Wheels: BR.
If you're on wheels, see our Easy Access page for explanation. |
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Above: Modern stations aim to be small multi-purpose units that are clean and fresh - and economical to run. The main building at Aston is one of the larger examples.
Please note: the notes and sketches are intended only to give a general impression, and should not be relied upon for more than that.
Dudley Mall accepts no liability for errors, but will correct any significant ones notified to us through
dudleymall@dudleymall.co.uk
or by post to Dudley Mall, 62 Gervase Drive, Dudley, West Midlands DY1 4AT.
A full list of routes covered by Dudley Mall appears at the bottom
of this page.
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BIRMINGHAM NEW STREET has a full description page to itself here. When you've viewed it, click the Back button that you'll find at top or bottom of the page to return here. For simple convenience, however, this is our main plan. We've labelled the east and west ends, but trains can go in almost any direction from either end - and when under pressure, they do!
Wheels: BM.
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 DUDDESTON
station is on DuddestonMill Road, a
few yards east of the B4132. The ticket office is on an
overbridge across the track and its foyer includes a small
waiting area with seats. One platform island is out of use, so
the other now serves trains in both directions. It is reached
only through the ticket foyer, either by stairs or lift, but
looks reasonably accessible for wheelchairs. No station parking
is provided but you might be lucky enough to get street parking.
Wheels: BR
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 ASTON
station isn't actually as close to Aston Villa football ground
as Witton, but is better appointed for waiting for your train
home. It abuts the bright red bridge over Lichfield Road (A5127)
near the junction with Holborn Hill (B4132). Bus stops are a few
yards either side of the bridge and the station approaches are
right beside the bridge. Unusually for a small station, it has
train times displayed on monitors at the foot of each approach;
these show trains from their own platform, but also cycle
through general information. There are stairs and a lift to each
platform. The ticket office is on the out-bound platform with
enclosed and open waiting areas alongside. The city-bound
platform has an open fronted waiting area. There is no station
parking, and street parking is probably difficult too. Wheels:
BR [Photo at head of page]
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 WITTON
station stands on a narrow embankment that bridges over the
A4040 Witton Rd., just north east of its junction with Aston
Lane. The platforms also feel narrow, and the buildings that
serve them are built on the embankment sides. The ticket office
and its adjacent open-walled shelter on the north-bound side
both have a two-brick step up, denying wheelchairs, though the
platform is at least canopied at this side. (In fairness, there
may be a safety issue here, with the platform edge being a
little too close for the provision of ramps, but it does look
meanly unhelpful.) The platforms are reached by railed ramps
from either side of the road bridge, but there is no quick
crossing between platforms. A small pay-and-display car park
lies at road level, but you may find street parking. Wheels:
BR
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 PERRY
BARR is sited at a maze of activity, alongside a
roundabout where the A404 (Wellington Rd.) runs over the A38
dual carriageway, with complex feeder roads between them. Part
of the University of Central England is directly opposite the
station ticket office (which is shyly set in a small row of
lock-up shops over the track); and the One-Stop shopping complex
is along its northern flank, with bus services just a few feet
from the station door. Staircases and railed ramps go down to
both platforms, which have bus shelter accommodation. There is
no station parking, but you may get parking behind the shopping
centre - and you may also pay for the privilege. Alternatives look thin on the ground. Revisited 2006 Wheels:
BR
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 HAMSTEAD
is on a line under the B4124 (Old Walsall Rd.), just a few yards
down from a row of shops. Birmingham-bound trains are reached by
a fairly gentle slope and the ticket office and waiting room are
in a traditional wooden building on this side of the line. The
road overbridge makes the other side less accessible, with a
staircase down and a longish (smooth and railed) ramp
alternative, and only a bus shelter provides weather protection.
There is no station parking, and local street parking may be more luck than certainty. Wheels: BR
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 TAME
BRIDGE PARKWAY might have been simple to set out
had it not been approached by the A4031 New Walsall Road dual
carriageway, hence the underpass arrangement on the west side.
Take care approaching on the east side: the station access is
shared with a water company and their large sign at the same
point may fool you into overshooting - and the dual carriageway
makes it awkward getting back. The sloping site has two
park-and-ride areas, and a drop-off point immediately in front
of the modern ticket office. Beyond this is a ramp down to the
city-bound platform and a short ramp up to road level to get
across to the opposite platform. There are bus shelters on both
platforms, and enough railings around the site to make you
wonder if the contractor was able to retire afterwards. Revisited 2007. Wheels:
BR
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 BESCOT
STADIUM station car park (free to railway users) is directly opposite
the Walsall Football Club stadium. A smooth-surfaced footpath
runs for about 60 yards from the back of the car park, under an
elevated section of M6, and ends at the steps of a passenger
overbridge. This is the only access to the station, which makes
it unsuitable for people with mobility problems, and hard work
even for prams. A modern ticket office is on the
Birmingham-bound side of the station with a small waiting area
inside. Otherwise facilities comprise a bus shelter on each
platform. Upgrade work was carried out in 2007, but the 2001
plan was essentially still correct in 2008. Wheels: BR
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 WALSALL
station ticket office is lodged in one corner of the Butlers
Precinct shopping centre, with a ramp from there to an island
platform with some canopy protection. When the precinct is open,
there is easy access through it from Park Street
(pedestrianised), though there are some slopes en route. The
ticket office can also be reached through a passage that runs
along one side of the Marks & Spencer store. The far end of
the passage has both a ramp and steps down to street level, and
from here you can get to the parking area (not free) and the
entrance to north-bound platform 1 and its bus shelter. There is
no direct bridging between the two platforms. There is street
parking in Station Street alongside, but it is short term (and
pretty full at busy times) so it has limited value for rail
travellers. Wheels: BR
Walsall is also on the Walsall-Shrewsbury line. Click here
to transfer to our guide for that
line.
