How to get from London to Birmingham by rail?

Question

I am getting the train from Southend-on-sea in Essex to either Fenchurch Street or Liverpool Street. But from there where do I need to go? Which major station in London goes to Birmingham, specifically Birmingham NEC, the Birmingham National rail station or something I think its called.

Also, how much do you think it would cost to get a return ticket for under sixteens?

All educated guesses appreciated! Please don't tell me to use a website like National Rail, I just want the answer here please!

Thanks :)

Answer 1

st pancras and kings cross both go, well i end up at st pancras when i go through birmingham anyway

Answer 2

The main service to Birmingham leaves from Euston.

However, Euston is not the best served station by London Underground!

From the Liverpool Street line, alight at Liverpool Street and follow the signs for the westbound Metropolitan and Circle lines. Any westbound train will do. Alight at Euston Square and leave by the Euston Road entrance and turn right. Euston Station is about 250 yards along Euston Road, on the opposite side of the road.

From the Fenchurch Street line, alight at Limehouse and take a citybound DLR (Docklands Light Railway) to Bank. Follow the signs to the northbound Northern Line and alight at Euston

Fares are a very complex matter; it depends on time of travel, the day of travel, your age, how far in advance you book, etc., etc. In all fairness, the best way of crossing this minefield unscathed is to use the National Rail website - not the answer you wanted, but we cannot always get what we want in life!

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How to get from London to Birmingham by rail?
I am getting the train from Southend-on-sea in Essex to either Fenchurch Street or Liverpool Street. But from there where do I need to go? Which major station in London goes to Birmingham, specifically Birmingham NEC, the Birmingham National rail station or something I think its called.

Also,...

Answer 4

The main station for Birmingham is Euston. The cost of tickets varies massively depending on what day and what time of day you want to travel - you really do need to look it up giving your preferred times of travel, as any educated guess would be misleading. I can only tell you that when I travel to Birmingham from Kent off-peak, not at weekends, it's about £40 return. If I travelled peak time or at certain times on weekends it could be a great deal more.

PS Just to say I don't agree with the previous answer that a return is cheaper. This isn't necessarily so. If you are booking on the internet, get the price of a return then ask how much 2 singles would be and sometimes you get a pleasant surprise - again, it depends totally on your dates and times of travel

Answer 5

Southend - Liverpool Street/Fenchurch Street.

Then, on the tube (Circle Line) to Euston Square, follow the signs to Euston Mainline Station. If you go to Fenchurch Street you need to walk to Tower Hill Tube Station (it's signposted)

Then, a direct train to Birmingham International

The ticket prices depend on how early you book the tickets and if you have a rail card. You'll have to sort this one out yourself.

[Edit]
P.S. You CANNOT get to Birmingham from Kings Cross or St Pancras without changing trains. You can get to Birmingham New Street from Marylebone, but not the NEC.

Answer 6

The NEC does have a seperate station and is served mainly by Virgin Trains for quickness. And you need to go to Euston Station for those trains.

You will need to go to your local mainline station as soon as possible (within 6 weeks of the date you wish to travel.) have the day and time of travel requirement (in both directions if required) and then check with the ticket clerk on duty, they will check the computer system and find you the cheapest seat on the closest train to your requirement for that day, if advance purchase tickets are availiable you will be restricted to the train selected and can not change your mind, so make sure it is ok. If no advance seats are left on the trains (weekends can be very busy) then you can buy a Saver ticket which is more flexible, again check with the ticket clerk as to any restrictions on the journey (if travelling during the week, some trains are known as peak trains which travel normally from start of service to 09.30 and from Euston between 15.00 and 19.00 and you will not be allowed on them).
If you are under 16 make sure you tell the clerk that otherwise they will charge you for an Adult fare. Also ask the clerk for a print out of your journey to assist you later.
The price will vary from which date you enquire. But if you are very lucky and obtain an advance ticket, they can be as low as £10 return for Children and rise to a peak time preice of approx £50 - £75.
The ticket will have cross London Travel included for your Tube journey. From Fenchurch Street you will need to walk to Tower Hill Tube Station (signposted and approx 10 min walk) then onto the Circle (yellow) Line. From Liverpool Street the tube station is just by the Main Station so no extra walk, the Circle Line, Metropolitan (brownish) Line or Hammersmith and City (pink) line will get you to Euston.
If you get stuck, then you can ask most Railway Employees for assistance in directions, most of us don't bite.
Good Luck

Answer 7

Try Chiltern railway, London to Birmingham single for just £5.
http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/content.php?nID=112

Basically, you can take train or tube from Liverpool street to Marylbone, then take the special offer to Birmingham Moor street or Snow hill station. Get off either one of those stations and then walk to the New street station. (It's not far roughly about 5 to 7 minutes.)You can take train from New street to Birmingham NEC for about £5 or £6 return. All tickets could be cheaper if you have young person rail card.

I think this is the most economical way to your journey.

Answer 8

Use a website! (Joking, joking!)

Okay so I've taken the liberty of acting as your PA for the Day and had a look for you.

The station you are referring to is Birmingham International, that station serves the NEC.

So from London to Birmingham you could do the following:

London Euston direct to Birmingham International
Tickets range from £39.00 for a discounted advance single up to £110 for First Class open single.

Train operator: Virgin Trains

The journey times all look as though they are approximately 2 hours in duration and your best to travel from 7 in the morning onwards in order to avoid changes.

So it looks like it's London Euston for you!

Have a nice trip!

Answer 9

You need BIrmingham INternational for the NEC. New Street is miles and miles away. You could probably catch any train into New Street, then get a connection to International - very very frequent runs.

I live down the road from there!

Answer 10

Marylebone Station (Chiltern Railways and Bakerloo Line) (5 mins walk from Baker Street Station, Circle, Hammersmith & city, Jubilee, Bakerloo and Metropolitian Line Service's)

Train from Marylebone to Birmingham New Street or Birmingham Snow Hill.

www.chilternrailways.co.uk then timetables for times.

Answer 11

Go to Nationalrail.co.uk, I know you said not to suggest that but I don't see what the point is in asking a question and then saying you don't to use the one facility that will give you the most accurate answer.

It is Euston or Marylebone, prices start from under 10 pounds each way subject to availability. Avoid using Virgin if you intend to buy your ticket on the day of travel, Silverlink and Chiltern trains are cheaper.