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University Station

In January 2024, we completed the rebuild of University station in Birmingham. The new station is making a huge difference to passengers, improving access to some of Birmingham’s world-leading institutions, including:

  • the University of Birmingham
  • Queen Elizabeth Hospital

The new state-of-the-art station buildings provide more capacity and better facilities. It is much easier to use and navigate.

New facilities and improvements

The station has new and improved facilities, with an increased capacity and more space for passengers. It is now capable of accommodating 7.2 million passengers a year.

The new station buildings have:

  • much more seating
  • many customer information screens
  • new toilets, including a Changing Places facility.
  • a new, much larger ticket office
  • provision for a retail unit
  • space for an NHS facility

New entrances and exits make it much easier to get in and out of the station. There is also a new pedestrian bridge over the canal which provides direct access to the University of Birmingham. Passengers are also able to get to the station from the canal towpath.

The station also provides: 

  • full-length canopies on the platforms to protect passengers from the weather
  • a new footbridge, stairs and lifts between the platforms – improving accessibility for all passengers

The new station is encouraging more people to use the rail network instead of driving, reducing congestion on the road network.

Why we rebuilt the station

The original University station was built in 1978 and designed to accommodate half a million passengers a year. Between 2018 and 2019 there were just under 4 million passenger journeys through the station, making overcrowding a serious issue. Furthermore, this was predicted to rise to over 7 million per year by 2069.

The station was often overcrowded, especially at peak times, and the platforms were narrow with limited shelter for bad weather. High passenger numbers contributed to delays.

Our partners

We worked on the station rebuild with: 

  • Transport for West Midlands
  • West Midlands Trains (operators of West Midlands Railway)
  • Network Rail
  • University of Birmingham
  • The Department for Transport
  • Birmingham City Council
  • Midlands Engine
  • The Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership
  • The Canal and River Trust
  • CrossCountry Trains
  • VolkerFitzpatrick and their supplier Mott Macdonald, Associated Architects and more.
  • SLC-AECOM Joint Venture

Awards received

We are very proud that the project to redevelop the station is multi-award winning, being shortlisted and winning the following awards:

  • Rail Innovation Awards – Major Project Category – Highly Commended.
  • Constructing Excellence West Midlands Awards – Infrastructure Project of the Year – Winner
  • Constructing Excellence National Awards – Infrastructure Project of the Year – Shortlisted.
  • ICE West Midlands Awards - Large Project and Team Achievement Categories – Winner in both categories, along with Overall Project Winner.
  • British Construction Industry Awards - Transport and Placemaking Project Categories – Shortlisted –CIHT Awards - Infrastructure Award – Shortlisted.
  • IStructE Midland Counties Awards 2023 - Infrastructure Building Award – Winner
  • National Transport Awards - Design, Engineering & Construction Project of the Year – Shortlisted.
  • Spotlight Rail Awards – ‘Outstanding Project over £20m’, Shortlisted – Ceremony in March 2025.
  • WMT also entered the National Rail Awards for University Station in the 'Medium Station' Category – Winner
  • WMT also entered the Rail Business Awards for University Station for ‘Infrastructure Project & Station Excellence’ – Winner

Passenger Feedback so far

An initial passenger survey was undertaken on 3 October 2024:

  • 86% of the respondents ranked the changes at University Station as good/excellent.
  • 10/73 surveyed would have previously travelled to the location via car – which suggests a modal shift of 16%.
  • 32% of respondents perceive the widened platforms and extended canopies as being the greatest single improvement to the station, which was the highest score.

Further passenger surveys  and counts were undertaken in January and February 2025, to mark one year of opening. This information is currently being collated ready for presentation.

We also know that 3 million passengers used the station in the first year.