has visiting blind people arriving via Mordor Central) it was there.  Not to mention the "WTF is a 'dog spend'?" factor.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Si on 23 September, 2015, 09:38:11 am

I had a look on Monday.  Just struck me as being like every other faceless new shopping mall that I've studiously avoided.

I did notice that they'd put purple paint on the walls of the escalators, but the platform levels are still not looking like the architects' models yet.

Also slightly mystified by the "Access platform X via the red lounge" signs....didn't find any lounges of any colour.

And the big silver wall outside the bull ring end.....looks nice but needs some guttering as the water was flowing off it in the rain.

Having said that, it's better than it was....but then you'd need a seriously good architect to make it worse.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 23 September, 2015, 02:35:00 pm

Quote from: Si on 23 September, 2015, 09:38:11 am

Also slightly mystified by the "Access platform X via the red lounge" signs....didn't find any lounges of any colour.

It appears to be a rather optimistic euphemism for "rail-side human enclosure".

I think the colour-coding goes as far as the names on the signs, rather than an actual distinct colourscheme that might help people without a sense of direction orient themselves (something the station desperately needs).

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 24 September, 2016, 02:53:36 pm

One year ago today.  They appear to have suspended the No Cycling rule so that people in 1950s retail-opportunity-themed morph suits can celebrate the event.  Or something.

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailBHM/status/779674620509249536/video/1

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: mllePB on 26 September, 2016, 09:49:22 pm

Quote from: Kim on 24 September, 2016, 02:53:36 pm

One year ago today.  They appear to have suspended the No Cycling rule so that people in 1950s retail-opportunity-themed morph suits can celebrate the event.  Or something.

https://twitter.com/NetworkRailBHM/status/779674620509249536/video/1

Railway byelaw must be just like bridleways - no cycling rule doesn't apply to unicycles.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 16 October, 2016, 04:37:09 pm

Mordor Central have a confusing habit of reversing escalators at weekends to "maintain functionality".  Barakta has been grilling them on Twitter about it, because it's an access issue.

Meanwhile, I've been googling and have just realised that the reasoning is actually pretty obvious: An escalator is basically a load of steps on a chain, wrapped around a couple of sprockets.  As cyclists, we all know how a chain drive wears if run in the same direction the whole time.  (There are also more subtle issues, like people standing on the right disproportionately wearing axles on one side)  So to keep the escalators capable of reversing - a reasonable thing to want for emergency evacuations or unusually busy times - they have to reverse them regularly, which also extends the service life.

http://www.elevatorworld.com/magazine/stepband/ is a rather good article I found on the subject.

Which is quite disappointing, because I was imagining all the steps accumulating at one end and needing to be re-wound for the following week.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 16 October, 2016, 08:12:40 pm

I wonder if the same applies to lifts? I'm imagining a paternoster reversing just as you're about to step off...

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 29 October, 2016, 12:49:01 pm

What is it with architects forgetting about the sun?

They're going to deliberately dull the foil coating so it doesn't blind taxi drivers!

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/new-street-stations-shiny-panels-12090538

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: barakta on 29 October, 2016, 12:54:59 pm

I hate the mirrored nonsense and the eyes of Sauron cos it's all MOVING and trying to walk while everything is moving without falling over is substantially hard work but they don't care about real people cos it looks funky and cool. Tossweasels!

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 26 February, 2020, 04:49:55 pm

Resurrecting this thread because it shouldn't go unnoticed that That Nice Mr Paulley has got 'Mordor' into Hansard (https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2020-02-25/debates/D7DD1910-C776-43D1-9738-B67844BBE003/BirminghamCommonwealthGamesBill(HL)?highlight=mordor&fbclid=IwAR2HPL3KJp5Te6PqrHWRmEgeFG2IKpIooDYibRkHFViDFJbdZyWPkyWrMA8#contribution-60CC7182-8044-44C8-9B43-4E0971086DE0), via the now legendary Tanni Grey-Thompson.   :thumbsup:

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: barakta on 26 February, 2020, 08:14:02 pm

Reminds me I have complained (again) about all the flickering broken LED lights and not received a reply. Also that there's zillions of screens inside at eye level with moving shite on them which DOES NOT HELP!

One more warning and then I defenestrate.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Butterfly on 26 February, 2020, 08:54:12 pm

Quote from: Kim on 26 February, 2020, 04:49:55 pm

Resurrecting this thread because it shouldn't go unnoticed that That Nice Mr Paulley has got 'Mordor' into Hansard (https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2020-02-25/debates/D7DD1910-C776-43D1-9738-B67844BBE003/BirminghamCommonwealthGamesBill(HL)?highlight=mordor&fbclid=IwAR2HPL3KJp5Te6PqrHWRmEgeFG2IKpIooDYibRkHFViDFJbdZyWPkyWrMA8#contribution-60CC7182-8044-44C8-9B43-4E0971086DE0), via the now legendary Tanni Grey-Thompson.   :thumbsup:

Oh Bravo!

