The evolution and redevelopment of Birmingham New Street Station and surrounding areas

The fundamental function of railway station is a tool for rapid passage of people and goods. The long-distance transportation function would be paid more attention by designers, neither than aesthetics and integration with cities. The Birmingham New Street Station had a long history since establishment. The railway station, in common with many other industrialized zone, has experienced major changes over the last 100 years. It went through 4 stages, which was mainly used for freight transportation initially. After that, it gradually turned to a comprehensive transportation hub. And finally Birmingham New Street Station developed into an urban space with people-oriented, convenient travel and commercial vitality. It is necessary and valuable to analyze the evolution and redevelopment of the railway station. This paper is aimed to summarize the development trend and optimization strategy of railway stations in central urban area and surrounding areas. It makes an in-depth study on the development history of Birmingham New Street Station, the type and site selection of station buildings, the commercial development mode of the station and its surrounding areas, and the connection organization between the station and urban traffic. Suggestion for the further development of railway stations in central cities could be proposed.