University Station progress from May 2022 to January 2024

The new University Station buildings opened on Sunday 28th January 2024. Here's our photo update from May 2022 to January 2024. The station was open throughout the works, and the extended platforms were open in time for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, but was delays for some reason in completing the station, beyond 2022. We'll get another update at a later date.

It was supposed to open in July 2022, but is now going to fully open on Sunday 28th January 2024. 

Photo progress gallery below from May 2022 to January 2024.

* Note that all these photos were taken before the new buildings were opened to the public.

 

May 2022

Worcester & Birmingham Canal view near the University of Birmingham, the new buildings under scaffolding.

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First look at the extended platforms from platform 1 at University.

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Cross Country Trains Class 220 Voyager passed non stop towards Birmingham New Street.

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West Midlands Railway 323209 calls at University, platform 2.

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West Midlands Railway 170501 passes on a service to Worcester Foregate Street (this train is now at sister company East Midlands Railway).

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMR%20170501%20Uni%20Station%2021052022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

West Midlands Railway 323208 calls at University, platform 1 (this train has since moved to Northern Trains).

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June 2022

From the X21 bus top deck, before the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games began. Clearly it wouldn't be ready for summer 2022.

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A day later, a comparison with the 1978 building (right, still open) and 2024 building (left).

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2022062022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

August 2022

Views of University Station from the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. Some scaffolding had come down at the time.

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October 2022

Approaching from New Fosse Way and the Westgate entrance.

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One last look during 2022 at the platforms, clearly the buildings wouldn't open by the end of the year.

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dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/University%20Station%2016102022%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Cross Country Voyager Class 220 passing at speed towards the south west.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/University%20Station%2016102022%20(10).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/University%20Station%2016102022%20(11).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

West Midlands Railway 323217 stops at University, to take me to Birmingham New Street.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/University%20Station%2016102022%20(12).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

February 2023

First University update of 2023, as usual the walk up the Worcester & Birmingham Canal from the Selly Oak Shopping Park.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/University%20Station%2011022023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

This time I walked to the far end of platform 1, buildings appeared to be complete, but would not open for at least another year.

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dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/University%20Station%2011022023%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

This was the day, when I managed to get West Midlands Railway 323221 in the Regional Railways Centro livery!

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Later that month, some views from the X21 bus as it went up Pritchatts Road and Vincent Drive.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2028022023%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2028022023%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2028022023%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

June 2023

A walk along Prichatts Road and Vincent Drive for more views of the station.

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July 2023

A look at the new access footbridge from the University of Birmingham, near the Westgate.

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dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2018072023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

This will be one of the new station entrances from Westgate and New Fosse Way.

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dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2018072023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

August 2023

Approaching University Station again from the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.

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Views from the X21 bus on Vincent Drive.

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A week later, views from the X22 bus on Vincent Drive.

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January 2024

With the news that the ORR had given permission for the new University Station buildings to open on Sunday 28th January 2024, I had one last visit to the station before it opened to the public.

The usual views from the Worcester & Birmingham Canal on the walk from Selly Oak Shopping Park.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2018012024%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

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Looks pretty much the same from platform 1, the boards with train times were on. Some labels needed peeling off.

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A Cross Country Trains Class 220 Voyager in the direction of Birmingham New Street.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2018012024%20(10).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

West Midlands Railway 323241 seen arriving at platform 2.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2018012024%20(11).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

My West Midlands Railway Class 323 train arrived, to take me one way to Birmingham New Street.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2018012024%20(12).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

Preserved Midland Metro tram 16 at Very Light Rail, Dudley and West Midlands Metro tram 52 in service

On a walk around Dudley, I did not expect to find the preserved Midland Metro tram 16, one of the T-69 trams, to be at Very Light Rail in Dudley. Out of the 16 trams in service from 1999 to 2015, 13 have been scrapped, while three preserved including this one. The other two 07 and 10 are at Long Marston. The last West Midlands Metro tram 52, and was the last of the new Urbos 100 order.

I was in Dudley, during January 2024, for an update of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension, and was walking out of Dudley Town Centre, when I spotted this old tram at Very Light Rail.

The former Midland Metro tram 16, a T-69 which was in service from Wolverhampton St George's to Birmingham Snow Hill from 1999 to 2015, was moved from Long Marston to Dudley, for testing on the Very Light Rail tracks.

