Infrastructure, Construction & Developments

[JF57]

The entrance to the security check area on the first floor is to be expanded.
This means the WHSmith store and the refreshments bar are to close.I understand that those 2 facilities will close this Friday,15th December.
Hopefully if done right it might mean an end to the horrendous queues we have seen over the past few years,especially in the early mornings.

Which side? Presume you mean the old Eurohub side? Any more lanes being added?

 

[Brummiegem]

Which side? Presume you mean the old Eurohub side? Any more lanes being added?

Main terminal.
All passengers go through this area.I don’t know if more lanes are being added,but I assume the area is being improved to prevent the queueing we have have seen in the past.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I'm not sure of the exact layout but I have heard mention of a 'Z' type queuing pattern?

The aim is definitely to reduce queuing times so it will be interesting to see how it works.

 

[BHXsupporter]

In the good old days, they produced take-away booklets of infrastructure plans (will have to scan and post when I have time).

 

[Ray Finkle]

In the good old days, they produced take-away booklets of infrastructure plans (will have to scan and post when I have time).

I have a copy of the Vision 2005 development plan on my laptop.

If I can work out how to copy a PDF I'll post some pictures.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Vision 2005

This was the airport as it was in 1996. I'll add the drawings of the planned phased expansion up to 2005.

 

[Ray Finkle]

1997-1998

Note the three storey Eurohub extension for BA Executive Lounges.

 

[Ray Finkle]

1998-1999

Extensions to the terminal, including a new pier, along with the old cross runway becoming a taxiway. The proposed extra 4 stands for Eurohub are in an interesting location.

More later if people are interested?

 

[Ray Finkle]

Rather than go through every phase I'll head straight to what we would have ended up with in 2005/6.

 

[Ianbutty]

The remote pier with the underground link. Still a great idea and much needed. Plus the Eurohub extension. Build them, build them, build them! They will come.

 

[BHXsupporter]

Thanks ever so much Ray. These are the booklets that I still have (and treasure!) in glorious blue and red. I used to call in to BHX to 'spot' very occasionally when passing north to south or vice versa with the promise to my wife (if accompanying) of a meal there and some shopping. I went often enough to recognize the frequent spotters, armed with airband radios, notebooks and reference books; among them possibly your goodself.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I was only a very occasional user of the BHX viewing facility and didn't know any of the regulars. I'm not really a 'spotter' in that I don't collect reg numbers and such, I prefer just to sit back and watch the comings and goings, maybe taking a photo or two

My usual route was through Sheldon Country Park, along the path by the railway and up to the old grass verge.


Has anyone noticed how the old pier is still in existence in the drawings above? The replacement that we have wasn't part of the plan although it was mentioned as a potential development to follow on from this. I'm so glad that it happened sooner rather than later as that old pier was awful.

 

[Ianbutty]

Likewise Ray. 'Airport watching' is so relaxing.

Thanks for posting the old plans. I remember them well.

Now time to decorate the christmas tree.

 

[Coathanger16]

Thanks for posting Ray - very interesting. I had no idea that the underground link was ever a plan!

Seeing those plans for BHX expansion is rather making me crave some more current ones...

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Cheers Ray!

I've certainly seen those drawings before, but can't remember where. It was usual for me and my pals after a day in the viewing lounge to wander around the airline and info desks and 'hoover' up any leaflets, timetables etc that we could find. So that's a possible source. Didn't there also used to be a 'BHX magazine'?
Great to see them again. Thanks for posting

Kevin

 

[BHXsupporter]

I'd still love to see the satellite circular waiting lounge and tunnel constructed or some variant of this. I always thought it was a useful way of distributing passengers away from a single departure lounge - if it had sufficient shops as many of these airport 'fingers' do then that could free up space in the main terminal for a new internal revamp perhaps. I suppose the cost of a tunnel + travellator is higher than a Gatwick north terminal bridge (+/- travellator) but it looks so much better although would deny us looking down on aeroplanes passing below. Probably though the height needed would exceed the depth required for the tunnel and so cause difficulties with space either end to without expensive and queue-encouraging lifts.
Still, enough of my musings.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I'd still love to see the satellite circular waiting lounge and tunnel constructed or some variant of this. I always thought it was a useful way of distributing passengers away from a single departure lounge - if it had sufficient shops as many of these airport 'fingers' do then that could free up space in the main terminal for a new internal revamp perhaps.

Totally agree. I hope that the idea isn't totally out of the picture but cost must definitely be a factor.

There may be a possibility to connect to a pier by teeing off the potential new walkway running parallel to the railway line. The one downside could be recreating a cul-de-sac which may slow down movements, unless there is room for a dual taxiway for narrow bodies?

It'll be interesting to see what the master plan reveals.

 

[BHXsupporter]

Airport Strategy
Chance to hear something about airport strategy soon?
Rob Eaton is the Head of Transport & Strategy at Birmingham Airport who will tell us what is happening at the airport and where they are up to with their expansion.
https://www.built-environment-networking.com/event/birmingham-development-construction-conference/

 

[58terminus]

Rob Eaton is the Head of Transport & Strategy

Great job title.Surely an airports reason to exist is transport and its future strategy is all important in a highly competitive industry. So is this the main man or the guy with a overblown job title who negotiates with NCP to rip off car users?

 

[Ray Finkle]

Not strictly airport related but it gives passengers another option. The proposed 224 Moxy Hotel at the NEC is set to be approved today.

https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/midlands/hotel-earmarked-for-nec-site