2. Journey home-06.10.23

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2023 > 71. Trip to Birmingham-05 & 06.10.23 > 2. Journey home-06.10.23

The journey home from Birmingham to Northampton was uneventful. It was interesting to see the progress of HS2 both at Curzon Street and where it crosses our return route just south of Berkswell station. This was the week that our esteemed Priminister Sunak cancelled the third section of HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester having already cancelled the Birmingham to Leeds section two years earlier; what a farce!

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Images 1-8 of 8 displayed.

390153, 08.00 Glasgow Central-London Euston (9M51, 7L), Birmingham New Street station
The front end of the 9M51 08.00 Glasgow to Euston service is seen waiting at New Street worked by Avanti's 390153. I am always surprised by the fifteen-minute dwell time at Birmingham that seems to add an unnecessary amount of time to the four hundred and seven-mile journey.
Keywords: 390153 08.00 Glasgow Central-London Euston 9M51 Birmingham New Street station

158829, AW 12.08 Birmingham International-Aberystwyth (1J15, 4L) 323203, LN 11.31 Redditch-Four Oaks (2U28, 2L), Birmingham New Street station
The 12.08 Birmingham International to Aberystwyth worked by 158829 arrives at New Street station whilst 323203 leaves with the 11.30 Redditch to Four Oaks leaves. Both of these units are old and on borrowed time with replacements underway. Indeed, the Class 323s should have been withdrawn by now but with the inevitable delays caused by issues with the new units they are still in operation.
Keywords: 158829 12.08 Birmingham International-Aberystwyth 1J15 323203 11.31 Redditch-Four Oaks 2U28 Birmingham New Street station

350244, LN 12.36 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1Y40, 2L), Birmingham New Street station
Our train home from Birmingham to Northampton stands in the gloom at New Street worked by 350244. After its protracted and very expensive redevelopment a few years ago I might have hoped that the ambience on the platforms would have been improved but, alas it remains a dark and oppressive place that is not roomy enough to handle all of the passengers using it at certain times.
Keywords: 350244 12.36 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1Y40 Birmingham New Street station London Northwestern desiro

HS2 site, Birmingham Curzon Street
Whilst Priminister Sunak's announcement earlier this week that the second of three legs of HS2 is to be cancelled this just leaves the London to Birmingham route to be completed. Work thus continues at Birmingham Curzon Street as seen here. The 1838 Grade 1 listed station building looks to be marooned in amongst the HS2 works. It will become an integral part of the new station with a full restoration about to take place, see..... https://www.hs2.org.uk/building-hs2/stations/curzon-street/old-curzon-street-station-building/
Keywords: HS2 site, Birmingham Curzon Street

HS2 site, Birmingham Curzon Street
Three of the many concrete piers that will support the Birmingham Curzon Street HS2 station platforms take shape. Progress continues here to complete what will now be the northern terminus of the line from Euston (or is it to be Old Oak Common this week?) as the government has announced this week that the remainder of the original plan has been axed leaving the London leg as a reminder of what we could have had!
Keywords: HS2 site Birmingham Curzon Street

720137, 13.20 Rugby-Wembley Yard (5Q35, 5E) & 350244, LN 12.36 Birmingham New Street-London Euston (1Y40, 2L), Northampton station
On arrival at Rugby on our return journey, our train passed the 13.20 Rugby to Wembley Yard mileage accumulation/staff training run as it was waiting to leave. Thus, it followed our train to Northampton a short distance behind. On arrival at Northampton, as I walked to collect the car, 720137 passed through the centre road as the 5Q35 seen from St. James Road.
Keywords: 720137 13.20 Rugby-Wembley Yard 5Q35 350244 12.36 Birmingham New Street-London Euston 1Y40 Northampton station Greater Anglia

Tickets, Birmingham New Street-Northampton
Our return tickets from Birmingham to Northampton. Bought in advance and with a two-together discount the fare for both of us was good value at £15 return proving that with a little pre-planning and thought reasonable value train fares are still out there to be had.
Keywords: Tickets Birmingham New Street-Northampton

Gate keeper
On arrival home from our short trip to Birmingham, I cut the grass at home and gave the my homemade (but locally sourced) gate keeper and thought that it looked rather good in the early evening autumn sunshine!
Keywords: Gate keeper

Images 1-8 of 8 displayed.