It still has The Metro, and original red, blue and yellow livery on it, as well as a Wolverhampton College advert dating to 2014. It arrived in Dudley in November 2023.

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The most recent tram to come into service was West Midlands Metro tram 52 in January 2024. The last of the Urbos 100 order. Currently there is multiple bus routes from Birmingham to Dudley including the 74, 87, 126 and X8. But by the end of 2024, the tram extension from Wednesbury to Dudley Town Centre might open.

Seen here leaving Edgbaston Village Tram Stop on Hagley Road, via the Five Ways underpass towards Broad Street and Five Ways Tram Stop.

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Photography by Elliott Brown

The Winston Churchill, Cadbury No 7 steam locomotive outside the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley

On a walk around Dudley in January 2024, I went down Tipton Road past the Black Country Living Museum, during a weekend when they were closed for maintenance, so the car park was empty. I saw a green steam locomotive called Winston Churchill, this was the Cadbury Bros No 7 steam locomotive. It arrived in 2012, on the spot where the Titanic anchor replica used to be.

First a repost on the Titanic anchor replica seen in 2011

The replica of The Titanic Anchor. It was made in 2010 by Sheffield Forgemasters International Ltd for a Channel 4 documentary. It was on loan at the time to the museum from Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.  The original anchor was made by N. Hingley & Sons Ltd in 1911 at their factory in Netheron, Dudley. The original anchor weighed 15.5 tons. In 2011 the Titanic anchor replica was seen outside of the Black Country Living Museum near the former Rolfe Street Baths building. But it was eventually moved to a more permenant location in Netherton where it remains today. It was replaced in 2012 by the Winston Churchill, Cadbury No 7 steam locomotive.

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Winston Churchill, Cadbury No 7 in 2024

The relocation of the Winston Churchill was made possible through the help and support of the local house builder Lovell Partnerships Ltd and The Friends of the Black Country Museum.

0-6-0ST Manning Wardle locomotive built at Boyne Engine Works, Leeds in 1923. It was ordered by the Cadbury Brothers, Bournville in February 1923, and was completed and sent to Cadbury Blackpole Factory by June 1923. It became their No 7 steam locomotive at the Waterside Site. It was moved to Bournville for a short time before it returned to Blackpole. And was named after Winston Churchill. By 1946 it had been replaced by diesel and was sold to Robert Stephenson and Hawthorn in Darlington. It arrived in Dudley at G Pitt & Co Ltd on the Pensnett Trading Estate later in 1946. It was eventually placed outside of the Black Country Living Museum in 2012 after the Titanic anchor replica was removed.

dndimg alt="Winston Churchill Cadbury No 7" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WC%20Steam%20loco%20BCLM%20Dudley%2021012024%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Winston Churchill Cadbury No 7" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WC%20Steam%20loco%20BCLM%20Dudley%2021012024%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Winston Churchill Cadbury No 7" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WC%20Steam%20loco%20BCLM%20Dudley%2021012024%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Winston Churchill Cadbury No 7" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WC%20Steam%20loco%20BCLM%20Dudley%2021012024%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

Solihull Food Festival heritage buses out from The Transport Museum Wythall

Over the weekend of 29th September to 1st October 2023, The Transport Museum Wythall had a couple of their heritage buses out in Solihull Town Centre for the Solihull Food Festival. I had a look on the 30th September 2023. West Bromwich Corporation 248 was at Station Approach, while WM Travel 6835 was going around the Town Centre with two stops on the way.

West Bromwich Corporation 248

248 NEA

I got to Station Approach near Solihull Station (closed due to ASLEF industrial action on Saturday 30th September 2023), to find West Bromwich Corporation 248 broken down, there was an engineer with the heritage bus at Station Approach bus stop A. I was thinking of riding it, until I realised it wouldn't go into service, so ended up walking into Solihull Town Centre instead.

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I'd previous seen West Bromwich Corporation 248 at The Transport Museum Wythall back on the August Bank Holiday Monday of 2022, and had a look inside of it (both decks).

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WM Travel 6835

WDA 835T

Metrobus

I first saw WM bus 6835 on the walk up Station Road towards Touchwood in Solihull Town Centre, as a fire engine went past.

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The 6835 bus was waiting outside of Touchwood, normally where the no 6 buses end their service from Birmingham, close to the entrance of Touchwood.