I hope the points she has made are properly listened to.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 27 February, 2020, 08:58:40 am

Quote from: Butterfly on 26 February, 2020, 08:54:12 pm

Quote from: Kim on 26 February, 2020, 04:49:55 pm

Resurrecting this thread because it shouldn't go unnoticed that That Nice Mr Paulley has got 'Mordor' into Hansard (https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2020-02-25/debates/D7DD1910-C776-43D1-9738-B67844BBE003/BirminghamCommonwealthGamesBill(HL)?highlight=mordor&fbclid=IwAR2HPL3KJp5Te6PqrHWRmEgeFG2IKpIooDYibRkHFViDFJbdZyWPkyWrMA8#contribution-60CC7182-8044-44C8-9B43-4E0971086DE0), via the now legendary Tanni Grey-Thompson.   :thumbsup:

Oh Bravo!

I hope the points she has made are properly listened to.

The Campaign for Level Boarding has been mentioned, in ambition though not by that name, in

(click to show/hide)

rail magazines you can flick through in the stupormarket. Including the long-term necessity of totally rebuilding stations such as Bristol Temple Meads where the platforms are on a curve.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 27 February, 2020, 01:01:31 pm

Quote from: Kim on 26 February, 2020, 04:49:55 pm

Resurrecting this thread because it shouldn't go unnoticed that That Nice Mr Paulley has got 'Mordor' into Hansard (https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2020-02-25/debates/D7DD1910-C776-43D1-9738-B67844BBE003/BirminghamCommonwealthGamesBill(HL)?highlight=mordor&fbclid=IwAR2HPL3KJp5Te6PqrHWRmEgeFG2IKpIooDYibRkHFViDFJbdZyWPkyWrMA8#contribution-60CC7182-8044-44C8-9B43-4E0971086DE0), via the now legendary Tanni Grey-Thompson.   :thumbsup:

She is brilliant. If I met her, I think I'd become tongue-tied in awe.

Quote

When I competed back in 2004, I tried to explain to somebody why I did not want my racing chair to be thrown on to a separate bus. I said that I would rather my two year-old child was sent on a separate bus, but then I realised that I sounded like a slightly harsh mother.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: barakta on 09 June, 2020, 07:57:29 am

Lady GT has improved in recent years... Twitter I think has done her good.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 09 June, 2020, 12:55:05 pm

Well, it's hard not to be impressed by her work with the World Bollard Association.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 09 June, 2020, 01:06:47 pm

Quote from: barakta on 09 June, 2020, 07:57:29 am

Lady Baroness GT has improved in recent years... Twitter I think has done her good.

FTFY

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Regulator on 10 June, 2020, 09:29:57 am

Quote from: Basil on 09 June, 2020, 01:06:47 pm

Quote from: barakta on 09 June, 2020, 07:57:29 am

Lady Baroness GT has improved in recent years... Twitter I think has done her good.

FTFY

Barakta is correct.  Although TG-T is a Baroness, her form of address is Lady Grey-Thompson.  She would only be called Baroness Grey-Thompson in the address on an envelope (when it would actually be 'The Baroness Grey-Thompson').

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 10 June, 2020, 11:26:13 am

Oh. O.k.  Sorry B.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: barakta on 17 June, 2020, 08:27:17 pm

NP. I only know cos her Twitter profile specifies her correct title and that she's no longer a Dame...

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: robgul on 17 June, 2020, 09:18:34 pm

Quote from: barakta on 17 June, 2020, 08:27:17 pm

NP. I only know cos her Twitter profile specifies her correct title and that she's no longer a Dame...

.... you mean   (There Is) Nothing Like A Dame  ?




IGMC

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 26 August, 2021, 11:05:47 am

#1 son informs me that because filming Mission Impossible n in Birmingham, Mordor Central is done up to look like an airport this morning.
How difficult is it to disguise a bland soulless place as a bland soulless place?

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Canardly on 26 August, 2021, 12:00:47 pm

A shopping mall with trains attached. The most unfriendly place I can think off in terms of finding your way about as a stranger.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: mllePB on 27 August, 2021, 01:57:19 pm

Station staff will be pleased to know that the steam train crash also done for the same film wasn't departing from their station.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: rogerzilla on 27 August, 2021, 01:59:22 pm

Tom Cruise's BMW X7 wankpanzer was stolen while he was there.

/chokes back tears of national pride

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 27 August, 2021, 02:53:00 pm

Quote from: rogerzilla on 27 August, 2021, 01:59:22 pm

Tom Cruise's BMW X7 wankpanzer was stolen while he was there.

/chokes back tears of national pride

 ;D ;D ;D  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: CAMRAMan on 27 August, 2021, 03:57:31 pm

Another set up to keep shortarse in the headlines? It's been wall-to-wall here this week.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 27 August, 2021, 05:06:38 pm

"Will someone get rid of that guy who keeps doing the double thumbs up in the background "

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: UKJim on 01 September, 2021, 06:43:36 pm

its like what to do with something that looks like turd, cover it in tin foil.

You cant polish a turd, but you can cover it in glitter, or in New Streets case, tacky sheet metal

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Kim on 26 July, 2023, 04:37:28 pm

Looks like they finally found a use for that huge atrium:  Commonwealth Games bull Ozzy roars into life at station unveiling (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-66302196)

I note that the bull has been re-mantled without the structural telehandler and noisy generator.  Not that there's a shortage of diseasel fumes at Mordor Central.

Title: Re: I hadn't realised that Brum New Street was being refurbed
Post by: Basil on 26 July, 2023, 05:57:35 pm

If it was named via a public vote, how come he's not called Bully McBullface?