The Birmingham Gateway project, which got the go-ahead in February 2008, aims to cater for more than 52m rail users a year. Designs showing how Birmingham's New Street Station will look after a £598m revamp were unveiled back in September 2008.

New Street has long been criticised for its outdated concrete appearance.

Now work has begun to build a new north-west corner entrance, allowing people walking from Victoria Square, New Street and Colmore Row to access the redeveloped station direct from Stephenson Street.

It is scheduled to open at the end of 2012 when the first half of the new station concourse will open to passengers.

The full project is projected to last into 2015 when the new station will finally fully open to the public

For a timeline of news on this major project see below: (source: BBC News)

• Feb 2008 - Goodbye to 'dingy' New Street

• Sept 2008 - New Street designs are unveiled

• June 2011 - Birmingham New Street station to 'get daylight'

• Oct 2011 - Birmingham New Street: Work begins on new entrance