The station is the only main line railway station in Great Britain built specifically to serve a university.
History
Construction
Located on the former Birmingham West Suburban Railway,University station was built in 1977–8 to the designs of the architect John Broome[1] as part of the upgrade of the Cross City line.[2] The station was opened by William Rodgers,the Secretary of State for Transport,on 8 May 1978. It is a short distance away from the former Somerset Road station which closed in the 1930s. The station is partly built on the site of the ancient Metchley Roman Fort. The Cross-City Line was electrified in 1993,and Class 323electric multiple units were introduced by British Rail on local services. Class 730 trains were introduced in January 2025.
In 2017,it was announced that the station would receive up to £10 million as an improvement fund to enhance passenger experience and reduce overcrowding,as part of the Government's Midlands Engine Strategy.[3]
Redevelopment
In July 2019,West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM)[4] announced plans to redevelop the station in order to accommodate increasing passenger numbers generally and those arising from the 2022 Commonwealth Games,of which two events were held at venues on the University of Birmingham campus.[5] The upgrades are intended to allow the station,originally designed for approximately 500,000 passengers a year,to handle more than 7 million passengers annually.[6] It is one of the busiest railway stations in the West Midlands region;as of 26January2024[update],3.5 million people use the station annually.[7]
Construction work took place from 2021 to 2024. The architects were Associated Architects and the contractor was VolkerFitzpatrick.[9] The extended platforms were opened in time for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in July 2022,and the new buildings were opened on 28 January 2024. [10] Numerous other facilities within the station were improved,replaced,or expanded. The widths of the platforms were doubled and equipped with a canopy for sun and rain protection,and the landscaping was improved.[11][7]
Facilities
Pedestrian access is via University Road West,close to the Medical School and bus interchange - 234 metres (256yd) uphill from University Centre.[12] Owing to the station's campus location on a service road,there is no car parking,although nearby Selly Oak station is a designated Park and Ride station.[13] The station sits alongside the Worcester and Birmingham Canal,a popular route for cyclists and joggers. Access is at street level as there is a fence between Platform 2 and the towpath.
On the concourse are two automated ticket machines and two windowed ticket booths,staffed Monday to Friday 07:00–20:00,Saturday 08:00–19:00,and Sunday 10:00–16:00.[14] There is lift access down to both platforms from the entrance.[15] After crossing the river via the elevated walkway from the south-east passage,a Z-shaped ramp and stairs connect to the campus. Platform 2 has a covered waiting room. Fare control is enforced by a line of automatic ticket barriers installed at the passage to both platforms,there is a kiosk within the fare gates on each platform at this station to provide fare adjustment services for passengers.
A Centro livery Class 323 arriving at the station in 2007A West Midlands Railway Class 323 to Redditch departs University in 2021
University station is the sixth busiest station in the Transport for West Midlands region in terms of passenger numbers,and the busiest without a direct link to London. Just under four million passenger journeys were made to and from the station in the periods 2018–19 and 2019–20.
The station is a penalty fare station for West Midlands Railway passengers without valid tickets,but not for CrossCountry passengers.
The typical off-peak weekday service,in trains per hour (tph) is:[21][22][23]
Platform 1 (Northbound)
All services from Platform 1 stop at Birmingham New Street with an average journey time of around 7 minutes.
There is level access from the street to the ticket office and footbridge. Lifts provide access to both platforms from the footbridge. The station has a wide ticket gate which wheelchair users can use unaided.
This station has an induction loop installed to aid persons with hearing impairments. In regard to ticket procurement,a ticket vending machine has been installed within the Booking Hall,and in addition,staff can assist at the accessible booking office counter.[14]
This station is rated Category A,with full step-free access to all platforms. Ramps are installed to assist access to trains. The meeting point for persons with impairments is the ticket office during staffed hours;otherwise,they should go to the departure platform and seek assistance from on-board staff once the train arrives.[14]
National Key (RADAR) toilets are available in the Booking Hall. Passengers with a RADAR key can access them at any time. Passengers without a key may request one from station staff and can use the toilets during Booking Office opening hours. Ticket gates are available.[14]
While step-free access is comprehensive,an impaired mobility set-down area is not available. There are no wheelchairs available for loan. Accessible taxis and accessible public telephones are not available.[14]
References
↑Lawrence, David (2018). British Rail Architecture 1948-97. Crecy Publishing Ltd. p.155. ISBN9780860936855.
↑"University Station". Rail Around Birmingham and the West Midlands. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
↑"Midlands Engine Strategy"(PDF). HM Government, Department for Communities and Local Government. March 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
↑"University of Birmingham Map". Smart Networked Environment. Campus Facilities and Development Department, University of Birmingham. August 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
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0.731 million
1.961 million
