Birmingham traffic?

Birmingham traffic?

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I have a training course in Birmingham next week.  It will finish about half past 4.  Any locals able to tell me what it will be like driving out of the city centre at that time?  I may be tempted to get a flight if the trafic is generally bad, but would really prefer to drive.  I am going back north to Glasgow.

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By cymraeg_draig
31st Mar 2011 15:22

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Not local but I do know Birmingham - unfortunately.

The traffic at that time of day will be pretty bad. But then again Birmingham is always bad, and don't try to ask directions you've got no chance.  I'm still trying to figure out how 2 million people can all have the same speech impediment.  (They call it an "accent" but it's far worse than that).

Why not use the train ?  Or, better still a combination of the two.  Drive to, say Nottingham, park up and hop on a train to Birmingham ?

 

 

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By ShirleyM
31st Mar 2011 15:37

I agree with CD

Much easier (and less stressful) to take a train, and most training courses seem to be held within walking distance of a station.

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By pipper01
31st Mar 2011 16:46

Traffic

Ooh being from Brum I can understand everyone just  fine thanks. Ne'er a day goes by when I don't ask someone 'Where d'yow come from' and mention how 'our mam luvs Satdis' 

 However I will agree that the traffic in the centre is a nightmare all day really and  once out the centre you still have to contend with the M6 and spaghetti junction. It's really easy to get a train from New Street or Snow Hill stations.

 

 

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By cymraeg_draig
31st Mar 2011 18:23

pipper - Noooooooooooo

 

Ye Gods, don't advertise the fact that its possible to get out of Birmingham. For decades the rest of Britain has been sending kamikaze drivers to spagetti junction to block Birminghams road and stop the Brummies escaping.

If the Brummies realise they can actually get out the rest of us will no longer be safe from that accent.

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By pipper01
31st Mar 2011 21:41

Loss to the world!

But then where would we be without JRR Tolkien, George Cadbury (imagine no Dairy Milk!), Tony Hancock and dare I say it - Ozzy Osbourne.

As opposed to Bonnie Tyler, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Timothy Dalton and Charlotte Church!?!?!?!?

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By CEL
31st Mar 2011 21:54

Leaving Brum via M6 North and South at that time is usually bad.

Having said that M6 North has recently opened up hard shoulder on stretch up to Junction 10 during rush hour. I was in Brum on Wednesday and Expressway wasn't too bad at approx 4.20pm, unfortunately don't go North so can't comment on that stretch.

However if you are coming from Glasgow, I'd opt for the train or plane, much less stressful. 

C-D - I thought the Brummies made their way to your country for their hols!!

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By cymraeg_draig
31st Mar 2011 22:27

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C-D - I thought the Brummies made their way to your country for their hols!!

 

Posted by CEL on Thu, 31/03/2011 - 20:54

 

Thats the 6 weeks each year when we double the prices in the shops and fleece them and everyone in the pub starts speaking in Welsh so the tourists dont realise we're talking about them :)

We also sell our water to Birmingham at great cost  to them - and lets face it water isnt exactly in short supply round here.

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By blok
01st Apr 2011 09:48

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Train ticket is booked.  Upgraded to first class for extra £19, not bad!  Total price £120 return.

I would normally never dream of driving into a major city when train/plane option is available, but I have just got a new car and was wanting to spend some time alone with it! 

I detest airports and refuse to fly unless absolutely no other option.

 

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By Becky Midgley
01st Apr 2011 10:13

Mourning

"I have just got a new car and was wanting to spend some time alone with it! " - You just made me really miss my car! I loved driving long distance alone with my car.  Music and in-car sweets on the go, driving at the speed I wanted to drive at (I have to drive really slowly if my Ma's in the car) and just generally enjoying my freedom. *sigh

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By DMGbus
01st Apr 2011 13:52

Train is probably the best choice

When I travel to Birmingham City Centre (about 15 miles away from where I live) I very rarely make the whole journey by car - its usually car to a local railway station or by bus.  This avoids excessive car parking charges, the hassle of finding a parking space and the horrors of a traversing a local car park commonly known as "M6 junctions 8 to 10".

Here's a City Centre map that might come in handy:-http://www.networkwestmidlands.com/web/FILES/Birmingham_City_Centre_Map.pdf

 

 

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By frustratedwithhmrc
01st Apr 2011 14:54

Not technically correct

JRR Tolkien was born on 3 January 1892, in Bloemfontein in the Orange Free State (now Free State Province, South Africa) although he did spend his early life in Birmingham.

Not that I wish to spoil a good rant about the joys and sorrows of the West Midlands.

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By cymraeg_draig
01st Apr 2011 16:00

Becky

I have to drive really slowly if my Ma's in the car........ Posted by Becky Midgley on Fri, 01/04/2011 - 09:13

 

Easily cured Becky - buy a motorbike - mothers tend not to want to travel on them :)

Worked for me.

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