Birmingham - New Street Station - Grand Central
14th November 2025
In: News, Members' Articles
Return To Birmingham – New Street Station
I first got to know Birmingham centre in the late 1960s when Joan, my wife, completed a teaching certificate at the university and in those days New Street Station was coming to the end of its underground smokey environment from the steam era. It was not an attractive place.
I then worked in Birmingham in the late 1990s and found the 1970s shopping precinct – The Pallisades, that had been built as part of the redevelopment to be uninspiring and a bit tatty.
We decided to return to Birmingham in 2019 to see the new library so caught the Cross Country service from Chesterfield. In those days this was a proper train, it was a high speed set with proper coaches and comfortable seats. I believe things have changed!
Arriving at New Street we found the underground station much as it was. Then we rode the escalator to the exit and what a change! In place of the boring 1970s architecture was this sweeping organic roof letting in lots of light to the concourse and leading out to the city centre. It's called 'Grand Central', which is a reuse of the old railway company's name and it is an apt name.
I was in photographic heaven. There were interesting architectural shapes and good opportunities to photograph people plus my favourite subject – images in reflected panels that distorted the surroundings. Many of these pictures were taken on a 16-18-21mm WATE or the 28-35-50 Tri-Elmar. It is just a small selection of those taken, another advantage of digital although I did take some slide photos as well.
We've not been back since Covid and the closure of the John Lewis store, so we are not sure how it is surviving these days but back then we really enjoyed it. I will prepare another article about the library for a later post.
Ken Davis
I first got to know Birmingham centre in the late 1960s when Joan, my wife, completed a teaching certificate at the university and in those days New Street Station was coming to the end of its underground smokey environment from the steam era. It was not an attractive place.
I then worked in Birmingham in the late 1990s and found the 1970s shopping precinct – The Pallisades, that had been built as part of the redevelopment to be uninspiring and a bit tatty.
We decided to return to Birmingham in 2019 to see the new library so caught the Cross Country service from Chesterfield. In those days this was a proper train, it was a high speed set with proper coaches and comfortable seats. I believe things have changed!
Arriving at New Street we found the underground station much as it was. Then we rode the escalator to the exit and what a change! In place of the boring 1970s architecture was this sweeping organic roof letting in lots of light to the concourse and leading out to the city centre. It's called 'Grand Central', which is a reuse of the old railway company's name and it is an apt name.
I was in photographic heaven. There were interesting architectural shapes and good opportunities to photograph people plus my favourite subject – images in reflected panels that distorted the surroundings. Many of these pictures were taken on a 16-18-21mm WATE or the 28-35-50 Tri-Elmar. It is just a small selection of those taken, another advantage of digital although I did take some slide photos as well.
We've not been back since Covid and the closure of the John Lewis store, so we are not sure how it is surviving these days but back then we really enjoyed it. I will prepare another article about the library for a later post.
Ken Davis
Comments
By Pam: Looks like an interesting for photography. I think I went there as a child but only remember it being huge but I was about six years old Love the reflections too. By Caroline Lewis: Great selection of pictures Ken. Lovely shapes and reflections. By David Askham: Ken, thank you for your nostalgic memories and update on a notable railway station.
As a young teenager in the late 1940s, I remember the descent into this old LMS railway station. Some southbound trains required double header locomotives to ascend the steep incline out of the station.
Also, it was impossible to see the extent of the platforms, even on the overhead passage-way. I imagine post-Beeching, rail services are drastically reduced. Snowhill station is probably extinct now.
Your architectural and reflection shots are excellent. Thank you. By Ken Davis: Thank you Pam, Caroline and David. I certainly loved trying to capture the feel of the place, well worth a visit. David, regarding the services from New Street. There are still lots of them, obviously London and there are services cross country from the South West to the North East. There are services to Manchester via Wolverhampton and Stafford and lots of local services
Snow Hill was closed under Beeching but has reopened running services to Solihull, Stratford, Kidderminster and Worcester. There are also services from Moor Street to the Chilterns. So it's still a well served city when everything runs ok! By David Askham: ... LMS, or was it LNWR (London and North Western Railway?) By Keith Walker: Well, I learned two things so thanks. Firstly that the Station is now Grand Central and second that the architecture is stunning! Great set of pictures with people in the right places to enhance the composition. By Ken Davis: David, Originally I think it was the London & Birmingham Railway that got taken over by the LNWR and that became a major part of the LMS along with the Midland Railway.
Keith - I think the station is still New Street. It's the complex over the top of it that's called Great Central. The architecure is impressive. Thanks By Alan Humphries: A really nice peice Ken. Liked the photos, particularly those of the architecture
Barbara and I change trains at Birmingham New Street on our way to and from KHinckley earlier in the year and were quite impressed, it was really clean and well cared for.Good coffee too.