The redevelopment of Birmingham New Street station took a major step forward over the Christmas break as engineers successfully completed several large projects in and around the station.

It is now just one year to go until the first phase of the project will complete when a new station concourse opens to passengers.

One of the most challenging pieces of work was the installation of new sections to extend the Navigation Street footbridge at the west end of the station.

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Engineers used a 700 tonne crane to lift out an old section of the bridge and install the new sections while the station was closed to passengers. When the extended bridge opens at the end of 2012, it will provide access to Platform 12 for the first time and create a new station entrance on Hill Street.

Chris Montgomery, Network Rail project director said: "The work we have completed over the Christmas break represents a major step forward in our exciting plans to rebuild Birmingham New Street for the thousands of passengers who use it every day. Undertaking projects on this scale in the heart of Birmingham city centre represents a huge logistical challenge and we planned the work carefully to minimise disruption to passengers and Christmas shoppers visiting the city centre."

(CD/GK)