Birmingham New Street: How to exit station?

[E759]

For the first time ever, I need to alight at Birmingham New Street and exit the station in order to get to Birmingham Snow Hill. I've read some horror stories here about what a difficult place it can be, therefore could I please request your advise?

I've got the station map from NRE and looked on Google. It looks like the best route is to head to the far west-end of the Platform (booked to arrive P6), up onto an over-bridge then down from the bridge onto Navigation Street. Is that correct?

Many thanks!

 

[TheDavibob]

For the first time ever, I need to alight at Birmingham New Street and exit the station in order to get to Birmingham Snow Hill. I've read some horror stories here about what a difficult place it can be, therefore could I please request your advise?

I've got the station map from NRE and looked on Google. It looks like the best route is to head to the far west-end of the Platform (booked to arrive P6), up onto an over-bridge then down from the bridge onto Navigation Street. Is that correct?

Many thanks!

Is it definitely Snow Hill you want to get to? Most connections are also available at Moor Street, which is a shorter walk (though less pleasant) from New Street.

 

[High Dyke]

For the first time ever, I need to alight at Birmingham New Street and exit the station in order to get to Birmingham Snow Hill. I've read some horror stories here about what a difficult place it can be, therefore could I please request your advise?

I've got the station map from NRE and looked on Google. It looks like the best route is to head to the far west-end of the Platform (booked to arrive P6), up onto an over-bridge then down from the bridge onto Navigation Street. Is that correct?

Many thanks!

You can go that way. Turn right out of the Navigation Street entrance and walk towards Stephenson Street; alternatively use the main way out from the ticket hall / barriers onto Stephenson Street. Then cross the road and carry on up Lower Temple Street, across New Street into Temple Street. Go across Cathedral Square (to the right of the Cathedral), and Snow Hill is across the road ahead of you.

Your other choice is to get on the tram outside New Street station (Stephenson Street) and get off at Snow Hill station.

 

[E759]

Ah, interesting question! I'm travelling to Kidderminster coming up from Euston. I just followed the instructions from both Virgin and NRE which say use Snow Hill. I'm looking for the "easy" route from the perspective of someone who has never set foot outside of the station Happy to use Moor Street if that is easier.

Thank you.

 

[Ianno87]

Ah, interesting question! I'm travelling to Kidderminster coming up from Euston. I just followed the instructions from both Virgin and NRE which say use Snow Hill. I'm looking for the "easy" route from the perspective of someone who has never set foot outside of the station Happy to use Moor Street if that is easier.

Thank you.

"Easy" is to just get a train from New Street to Smethwick Galton Bridge, then train to Kidderminster from there

 

[telstarbox]

The walk to Moor Street is easy and signposted. Exit on the east side (signed towards the Bullring) and look towards the Rotunda building ahead. Keep going roughly in a straight line into a wide tunnel and Moor Street is at the other end of the tunnel.

 

[E759]

Thank you High Dyke. The "main way out from the ticket hall/barriers onto Stephenson Street" isn't shown on the NRE Station Map! Perhaps it's the exit marked Victoria Square?

Getting on a Tram sounds nice; any particular tram you have in mind or the first one which turns up - Pay the Conductor onboard?

 

[E759]

Thank you telstarbox. Looks like the easiest route as you say.

 

[TheDavibob]

Thank you telstarbox. Looks like the easiest route as you say.

When I travelled to and from Kidderminster via New Street it was always the route I would use and would certainly recommend, particularly if Birmingham is completely new.

 

[E759]

"Easy" is to just get a train from New Street to Smethwick Galton Bridge, then train to Kidderminster from there

Ah now that is interesting thank you Ianno87. In theory I could arrive earlier via that route. If the connections are missed at New Street or SmethwickGB I'd still arrive at the same time if I'd walked to Snow Hill

 

[High Dyke]

Thank you High Dyke. The "main way out from the ticket hall/barriers onto Stephenson Street" isn't shown on the NRE Station Map! Perhaps it's the exit marked Victoria Square?

Getting on a Tram sounds nice; any particular tram you have in mind or the first one which turns up - Pay the Conductor onboard?

It is the exit marked Victoria Square. Basically that and Navigation Street are about 80m apart, or 250ft in old money.

Pay on board the tram seems the way to be. They seemingly do a range of tickets depending on a persons travel requirements.

