The Midlands Rail Hub Alliance formed just last Christmas, but is already deep into massively upgrading Birmingham’s railway—this includes major upgrades between Bordesley and Birmingham Moor Street. Still, the works could be devastating to the city’s coolest neighbourhood, Digbeth.
What’s happening?
The Midlands Rail Hub Alliance is currently running a consultation on plans to transform Birmingham Moor Street station and how it is used by trains travelling in, out, and through the city.
This includes increasing the number of trains which use Birmingham Moor Street by building two new sections of railway, known as ‘chords,’ which connect the Camp Hill line with the Chiltern main line for the first time.
Sections of the existing Bordesley viaduct, which runs through Digbeth and into Birmingham Moor Street, would be widened, while two new platforms would be built and the existing platform 5 would be brought back into working use.
The improvements would transfer several regional train services from Birmingham New Street to Birmingham Moor Street—reducing congestion at the busiest station outside of London and allowing for additional services to be added.
The proposals would enable: three additional trains per hour to the South West of Birmingham, two additional Cross City line trains per hour, and four additional trains per hour towards the East Midlands, one of which will also serve the North East.
Why is this a problem?
In a bubble, this all sounds well and good, doesn’t it? But The Night Owl, one of Birmingham’s most beloved live music venues, has highlighted that these proposed plans may put the nightclub at risk of closure by 2030, while also
“This expansion will be detrimental to the Digbeth we all know and love,” said a spokesperson for The Night Owl. “Based on the current plans, many independent businesses will be forced to close.
“It is currently uncertain what the fate of The Night Owl would be if these plans went through, whether we would be flattened, used as a construction site or simply unable to open due to the works, but what is certain is that if these plans go ahead, The Night Owl would not survive.
“The whole team is immensely shocked and stressed about the imminent danger this puts us in; we would be completely heartbroken if we lost our home in Digbeth, and we know we aren’t the only ones that would mourn the loss of our little club.”
But The Night Owl wouldn’t be the only local business affected, as it namechecks “The Warehouse, Original Patty Men, Mama Roux and many other small businesses.” The proposals are still in the early stages, with the public and local businesses urged to speak up.
The consultation is open until Friday, August 28, and you can have your say by heading here.
