Rail stations
There are 63 Centro-supported rail stations in the region, making it easy for customers to get out-and-about the West Midlands.
Over the past few years, Rail Real Time Information has been installed at over half the rail stations in the West Midlands so passengers no longer need to wonder when their next train will arrive.
Rail travellers are now able to look at electronic information displays and hear automatic passenger announcements which tell them the exact time that their train is due by linking in to signalling technology.
The system has been funded by a Department for Transport's Access for All Small Schemes fund following successful bids by Centro. It represents the largest amount given to any single organisation under the first £3.1million round of funding provided by the Government to improve accessibility at rail stations and forms part of a £4.5million project to provide rail Real Time Information at virtually every station in the Network West Midlands area.
A further 32 stations are also set to get the technology following the announcement of further successful bids for over £1million in the second round of Access for All Small Schemes funding. Centro, which is contributing £1.5million for these stations, is working to install the equipment throughout the next year.
Investment in congestion-cutting schemes, such as Park and Ride sites at rail stations is an important part of our efforts to encourage more people onto public transport.
£14 million has been invested since 1997 and the car parks take 2.5 million car journeys off the West Midlands' congested roads every year. 6,218 spaces are provided at 37 stations, with the vast majority having 'Safer Parking' accreditation in recognition of low crime and vandalism levels.
Birmingham's New Street Station has been described as the UK's number one bottleneck by Government, who have recognised that expansion of passenger handling capacity at the station is required to accommodate high levels of forecast growth until 2025.
As a result of tireless campaigning and lobbying by Centro and partners, February 2008 brought the long-awaited announcement that the Government will release almost £400 million of public money to fund the Gateway project. This will in turn trigger nearly £200 million in private investment. The project will transform the existing 1960s station into a spacious, light filled transport hub for the 21st Century.
Gateway will turn New Street station into a world-class entrance to the city and the region. The plans are the product of detailed analysis by a study group including senior representatives from Centro, Network Rail, Birmingham City Council and Advantage West Midlands.
Birmingham New Street station is still seen as the region's top transport priority. The public and private investment will see the complete redesign and redevelopment of the station and surrounding area, creating a landmark building and public transport facility fit to accommodate growth over the next 30 years.
Highlights include more space, greatly increasing passenger-handling capacity, with world-class passenger facilities. There will be brighter, cleaner and clearer platforms with better access from 42 new escalators and 14 new lifts. A new, enlarged concourse nearly four times bigger than the current space will be transformed into a giant atrium, flooding the station with natural light.
A new contemporary station exterior will complement the redeveloped city centre with two new open public spaces: a piazza on the south side of the station and a public square opposite the Bullring, new pedestrian links across the city centre will give direct access and interchange with the planned Metro stop in Stephenson Street.
The project will be the catalyst for economic development at the heart of the city and deliver significant wider regeneration potential for the region, including better access to jobs and training for local people and an increase in the number of business travellers and visitors seeking to invest or spend in the region.