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 BLOXWICH
station lies under Croxdene Avenue, with railed smooth ramps
down from each side of the road bridge to bus shelters on the
platforms. There is no ticket office and no station parking, but
local streets (e.g. Central Drive) seem okay. The two problems
with the station are that it's quite well hidden from sight, and
Croxdene Avenue is one way (approached from Hall Road - i.e.
from below the plan shown here). But once you know it, it's
simple. Wheels: BR
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 BLOXWICH
NORTH The B4210 (Broad Lane) runs diagonally
over the northern end of the station with a smooth railed ramp
running down to the bus shelter adorning the Birmingham
platform. Across the railway, the road offers a left turn
(Cresswell Crescent) from which you can reach a parking area
apparently shared by the railway and the local residents. From
the corner of this, a smooth footpath runs round to the
north-bound platform, with street lighting installed to assist
you on dark nights. Wheelchair users will find one snag in that
the only low kerb edge is down by the entrance to the car park,
but otherwise it's easy access. Walkers from the car park to the
Birmingham side have steps to the upper road level, but these
were in dangerous condition at the time of our visit, so take
care. Wheels: BR
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 LANDYWOOD
station is hard by the border with Cheslyn Hay. It's clearly
signed if you approach from Old Landywood, but you go far enough
down a long lane (Streets Lane) to start wondering. The station
is where Streets Lane forms the stem of a T-junction with
Landywood Lane. The Rugeley platform is just before the
junction. For the Birmingham platform, turn right and you'll
quickly find clearly-signed park and ride facilities with a
shallow tarmac ramp leading to the station. Both platforms are
easy access, and both have a bus shelter for weather protection.
Wheels: BR
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 CANNOCK
station lies south east of the town centre, off the A5190
(Lichfield Rd.). Parking for about 80-100 cars (full!) is at the
foot of a winding path up to the Birmingham-bound platform.
Merging with this path is a steep-looking railed ramp coming
straight up from the Lichfield Rd. bridge. The Rugeley platform
can be approached via Mill St., but the last section is by
footpath only (reasonably wheelchair friendly). This platform
has only a half shelter, whereas the Birmingham side runs to a
glazed four-sided one. There is no ticket office. Wheels:
BR
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 HEDNESFORD station (pronounced "Hensford", we're told) is adjacent to the western end of Market St. (B4154) and behind a supermarket in Anglesey St. The free station car park lies further along Anglesey St., is clearly signed, and has a smooth footpath leading from it to the city-bound platform. The outbound platform has a ramp approach from Station Rd. at its junction with the B4154.
Each platform has a bus shelter. Foot
passengers can use the road bridge to change platforms;
wheelchair users would have to take the car route round the
supermarket, but as there is no ticket office, this may not
matter. Note that Market St. (the shopping street) is one way.
Use the Victoria Street loop past the bus station if you need to
circle back. (rev 2007) Wheels: BR
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 RUGELEY
TOWN is a new station built in 1997, and reached
from the east end of Horse Fair. Take the right fork as it
passes under the railway viaduct and immediately turn right off
that into Wharf Rd. At the top is parking for about 100 cars.
There is a ramp to the Birmingham platform, a bus shelter, and
passenger overbridge to the other side. There is no easy
crossing for the wheelbound, but the other side is accessible
from Hednesford Rd. Turn in at the Lea Hall Social Club, cut
across the car park, and you'll find a footpath leading on to
the platform, which has a bus shelter for those waiting for a
link to the Trent Valley line. Wheels: BR
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 RUGELEY
TRENT VALLEY is a generous mile to the north of
Rugeley, but well signed along the B5013 from the roundabout at
the west end of Horse Fair. The railway itself is obvious from a
distance but the turn up to the station comes suddenly by the
railway bridge. The exit at the same point is positively
dangerous, especially for lone drivers. There is little vision
either way - a real case of keep checking, hit the accelerator
and pray. Though the railway itself is important, the station
isn't, with little more than casual parking, a passenger
overbridge and a bus shelter. The line out from Birmingham ends
here, though trains may continue to Stafford. The station is
definitely not pram or wheelchair-friendly. Wheels:
BR
Rugeley Trent Valley is part of the Stafford-Rugby line.
Click here to transfer to
our guide for that line.
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Email Dudley Mall at:
dudleymall@dudleymall.co.uk Dudley Mall, 62 Gervase Drive, Dudley,
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