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I then went up to Starbucks in Touchwood, and from the first floor, saw 6835 come back around 20 minutes after I'd last seen it. Then a 6 arrived behind it.

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Later after a walk around New Road and Warwick Road, I got this view of it one more time from Poplar Road, before walking to the Solihull Town Centre bus stop near John Lewis to catch the 6 home. This was around half an hour after I got it from Starbucks above.

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After leaving Starbucks, I walked through Touchwood, and was able to see 6835 arriving at New Road close to The Masons Arms public house. Was a lot of traffic around here.

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I walked up New Road, then onto Warwick Road, when eventually 6835 passed me, before it would turn onto Poplar Road to the next stop.

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dndimg alt="Wythall Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMT%206835%20Solihull%2030092023%20(13).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

I previously saw 6835 back at the Birmingham Bus Bash at Cannon Hill Park, during September 2017. It was the second bus from the left. The one that said route 52, Beeches Estate via Walsall Road.

dndimg alt="Bus Bash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham%20Bus%20Bash%20Cannon%20Hill%20Park%20(Sept%202017)%20%20(5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Bus Bash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham%20Bus%20Bash%20Cannon%20Hill%20Park%20(Sept%202017)%20%20(6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

And last saw 6835 at The Transport Museum Wythall during the August Bank Holiday Monday 2022 visit. It was the third bus on the left.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MR%20BCT%20WMT%20TMW%2029082022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MR%20BCT%20WMT%20TMW%2029082022%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos by Elliott Brown

Eurovision Liverpool 2023 - London Northwestern Railway 350104 between Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street

For months I've been aware of a London Northwestern Railway Class 350 Desiro with a special Eurovision Song Contest United Kingdom Liverpool 2023 livery. I was at Wolverhampton Station waiting for a train back to Birmingham New Street Station on the August Bank Holiday Monday 28th August 2023, when the train arrived from Liverpool Lime Street. I sat in the one at the back.

Yes it was disappointing that Birmingham didn't win the rights this time to host the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine, that honour went to Liverpool. You might remember that 25 years ago, Birmingham was the host for the Eurovision Song Contest: United Kingdom - Birmingham 1998, at the National Indoor Arena.

Had Birmingham won the right to host it in 2023, it would have gone to the Resorts World Arena at the NEC, but it wasn't to be.

 

In May 2023, ahead of Eurovison in Liverpool, London Northwestern Railway (the brand name for West Midlands Trains between London Euston, Birmingham New Street, Crewe and Liverpool Lime Street), unveiled a special yellow livery on 350104.

The branding has BBC, Eurovision Song Contest, Ukraine and United by Music all over the four carriage set.

 

I was waiting at platform 2 at Wolverhampton Station, after my visit to Wolverhampton Art Gallery (on the August Bank Holiday Monday), as the Liverpool Lime Street to Birmingham New Street train arrived in Liverpool livery! As well as the Eurovision 2023 train, the one behind had Liverpool John Lennon Airport on it (I sat in a carriage on that one at the back).

dndimg alt="Eurovision Liverpool 2023" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EL23%20Wolverhampton%20Station%2028082023%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Eurovision Liverpool 2023" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EL23%20Wolverhampton%20Station%2028082023%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Eurovision Liverpool 2023" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EL23%20Wolverhampton%20Station%2028082023%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Eurovision Liverpool 2023" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EL23%20Wolverhampton%20Station%2028082023%20(4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Eurovision Liverpool 2023" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EL23%20Wolverhampton%20Station%2028082023%20(5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

 

After waiting in a tunnel waiting for a platform, at a signal (I was still in the Liverpool John Lennon Airport train), the train headed to platform 5 at Birmingham New Street Station. I headed down the platform for some more views at the A end of the platform. I was unable to get a photo of the Liverpool John Lennon Airport livery on the other train (which I had got off). As was so many passengers getting off with the luggage.

dndimg alt="Eurovision Liverpool 2023" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EL23%20Bham%20NSS%2028082023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Eurovision Liverpool 2023" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EL23%20Bham%20NSS%2028082023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Eurovision Liverpool 2023" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EL23%20Bham%20NSS%2028082023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Eurovision Liverpool 2023" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EL23%20Bham%20NSS%2028082023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Eurovision Liverpool 2023" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EL23%20Bham%20NSS%2028082023%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Eurovision Liverpool 2023" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EL23%20Bham%20NSS%2028082023%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown