People mover to link airport with interchange
DESIGNS for a people mover which will connect the new HS2 Interchange station in Solihull with Birmingham Airport have been revealed.
The planned transport system is set to move 2,100 people per hour in each direction via a rail system on a viaduct which will be 12 metres high at one point.
Artists’ impressions have been released as part of a series of public consultation sessions being held this week about the 1.4-mile route.
The service will run every three minutes, have additional stops serving Birmingham International station and the NEC with an expected journey time of six minutes.
Phase one of HS2 is due to begin services between London and Birmingham city centre from 2026.
In addition to bringing passengers into Birmingham Airport from the new high-speed rail line, transport chiefs hope the people mover will boost the area’s leisure and conferencing facilities such as the National Exhibition Centre, Resorts World and the neighbouring concert arena. The exact system to operate the people mover is still to be decided. Mark Thurston, HS2’s chief executive, said: “HS2 is about connecting the country and the people mover is another example of how we will do that.
“This entire area in the West Midlands, and the wider regions across the UK, will be able to capitalise on the connectivity that Birmingham Interchange station brings and the people mover is an integral part of this.”
Jonathan Bretherton is managing director of the Urban Growth Company which was set up to lead regeneration in the area around the new Interchange station east of junction six of the M42.
He added: “The people mover will be a vital and exciting link, connecting HS2 and the Arden Cross site to the NEC and Birmingham Airport, making the whole area easily navigable for those choosing to live, work or play here.
“Our work to co-ordinate the views of local stakeholders will continue to ensure that the final design fully supports the economic growth we are predicting here.”