Station revamp shortlist unveiled

Work on the new station is due to start in 2009

A shortlist of designers bidding to redevelop Birmingham's New Street Station has been revealed.

Last week, Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly confirmed that almost £400m of government money would be used in the £598m project, due to start in 2009.

More than 40 bids were submitted from designers in Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and the US, as well as the UK.

Six contenders would present their "vision" in April, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) said.

The six teams are CRAB Studio, Foreign Office Architects, IDOM UK Ltd, LAB architecture studio, UNStudio and Rafael Vinoly Architects.

'Outdated' look

The redevelopment will aim to ease congestion for 17 million passengers who use the station each year.

Network Rail and Birmingham City Council hope building work on the first phase should finish by 2011 with the station being kept open while work on the new concourse is carried out.

The second phase is due to be completed by 2013.

New Street Station has been criticised for its outdated 1960s architecture, lack of natural light and passenger congestion.

The new station will have a 10,500sq m concourse and be a "bright, modern 21st Century transport hub for Birmingham and the West Midlands region", Network Rail has said.

The area around the station will also be regenerated with pedestrian connections across the city centre improved.

Passenger capacity at the station will also double while each platform will be accessible via escalators.