Network Rail has revealed plans for the Raging Bull, which was the star of the spectacular opening ceremony at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, to be erected at Birmingham New Street station.
The Raging Bull was designed to pay homage to the West Midlands’ contribution to the Industrial Revolution. It stunned crowds at last year’s opening ceremony, and afterwards while it was on display in Birmingham city centre’s Centenary Square.
It was later moved to a temporary storage facility in Ladywood, and is currently in a workshop in southeast England.
As the Raging Bull was never intended to be a permanent exhibit, designers are currently making modifications to make it more robust to withstand the up to 800,000 people who pass through Birmingham New Street station every week. New Street station is an ideal location for the Bull, as it was originally built 172 years ago and was fundamental to Birmingham’s industrial growth during the later stages of the Industrial Revolution.
Network Rail has worked closely with Birmingham 2022, Birmingham City Council, and the West Midlands Combined Authority. Ian Reid, CEO of Birmingham 2022 said: “The response to the Raging Bull both in Birmingham and beyond was incredible and all Games partners have been keen to ensure that we were able to permanently display this Birmingham 2022 icon in the host city.
“We would like to say a big thank you to Network Rail for taking on ownership and responsibility for the Raging Bull and we hope that his presence will be an ongoing reminder of the superb summer of 2022 and that he will continue to be a key attraction for visitors to Birmingham for years to come.”
Leader of Birmingham City Council, Councillor Ian Ward, said: “It’s fantastic that we have been able to find a home for the Raging Bull in the heart of the proud host city for Birmingham 2022.
“We are shaping plans to recreate the same exciting atmosphere we enjoyed last year because culture is a key part of the Games’ legacy, and we will be announcing more details soon. I can’t wait to see the Bull back in Birmingham in such a prominent place. Congratulations to everyone who has made this happen.”dssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games were a spectacular moment of collective celebration right across our region and nothing captured public imagination quite like that magnificent Bull. That’s why it’s such wonderful news that it will soon be making its triumphant return to Brum – taking pride of place within our iconic New Street Station.”
