West Midlands Network

[afyutr]

I'm off work and down in Birmingham all next week for a random reason with free days to fill. I was planning on mooching around a bit using the transport network. I'll probably be doing this for three days, so wanted to ask a couple of questions:

1. Am I right in thinking the 1 day daytripper network ticket would be the best option (shouldn't think I'd be on a train before 9:30), rather than any other ticket I might have missed? I thought about the week one but probably not worth it as I won't travel every day. My only thought is that I might fancy going to places outwith the zones - eg Tamworth / Nuneaton / Kidderminster etc - would a weekly ticket mean I could buy a ticket for the gap and get a direct faster train from the centre due to that season ticket combination rule (sorry I can't remember the number)?

2. Does anyone have any good suggestions of places worth seeing in this network area? I'm pretty open minded, would happily walk 10-15 miles in the day, and will be taking along my camera. Parks, buildings, views, places of interest, good pubs, anything. Don't mind paying but he free-er the better!

Cheers in advance for any suggestions.

 

[AM9]

I'm off work and down in Birmingham all next week for a random reason with free days to fill. I was planning on mooching around a bit using the transport network. I'll probably be doing this for three days, so wanted to ask a couple of questions:

1. Am I right in thinking the 1 day daytripper network ticket would be the best option (shouldn't think I'd be on a train before 9:30), rather than any other ticket I might have missed? I thought about the week one but probably not worth it as I won't travel every day. My only thought is that I might fancy going to places outwith the zones - eg Tamworth / Nuneaton / Kidderminster etc - would a weekly ticket mean I could buy a ticket for the gap and get a direct faster train from the centre due to that season ticket combination rule (sorry I can't remember the number)?

2. Does anyone have any good suggestions of places worth seeing in this network area? I'm pretty open minded, would happily walk 10-15 miles in the day, and will be taking along my camera. Parks, buildings, views, places of interest, good pubs, anything. Don't mind paying but he free-er the better!

Cheers in advance for any suggestions.

I've done one WM Day Ranger. Started at Northampton and made Hereford via Stourbridge, Kidderminster, Worcester, Great Malvern. Had lunch at Worcester, quite an interesting place.
The return Journey was via Bromsgrove. Took all day but great value. Will do another some day to cover Shrewsbury, Crewe, and the TV Line.

 

[Techniquest]

I also recommend a WMDR (West Midlands Day Ranger), as it covers a lot and doesn't have the evening peak restrictions the Daytripper does. That said it doesn't include the Midland Metro like the Daytripper.

Anything in particular you want to do down this way while you're here? Depending on the answer I can give a fair bit of advice or very little!

 

[afyutr]

Thanks. I'm quite keen to do a bit of exploring on foot / some photography making a few links with the train network. As a football fan I thought I might bounce around some grounds one day (sad I know but I've been to over half of the league grounds now and the chance of going to many more soon is unlikely) and maybe walk a few of the canals on another day. Other than that I'm interested in history and thing of genuine local interest (eg unique museums / structures). A good ale pub or two wouldn't go amiss as well I'm sure!

Once I've decided on a plan for each day I'll make a choice between the tickets. I think I'll probably get a WMDR one of the days.

 

[afyutr]

As an addition, the NRE website doesn't mention a discount on the WMDR for a HM Forces Railcard - is this just a case of it not being arsed to list all the railcards?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

One place of interest may be Kidderminster - Aggborough is about 5 mins from the station and on the way you pass the Severn Valley Railway which has a decent watering hole and (if it's an operational day) steam trains you could photograph.

 

[afyutr]

Thanks - I think I'll try and factor that in later this week on 'football day'. I went to Stourbridge in the end, laughed at that little toy train, then walked over the Clent Hills in a big loop back to Halesowen. Bloody glad I've just found the BrewDog next to New Street...

 

[telstarbox]

The area around the Town Hall, Library and Museum & Art Gallery is good for photos.

There's the Cadbury factory at Bournville and of course plenty of canals to walk along - the Birmingham - Wolverhampton and Birmingham - Kings Norton canals are parallel to the railway lines so you could walk between two stations easily.

 

[SS4]

I also recommend a WMDR (West Midlands Day Ranger), as it covers a lot and doesn't have the evening peak restrictions the Daytripper does. That said it doesn't include the Midland Metro like the Daytripper.

The Daytripper doesn't have evening peak restrictions.

3. Valid for travel on the date shown from 0930 until the end of daytime services Monday to Friday and at anytime Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.

(source)

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The difference between a Daytripper and a WMDR boils down to if you want to stay in the metropolitan west midlands or go further afield and how much, if at all, you plan to use the bus/metro.

Regarding the Metro a plusbus to either Birmingham or Wolverhampton is valid for travel.

 

[Techniquest]

I always thought the Daytripper had the evening peak restrictions! Nice to know that it doesn't, I may take advantage of this one day...

 

[Mojo]

I personally recommend the nNetwork Daytripper as it includes travel on buses and Trams and of course is cheaper.

No good for Tamworth or Nuneaton, but you can get an Add-on for £1.20 which allows travel to Rugeley TV via Cannock, or Daytripper Plus for £2.00 which allows travel to Stratford upon Avon/Leamington Spa via Warwick/Kidderminster/Lichfield TV.

 

[afyutr]

Now that daytripper plus would've been a good one to know about! I found the ticket selection for the network a bit confusing and lacking in handy maps around the place or on offer at the stations. It is very good value for all day travel though once you've got your head round it.

 

[Techniquest]

Never heard of the Daytripper Plus, I must try that one!