For day tickets and single fare, the simplest way to buy your ticket is direct from the bus driver or tram Conductor.If you're travelling on the bus or tram, Swift Pay As You Go is cheaper than paying with cash, and you'll never have to search for the right change again.

Source: https://www.networkwestmidlands.com/tickets-and-passes/ways-to-buy/

 

[E759]

When I travelled to and from Kidderminster via New Street it was always the route I would use and would certainly recommend, particularly if Birmingham is completely new.

Last week I had a very tight connection at Malton onto the bus for Pickering and had only just seen here about the problems on the TPEx SCA service. Despite the late arrival of the TPEx into Malton, I arrived at the Bus Stage with a minute to spare. Only to find the bus was running ten minutes late thus destroying the connecting train at Pickering and meaning a two hour wait and no chance to get to Whitby. Plan C was hastily concocted, I commandeered a taxi and made the train at Pickering with ten minutes to spare

I'm not sure if the journey to the destination is more enjoyable than the destination itself! Definitely more challenging and not for the fainthearted the further afield one travels.

 

[E759]

It is the exit marked Victoria Square. Basically that and Navigation Street are about 80m apart, or 250ft in old money.

Pay on board the tram seems the way to be. They seemingly do a range of tickets depending on a persons travel requirements.

Source: https://www.networkwestmidlands.com/tickets-and-passes/ways-to-buy/

Thanks again High Dyke, yes that's the map I found. So two out of three questions answered. Just the issue of which tram to board (Destination, Line etc.) unless there is only one tram from the Navigation Street stage?

 

[Kite159]

You can go that way. Turn right out of the Navigation Street entrance and walk towards Stephenson Street; alternatively use the main way out from the ticket hall / barriers onto Stephenson Street. Then cross the road and carry on up Lower Temple Street, across New Street into Temple Street. Go across Cathedral Square (to the right of the Cathedral), and Snow Hill is across the road ahead of you.

Your other choice is to get on the tram outside New Street station (Stephenson Street) and get off at Snow Hill station.

Not the best idea seeing as access from the stop formally known as Snow Hill (St Chads) to Snow Hill station itself is a bit of a hassle. The closest stop is actually Bull Street.

 

[E759]

Not the best idea seeing as access from the stop formally known as Snow Hill (St Chads) to Snow Hill station itself is a bit of a hassle. The closest stop is actually Bull Street.

I assume HS2 solves all of these problems. It certainly should given the amount of money being invested.

 

[Kite159]

I assume HS2 solves all of these problems. It certainly should given the amount of money being invested.

What's HS2 got to do with the Midland Metro not having a handy stop for Snow Hill?

Although if you were going to use the tram, than probably easier to alight at the Jewellery Quarter stop to access the Snow Hill Lines (unless you are connecting into one of the few services which skips stations in the city centre area)

 

[E759]

What's HS2 got to do with the Midland Metro not having a handy stop for Snow Hill?

Although if you were going to use the tram, than probably easier to alight at the Jewellery Quarter stop to access the Snow Hill Lines (unless you are connecting into one of the few services which skips stations in the city centre area)

I assumed that HS2 offered exciting new journey opportunities and linked up all the Birmingham stations a la Thameslink and Crossrail...

 

[Ianno87]

I assume HS2 solves all of these problems. It certainly should given the amount of money being invested.

If you're doing Euston to Kidderminster, you'll be able to arrive on your HS2 train at Curzon Street, walk to Moor Street next door, then get your Kidderminster train from there.

 

[TheDavibob]

I assumed that HS2 offered exciting new journey opportunities and linked up all the Birmingham stations a la Thameslink and Crossrail...

Curzon Street will be a terminal station, and has little direct effect on the existing stations. It'll have a main western entrance plonked next to Moor Street, and as such will make Moor Street a much more attractive station. There'll also be a tramline snaking underneath (?) the new station with connections into central Brum (but not New Street). Ideally, if people get their act together there'll be an even slicker connection fro Curzon+Moor Street to New Street, but HS2 has no *direct* benefits to inter-Birmingham travel (in the same way as it has no *direct* benefit on connections on Euston Road in London).

Worth noting that New Street is already a very comprehensive through station (which London just doesn't have, London Bridge aside), so there's less need for a Crossrail/Thameslink type scheme, though New Street is very constrained these days.

