New route for Birmingham stations’ people mover?

Newly published plans for the proposed Automated People Mover shuttle between HS2’s Interchange Station, Birmingham Airport and the National Exhibition Centre reveal possible alterations to its routes.

The alignment of the new 1.4-mile line was presented to Solihull Council on February 2. It takes into account a desire for new commercial development and public buildings on adjacent land that is currently used for car parking.

The line will be constructed entirely on viaduct, to bridge major obstacles such as the M42, the West Coast Main Line, and Pendigo Lake at the NEC. The service (at three-minute intervals) will have a carrying capacity of 2,100 passengers an hour in each direction.

Design alterations into Birmingham International Station are intended to create a new, integrated multi-modal transport exchange, and open up land for new building and landscaping. A new footbridge will allow a seamless connection with all the major transport centres.

Interchange Station will be one of the best-connected stations on the new high-speed network in the Midlands. The Arden Cross site alone will support 30,000 jobs, up to 3,000 new homes, and 70,000m2 of commercial space. It will also bring 1.3 million people to within a 45-minute public transport journey to the station.