New Train Services To/From Stafford.

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I don't have to pay to go into Birmingham with a 5 year old diesel, if you check you'll probably find you're exempt.
I do with a 10 year old one, despite my emissions tax being very low?

Edit: 12 years! Was 10 when I got it...
 
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gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
I have a 11 year old diesel. Bought purely because I wanted a reliable car. It's gone through every MOT and has never failed on me yet. I don't fancy replacing it yet until the market has settled down and we hopefully realise that EVs are causing just as much damage if not more to the planet than ICE engines. This video is an eye opener on the damage mining for Cobalt, Lithium and Nickel is causing.

 

ATJ

Well-Known Forumite
with a 10 year old one, despite my emissions tax being very low?

Edit: 12 years! Was 10 when I got it...
My 10 year old diesel is completely tax exempt but not exempt from Birmingham's clean air zone 🙄

I concur with other comments here that a) the lack of mechanism to check what you owe before you pay is utterly ridiculous and b) the fact that this was implemented while there are no alternatives to get in and out of the city at night time means it's doing more for budgets than clean air.

I would love to be able to go to gigs in Birmingham via public transport, I really would. But when the last train is at 10.39 or 11.09 and gigs finish at 11, you're not left with many options .
 

GNM67

Well-Known Forumite
Just for a bit of fun though I would see if bus/train is possible to go to a convert in Wolverhampton (KK Steelmill) from Stone.
If I leave at 5:40pm get the bus to Stafford then the Train to Wolverhampton I can get to the place by about 7pm
Then pretty much turn around in order to get the last train/bus back home. :down:
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
Train to Codsall is my preferred after gig option, if you are able to drive there.
 

GNM67

Well-Known Forumite
Just looked a bit further and there are trains from Stone station but the last train back from Wolverhampton is too early (Stone or Stafford).
And it still works out cheaper to drive even with parking.
 

Thehooperman

Well-Known Forumite
Just looked a bit further and there are trains from Stone station but the last train back from Wolverhampton is too early (Stone or Stafford).
And it still works out cheaper to drive even with parking.
There's a 22.45 from Wolves to Stone and a 23.36 Wolves to Stafford.

If they're too early you may as well have fun and stay out til the 05.48 🤣
 

ATJ

Well-Known Forumite
Just looked a bit further and there are trains from Stone station but the last train back from Wolverhampton is too early (Stone or Stafford).
And it still works out cheaper to drive even with parking.

Even with the clean air charge in Birmingham its cheaper to drive in and park at the Arcadian than it is to get two train tickets. Not that the train is actually an option if you want to see the end of the gig.

KK I hadn't even considered anything other than driving there it's so out of the way.
 

The Hawk

Well-Known Forumite
When West Midlands Trains (who operate West Midlands Railway & London Northwestern Railway) took over the West Midlands franchise they made a number of promises, one of which was to provide a later service back from Birmingham New Street to Stafford & Crewe.

So instead of the last train being at 23:09 they 'replaced' it with a later service at 23:10!!! A year later, having fulfilled their promise, the service returned to its 23:09 departure time.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
When West Midlands Trains (who operate West Midlands Railway & London Northwestern Railway) took over the West Midlands franchise they made a number of promises, one of which was to provide a later service back from Birmingham New Street to Stafford & Crewe.

So instead of the last train being at 23:09 they 'replaced' it with a later service at 23:10!!! A year later, having fulfilled their promise, the service returned to its 23:09 departure time.
Reminiscent of when they wanted to drop the old First, Second and Third Class ticket system, but they were required to maintain Third Class ticket availability, so they just dropped Second Class and eased the 'Third' Class prices up accordingly...
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
Reminiscent of when they wanted to drop the old First, Second and Third Class ticket system, but they were required to maintain Third Class ticket availability, so they just dropped Second Class and eased the 'Third' Class prices up accordingly...
That was before my time.
 

The Hawk

Well-Known Forumite
Good news for those wanting a later train back from Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

From the December 2022 timetable the last weekday service will leave Birmingham New Street at 23:22 and Wolverhampton at 23:42, calling at Penkridge at 23:51 and arriving at Stafford at 23:58.

Not a huge advance on the current 23:09 from New Street, but it could make all the difference for those going to gigs with a 23:00 curfew.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I stay sober at gigs, precisely so I don't have to take the train home. Plus what is the point of going to a gig and then spending half your time having to go for a jimmy?
It's only since I got older I realised I appreciate gigs more sober, at a festival in Belgium pre covid I didn't drink til the headliner came on each night.
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
Good news for those wanting a later train back from Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

From the December 2022 timetable the last weekday service will leave Birmingham New Street at 23:22 and Wolverhampton at 23:42, calling at Penkridge at 23:51 and arriving at Stafford at 23:58.

Not a huge advance on the current 23:09 from New Street, but it could make all the difference for those going to gigs with a 23:00 curfew.
Lovely, that's like the return of the 11'30pm from New Street and 11.48pm from Wolverhampton that we had until privatisation.
 

highguyuk

Well-Known Forumite
Good news for those wanting a later train back from Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

From the December 2022 timetable the last weekday service will leave Birmingham New Street at 23:22 and Wolverhampton at 23:42, calling at Penkridge at 23:51 and arriving at Stafford at 23:58.

Not a huge advance on the current 23:09 from New Street, but it could make all the difference for those going to gigs with a 23:00 curfew.

Could you share where this information is published please?
 

c0tt0nt0p

Well-Known Forumite
Could you share where this information is published please?
Screenshot_20220829-162726_Trainline.jpg
 

Theresa Green

Well-Known Forumite
Announcement soon on ticket office closures

And on HS2 delays

And on Avanti franchise removal

And on alcohol on trains

And on new price rises

And on a call to return to office based working
 
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