 

[E759]

If you're doing Euston to Kidderminster, you'll be able to arrive on your HS2 train at Curzon Street, walk to Moor Street next door, then get your Kidderminster train from there.

Ah hah! That sounds like a good option. Although I doubt if HS2 will match Chiltern's £9.50 Advance from Marylebone.

 

[E759]

Curzon Street will be a terminal station, and has little direct effect on the existing stations. It'll have a main western entrance plonked next to Moor Street, and as such will make Moor Street a much more attractive station. There'll also be a tramline snaking underneath (?) the new station with connections into central Brum (but not New Street). Ideally, if people get their act together there'll be an even slicker connection fro Curzon+Moor Street to New Street, but HS2 has no *direct* benefits to inter-Birmingham travel (in the same way as it has no *direct* benefit on connections on Euston Road in London).

Worth noting that New Street is already a very comprehensive through station (which London just doesn't have, London Bridge aside), so there's less need for a Crossrail/Thameslink type scheme, though New Street is very constrained these days.

You missed St Pancras International LL the gateway/interchange to so many destinations in the UK and EU that I'd be here for the rest of the day listing them!

 

[E759]

So to close this thread: Thank you for all your good and interesting advice. I came to this sub-forum looking for local knowledge and obtained it. I'll pick one of the options offered.

Apologies for the thread-drift at the end, my excuse is my local station is "served" by Thameslink [but fortunately has Southern trains as well, otherwise I wouldn't be day-tripping and needing advise].

 

[takno]

Ah hah! That sounds like a good option. Although I doubt if HS2 will match Chiltern's £9.50 Advance from Marylebone.

I can't see anything competing with Chiltern fares to Stourbridge/Kidderminster, even the walk-up ones. It'll definitely be quicker though!

 

[E759]

I can't see anything competing with Chiltern fares to Stourbridge/Kidderminster, even the walk-up ones. It'll definitely be quicker though!

I'm very much looking forward to my return journey with Chiltern with one of those Class 68(?) at the back(?)!

 

[Metroman62]

For London to Kidderminster I use Chiltern to Birmingham and then have a cross platform change at either Birmingham Moor St or Snow Hill. Much easier than going via New St. On the return check where train back to Marylebone starts from be it Snow Hill or Moor St. Unless you want a short connection then get a train back from Kiddy and you can board the Chiltern service with plenty of time as they tend to sit at Birmingham for at lest 39 minutes often.

 

[E759]

If only there was a Chiltern at that time of day! Alas there isn't hence going down from Euston
On the return however: Bridgnorth 17:40, Kidderminster 18:52. Kidderminster 19:13, Snow Hill 19:55. Snow Hill 20:12, Marylebone 22:11.

 

[bussnapperwm]

Best off getting a tram from New Street tm Jewellery Quarter.

£1 cash, 90p Swift Pay as you Go, £1 contactless. Pay on tram

Just use the lifts/stairs at jewellery quarter to change to Stourbridge/Kidderminster platform there

 

[kje7812]

If only there was a Chiltern at that time of day! Alas there isn't hence going down from Euston
On the return however: Bridgnorth 17:40, Kidderminster 18:52. Kidderminster 19:13, Snow Hill 19:55. Snow Hill 20:12, Marylebone 22:11.

Hopefully the Valley will be running on time.

 

[duffield]

Just the issue of which tram to board (Destination, Line etc.) unless there is only one tram from the Navigation Street stage?

There's only one line at present and it currently terminates at New St., so any tram will do.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Exit - it's hard enough finding your way from one platform to another.

Last week I was travelling from Banbury wanting to make a tight connection with the Liverpool train which I know always goes from 4c. I don't know what platform I came in on but it was crowded making it hard to get to the escalators. So I got in a lift and found myself in a concourse with no access to lower numbered platforms. There wasn't even a sign on that concourse telling you which way to go.

Eventually I discovered I had to go back down to platform level again and go up again somewhere else to another concourse. Talk about passenger hostile. And this is the station where they frequently change platforms at very short notice.

My earliest memory is of my first visit to New Street in the 1970s. It took me so long to get out of the wretched shopping centre above the station that I had to take a taxi to St Andrews otherwise I would have missed the kick off.

I hate the place. Good job the Post Office Vaults is nearby.