Infrastructure, Construction & Developments

How come there’s no escalators towards the monorail anymore?

My final comment (maybe) on the lift v escalators thing.

BHX is currently undergoing 300 millon pound improvement and modernisation expansion programme due to be completed by 2033 with ambition to be handling 18 million passengers per year. Is it too much to expect two WORKING escalators one for departure and one for arrival, apparently it is but hey ho life goes on and no doubt we'll find room for another shopping opportunity or burger joint.

Does not the airport have to provide an alternative to a lift for people who are claustrophobic and may panic inside an enclosed lift? It would be interesting for someone to challenge this under the Equality Act 2010.

what about those who are claustrophobic and escalaphobic?

Just love planes said:

How come there’s no escalators towards the monorail anymore?

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See earlier comments - the whole purpose is to open up the area providing more space for circulation and check-in etc. Escalators take up a lot of space in a very inefficient way.

rollo said:

Is it too much to expect two WORKING escalators one for departure and one for arrival, apparently it is but hey ho life goes on and no doubt we'll find room for another shopping opportunity or burger joint.

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That assumes that escalators are the best way to more people vertically. In quite times, maybe, but i suspect not at busy times. Remember also that, if its busy, the tops and bottoms of escalators needs to be clear so that travellers can get off safely, otherwise you cause a crush (one of the reasons why e.g. shopping malls introduce queue areas at the top and bottom of escalators on busy days). But again, putting an escalator in would remove all that nice space thats been opened up for extra passenger circulation and lead to no benefit overall.

kfs said:

Does not the airport have to provide an alternative to a lift for people who are claustrophobic and may panic inside an enclosed lift? It would be interesting for someone to challenge this under the Equality Act 2010.

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Is claustrophobia a protected characteristic? Not sure. If its diagnosed, probably yes. But as before, an alternative to lifts could be any number of things, including stairs, a slide, a trampoline or a (long and shallow gradient) ramp (some of these come with other problems). There will be stairs. If they are not accessible (i.e. locked) i would be very surprised.

Probably going around and around in circles now so i'll duck out of this discussion, with my final words being that civil engineers are sensible people who design systems in line with design standards and well understood (and modelled) traveller (in this case) behaviours - which leads me to believe that it'll be a non-event for 99%+ of travellers. Unless of course they completely screw up the design - but thats another issue nothing to do with lifts!

We could discuss the inadequacies of the escalator in the arrivals hall … but probably best not to !

Nethercote2019 said:

We could discuss the inadequacies of the escalator in the arrivals hall … but probably best not to !

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Still wasn't working yesterday...tbh..can't remember the last time I did see it working.

Karl C said:

Still wasn't working yesterday...tbh..can't remember the last time I did see it working.

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It's not out of service because it's not working.

(Well, it was taken out of service, it didn't break down. It's been off so long I guess it might not work now though)

The plan is to revamp/revamp model arrivals/immigration/reclaim 2026, once security 2024cand departure lounge 2025 are complete.

Has anyone seen/heard/got recent photos of how the security development area is coming along?

When they says "June 2024", do we know if this is start/mid/end of June?

I have to admit, I'm extremely excited for the new security area to open. As a frequent flier who typically travels hand-luggage only, this is my main/only qualm of flying in general. BHX security seems to be particularly slow, and the scanners particularly pedantic in picking up the tiniest of objects that can be classified as a liquid.

I think this will have such a positive impact - particularly with the new EZY base bringing in more passengers, the speedier pass-through will be much appreciated by all!

Bhx_fifteen said:

Has anyone seen/heard/got recent photos of how the security development area is coming along?

When they says "June 2024", do we know if this is start/mid/end of June?

I have to admit, I'm extremely excited for the new security area to open.

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Sorry, no photos, but i understand the new security area should open June 1st.

Bhx_fifteen said:

Has anyone seen/heard/got recent photos of how the security development area is coming along?

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I'm not sure if photos are permitted while the area is under construction. Certainly photos are not permitted in Security/Customs areas when they are operational.

Kevin Farnell said:

I'm not sure if photos are permitted while the area is under construction. Certainly photos are not permitted in Security/Customs areas when they are operational.

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I wondered more so from the outside re how things are looking. I remember seeing a Timelapse from BHX officials a few months back but hadn’t seen anything since, and haven’t flown from BHX since Jan.

