Birmingham New Street train station evacuated as a suspicious item found on a platform

West Midlands Railway says Birmingha New Street train station has reopened
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A suspicious item was found on a platform at Birmingham New Street train station this afternoon (Monday, October 31).

British Transport Police evacuated the station as they assessed the item, which has not been officially identified. There are reports that it was a ‘fake grenade’. Crowds of people were seen outside the train station as the commuter rush hour journeys were about to begin around 4pm.

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The official statement from British Transport Police said: “We’re currently responding to a report of a suspicious item on a platform at New Street. The station has been evacuated as a precaution while the item is assessed. Thank you for your patience while we respond to this incident.”

BTP updated their statement at 4.50pm to say the item had been assessed and was not being treated as suspicious any longer - with New Street to open shortly.

A spokesperson said: “The item has now been assessed by specialist officers and is no longer being treated as suspicious. New Street station will be re-opening shortly.”

West Midlands Railway has told passengers that Birmngham New Street had reopend at 5.07pm. The rail operator said: “Birmingham New Street station has reopened. Services will not immediately recommence, and disruption is ongoing whilst we work to recover the scheduled timetable. Ticket acceptance remains in place on local @nxwestmidlands bus routes.”

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National Express West Midlands buses had been accepting rail tickets earlier as the statino was evacuated. Passengers already on trains hoping to disembark at New Street were having to remain in carriages, with trains returning to the nearest alternative station while the incident continues.

Meanwhile tram services are only operating until 6pm today due to industrial action. A spokesperson for railway operator said said: “Due to the police incident at New Street Station, @nxwestmidlands are accepting rail tickets on all their services until further notice. Reminder that @WMmetro services will run until 18:00 today due to Industrial Action”

Rail passengers evacuated from Birmingham New Street train stationRail passengers evacuated from Birmingham New Street train station
Rail passengers evacuated from Birmingham New Street train station

West Midlands Railway added that it had requested road transport between the following stations:

  • Coventry to Northampton
  • Redditch/Bromsgrove to Longbridge
  • Lichfield City to Lichfield Trent Valley
  • Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley
  • Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury

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