To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the works to be completed at Birmingham New Street railway station are estimated to cost; and how much of this is expected to be met from public funds. (180244)

Costs are subject to ongoing commercial negotiations by Birmingham city council and Network Rail. However, £128 million of Network Rail funding has already been committed in their Strategic Business Plan. Birmingham city council has bid for a £160 million contribution from the Department for Transport through the regional funding allocation. A separate bid for £100 million has been made by Advantage West Midlands to the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Centro has pledged a further £10 million. The total cost includes several contributions from the private sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much extra capacity for train movements will be created by the works to be completed at Birmingham New Street railway station; what plans there are to (a) create new platforms and (b) lengthen existing platforms; and if she will make a statement. (180245)

Additional train capacity at New Street, and across the network, will be provided via longer trains. The Department has already committed to provide the extra carriages required.

Additional passenger handling capacity at New Street will be provided by improvements to the station, proposals for which are being led by Birmingham city council and Network Rail.

These improvements will deal with passenger growth at New Street for the foreseeable future without the need for new or longer platforms. Proposals for New Street also provide improved station access, environment, interchange and wider regeneration benefits.