HPsauce said:

Sorry, no photos, but i understand the new security area should open June 1st.

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Amazing, 2 months today. That’ll fly by

Bhx_fifteen said:

Has anyone seen/heard/got recent photos of how the security development area is coming along?

When they says "June 2024", do we know if this is start/mid/end of June?

I have to admit, I'm extremely excited for the new security area to open. As a frequent flier who typically travels hand-luggage only, this is my main/only qualm of flying in general. BHX security seems to be particularly slow, and the scanners particularly pedantic in picking up the tiniest of objects that can be classified as a liquid.

I think this will have such a positive impact - particularly with the new EZY base bringing in more passengers, the speedier pass-through will be much appreciated by all!

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I think proof in the pudding is needed with the new security area. Personally I think peak time queuing that is currently horrendous will be here to stay. I thought the new security area looked smaller than currently being used for the scanners etc but will have more queuing area, they say it will be faster to pass (they hope.)
At the moment you have north and south security access so the actual queues to the current security area don't seem as long ( at time of writing this north has actual 26 min and south 22 min queues) so the new single point security access will combine the 2 queues into one. A previous Nick barton quote about the new security area doesn't install much confidence either "A larger queue area including longer security lanes and a new corral will help the customers moving".

big vern said:

I think proof in the pudding is needed with the new security area. Personally I think peak time queuing that is currently horrendous will be here to stay. I thought the new security area looked smaller than currently being used for the scanners etc but will have more queuing area, they say it will be faster to pass (they hope.)
At the moment you have north and south security access so the actual queues to the current security area don't seem as long ( at time of writing this north has actual 26 min and south 22 min queues) so the new single point security access will combine the 2 queues into one. A previous Nick barton quote about the new security area doesn't install much confidence either "A larger queue area including longer security lanes and a new corral will help the customers moving".

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Having used the new 3D scanners at other airports, such as FCO, I think (hope) it’ll significantly cut waiting times.

At FCO, there can be huge queues and only a few lanes open, and the queue still takes just a few minutes. Think about the fact that people only have to put through their rucksack and take off belts/empty pockets and that’s it. Vs now- liquids in a little bag, pedantic BHX staff not allowing those with their own (organised!!) plastic bags despite being the right size, removing all laptops and other tech devices etc …

Not to mention, it seems over 50% of passengers have to go through twice as those old machines always seem to flag something.

All of that should go with the new scanners, as they’re capable of scanning 3D images

A quick sample on social media (yes yes, I know!) over the weekend and it didn't seem like it was a smooth operation for the terminal/security refurbishment coping with the record crowds. Queues measured in hours and people missing flights won't be a good look if it carries on.

MB1 said:

A quick sample on social media (yes yes, I know!) over the weekend and it didn't seem like it was a smooth operation for the terminal/security refurbishment coping with the record crowds. Queues measured in hours and people missing flights won't be a good look if it carries on.

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It wasn't a pretty sight over the weekend what I saw.
Since they replaced the escalators with the 4 high capacity lifts, when the queues go back up towards the south terminal up towards WH smiths (and now outside again) from the lifts, they have a barrier by spar to to block movement to/from the north departures check in area in the link between north/south terminals to keep the queue to the lifts/departures moving. This now creates another separate (albeit smaller) but frequent queue either side of the barrier for passengers wanting to check in and after checking in then queue to go and join the departures queue, you couldn't make it up.
4 high capacity lifts and only 1 being used for departures passengers when there are queues, so upstairs doesn't get blocked access to rail link and staff gate/offices.
Like I said previously the jury is out with me how effective the new security area will be at cutting the queues, I hope to be proven wrong.....But.

Anyone know when the stand work at the eurohub finishes

Birmingham Airport 'security chaos' sees family miss out on £2k holiday to Spain

Sad thing for the passengers is there's no recourse against anyone. If an airline cancels a flight there's defined rules on refunds and compensation, but nothing covers this scenario

MB1 said:

Birmingham Airport 'security chaos' sees family miss out on £2k holiday to Spain

Sad thing for the passengers is there's no recourse against anyone. If an airline cancels a flight there's defined rules on refunds and compensation, but nothing covers this scenario

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Yep, straight into the BHX airports management ignore box.