Ricster Diaries Episode 84 - Cross Country To Birmingham 2 | 07/05/2024

Filmed on 07/05/2024. So, brace for what was a smooth day to a more in sensible words interesting but fun day. For this is the trip to the UK's second city its otherwise known as Birmingham.
Starting the journey at York vice Scarborough as I decided to drive to York, we caught the 06:44 Cross Country Voyager and Super Voyager combination to Birmingham New Street. Normally, these units would've been stabled at Crofton Depot but instead stabled overnight at York station. As booked a week later, managed to save nearly £47 on this trip. A smooth journey into Birmingham with no problems. At Birmingham New Street, managed to sign in without any problems and well known by some staff as they follow me on KZbin. We decided not to wait for the former Nova 3 set which would be emotional to say the least.
Now, the original plan was to go to Birmingham Moor Street, film for an hour then catch a Chiltern Railways stopping service to Leamington Spa. But, Chiltern Railways were running a revised timetable due to overtime ban by ASELF Union. Also, no West Midlands Railway services between Leamington Spa and Nuneaton due to engineering works. So, the change of plan. We caught the 11:50 West Midlands Railway class 196 service to Hereford. But, due to a passenger emergency at Worcester Foregate Street, our train had to be diverted via Worcester Shrub Hill. But, due to being heavily delayed, our train terminated at Ledbury. So, we caught a GWR IET 13:36 service back to Worcester Shrub Hill.
So, another change of plan we caught the West Midlands Railway service through to Stourbridge Junction which terminated at Birmingham Snow Hill vice Stratford-Upon-Avon due to no train crew. Still, we had a decent hour through at Stourbridge Junction which is based to 2 Chiltern Railways silver sets which weren't in service on this day. Next, we then had a ride on the Stourbridge Shuttle to Stourbridge Town and back to Stourbridge Junction.
Next, we then caught the 16:35 West Midlands Railway service as far as Smethwick Galton Bridge so we can change for the West Midlands Railway service through to our third station, Wolverhampton. But, more issues to be reported as due to a points failure between Telford Central and Shrewsbury West Midlands Railways cancelled their Birmingham New Street to Shrewsbury services. Only, Transport For Wales kept the services running even if it meant for late running. Replacement buses are in force for all stations between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury. We were due to see 5Q32 Long Marsden to Longsight (ex Nova 3) set which was set to run but was stuck at Bromsgrove.
Moving onwards to our final station of the day Birmingham Moor Street. We caught the 18:19 West Midlands Railway to Sandwell & Dudley by mistake as was meant to change at Smethick Galton Bridge to get to Birmingham Moor Street direct. Anyway, we knocked off a little bit of time we caught an Avanti West Coast class 390 Pendolino (Un-refurbished) into Birmingham New Street. We then had a short walk across to Birmingham Moor Street to enjoy a relaxing hour of West Midlands Railway and Chiltern Railways action.
Finally our journey home from Birmingham New Street, we caught the 21:03 Cross Country service to Doncaster which runs via Rotherham Central oddly. At Doncaster, we had around a 45 minute connection, we caught the 23:54 LNER Azuma service back to York but without a plot twist in the journey, There has been a track defect and also being held up by a late running freight train and an Avanti West Coast class 805. We made it to York around 20 minutes late then drove back home. Still, makes for a more interesting day.
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[@Joelsmarbleruns]

Amazing trip to Birmingham a lot of a variety of trains.

[@RickyNowis]

Thank you Joel. A tricky day which made it more interesting :-)

[@RichardBrooke1971]

Thank you for sharing your day in Birmingham Ricky. My favourite station was Stourbridge Junction. I like the class 139s, they're quirky little railbuses. 😊🚂

[@RickyNowis]

The class 139 is a strange railbus but it does the job. Reminds of the old Pacer trains we used to run on the rail network. Thanks Richard :-)

[@robertmwamba945]

It's the Class 323 that are leaving from West Midlands Railway soon

[@RickyNowis]

Majority of them are transferred across to Northern. Only few more to go now :-)