New Street Station - the heart of Birmingham (Birmingham New Street Train Station)

Member Name: Squeesfan

Product:	Birmingham New Street Train Station
Date:	07/07/09 (175 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Numerous shops, alert train annoucements.

Disadvantages: Very busy, can get a bit too hectic at times!

As someone who has used Birmingham New Street for over a decade now, I thought it would be useful to say a thing or two.

Birmingham New Street does have a reputation for not being the most pleasant of stations to look at. This is, however, only true for the actual platforms themselves, and that is only due to it being situated underneath the main 'station' area. (Lots of pipes, noises, grit on display)

The station is well laid out with a variety of shops and eating areas (even a pub) on both sides of ticket checkers. There are numerous ticket desks as well as a few automated response machines so, even when busy, you don't usually have to queue for that long. In my experience the staff have been friendly and helpful and there is also a help desk where you can enquire about where to go as it is a big station and used as the calling point for LOTS of destinations. In the main area there is a huge electronic board alerting pasengers to arrivals and departures. There is also a large TV that often streams the News.

New Street will take you north to places such as Leeds, Newcastle and Glasgow, as well as more local places such as Nottingham and Coventary. South, you can pass through Peterborough, Milton Keynes and eventually London (calling at Euston) There also numerous local lines, connecting all over Birmingham.

There are three exits, two large and one small. The first main entrance is on the 'ground floor' as it were, just past the WH Smiths. This leads out to carpark where you can see the BullRing clearly and is an easy destination to get to. There is also an exit on the other side of the ground floor which leads to the same car park, and thus I classify it as the same 'exit.'

Upstairs, past the various shops that include a Subway and Game, you are lead to a ramp which goes down pasr a McDonalds and into the heart of New Street; here you can turn right to go to the bullring, forward for bustops and shops, and left for more shops as well as leading eventually to Broad Street.

The final exit is a small rear one that leads onto a hill that follows up to a big fountain.

New Street Station is very good with delays and platform alterations. They are announced clearly and loud, as well as ususally being relocated to the nearest possible platform.

Security is also very good as trains run for most of the day. You will often see police officers patrolling around the station. I have also found that the station has worked on hygiene standards a lot over the years - the level of litter has dropped significantly.

Overall, the station is very reliable. I have never really had any problems, other than the prices of some of the shops being a tad expensive. If you have to call here or stop off for an change, feel free to explore the rather large variety of shops it has to offer.

Summary: One of the busiest stations outsdide of London, it still maintains a nice level of cleanliness.