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Perry Barr Station and Bus Interchange

We invested £30.9 million to redevelop Perry Barr station and bus interchange.The project has created a modern, fit-for-purpose new rail station. The new bus interchange has enhanced shelters and a better layout. The project also improved the area around the station.

This work also provided:

  • increased capacity
  • better facilities and access

This supported the Perry Barr regeneration programme led by Birmingham City Council. It also supported the council’s ambitions for a greener future by providing a realistic alternative to travelling by car.

New facilities and improvements

We demolished the old station and the buildings next to it. This meant we could build a new, much bigger station with improved lighting and facilities. The new station is able to support 1.1 million passengers per year.

The new station building has:

  • an accessible toilet
  • passenger help points
  • a new ticket office
  • secure bike parking
  • CCTV
  • lifts and upgraded stairs, providing a step-free access for the first time.

There are new entrances on both sides of the station. It also links the One Stop Shopping Centre to the railway.

The area around the station is now safer and more attractive. The station rebuild:

  • improved the public area outside the station with landscaping
  • removed the underpass
  • encourages more people to get the train instead of driving

The new bus interchange has:

  • a much better layout so buses can get to it more quickly
  • new and enhanced bus shelters
  • a new stop for cross city services
  • a new pedestrian area between the interchange, train station and One Stop

Why we rebuilt the station

Perry Barr station was rebuilt in the 1960s when the railway line was electrified. The old station was designed to accommodate up to 250,000 journeys per year. Between 2018 and 2019, passengers made just under 700,000 journeys. 

The previous station had poor access. There was a narrow entry between shops and there were no lifts. The station lacked facilities - there were no toilets and there was no bike parking. There was an underpass that connected the station to the east of the A34. People did not think the underpass was safe. 

The bus interchange was outdated and difficult to access from the station. Pedestrians had to cross several traffic lanes to reach it. The old road layout also meant it took a long time for buses to access the interchange.

Our partners

We worked on this project with: 

  • Transport for West Midlands
  • West Midlands Trains (operators of West Midlands Railway)
  • Network Rail
  • Birmingham City Council
  • Midlands Engine
  • The Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership
  • Galliford Try and their supply chain, including Waldeck Consulting Limited.
  • SLC-AECOM Joint Venture

Passenger Feedback so far

In the Summer of 2024 we carried out passenger surveys and research into passenger usage.

Key findings included:

  • 86% rated the changes at Perry Barr interchange as very good or good.
  • All bus and rail facilities were rated much higher following the changes, particularly ease of access.
  • Personal safety was lowest rated amongst both bus and rail users – albeit both rated significantly higher compared to 2016.
  • There was an increase in passengers interchanging between bus and rail services (31% vs 22%)
  • There was an improvement in passengers' opinion of interchanging (95% good vs 81%)

These results align to the original aims of the project, which indicates success.