Birmingham New Street station to 'get daylight'

The atrium will open alongside a completed New Street station in 2015

A Birmingham railway station is to be lit by natural light for the first time in over 40 years.

Engineers rebuilding Birmingham New Street station have started work on a large-scale atrium.

The new glass and steel structure will be 35 metres high and cover an area of 3,300 sq m.

It will open alongside a completed New Street station in 2015, once a £598m revamp is completed by Network Rail to improve access and capacity.

Chris Montgomery, project director for Network Rail, said: "The stunning new atrium will be the focal point of the redeveloped New Street which will transform the experience for the thousands of passengers who rely on the station every day.

'Stunning centrepiece'

"We're working hard to minimise disruption during construction and while our engineers work behind the scenes, the station will remain open for train services as normal."

Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham City Council, added: "It's excellent to see work get under way on the stunning centrepiece at the heart of the new New Street.

"The new atrium will become a focal point not only for the station but for the city as well - providing a new meeting place and connecting the city with a rejuvenated south side."

The Pallasades Shopping Centre will also remain open throughout the construction work.

The Gateway project to redevelop the station is backed by Network Rail, Birmingham City Council, the Department for Transport, Advantage West Midlands and Centro.

It aims to double passenger capacity and improve access to the platforms and pedestrian links across the city.