4.1.4
Original Document
Birmingham city centre has outstanding connectivity to a wide range of national destinations by rail, with New Street Station the focus of an extensive network of services and Moor Street and Snow Hill stations having a secondary but nonetheless important role. New Street Station is also the main route to Birmingham International Airport and thus the primary global entrance point into the city centre. However, the arrival experience is poor. Current capacity difficulties at New Street Station have been exacerbated by significant growth in passenger trips in Birmingham. The comprehensive redevelopment of New Street now has committed funding. Space to allow for four tracks between New Street and Birmingham International stations is protected over much of the route, and the opportunity for running European High Speed Train services to both the City Centre and the Airport is under investigation.
Plain English Translation
Birmingham city centre has oustanding national rail links, mainly because of New Street Station, but Moor Street and Snow Hill stations are also important. New Street Station is the main route to Birmingham International Airport and so the way most overseas travelers enter the city. However it is not a good experience. On top of that New Street is just to busy, a problem which will only get worse.
We have now set aside money for the redevelopment of New Street and protected land for four tracks between New Street and Birmingham International over much of the route. We are also investigate how we could get European High Speed trains to both Birmingham and the Airport.
There is no point in the city being connected to all these high speed links to other cities, if people in the local area cannot connect with these high speed links. For example I live out in Stechford and have lived there for over 9 years. When I first came, there were 4 trains an hour and now we are down to 2 an hour. This is because they have made space for the virgin trains to have slots on my route. Ironically I am unable to make a link with these trains in an easy manner as my train runs quite erratically and gives priority to those trains and I will not be alone. It becomes ironic that I am starting to consider driving my car to New Street or Birmingham international to guarantee a connection with these trains.