Smethwick Galton Bridge – question stems from arthritis!

[Chrius56000]

. . .Whilst I haven't had to use the trains for over six months, if I wanted to use a station in either direction along the Birmingham Snow Hill route from Walsall, would I be entitled to change at Smethwick Galton Bridge as this has lift access to all four platforms, as I suffer from gout/arthritis and need to minimise lengthy walks as much as possible, or do I have to plan journeys specifically via Smethwick Galton Bridge?

 

[Haywain]

How would you be getting from Walsall to Smethwick Galton Bridge? Perhaps you mean with a change at New Street as well. If you do, that would be fine for a journey towards Stourbridge and Kidderminster. For journeys towards Stratford and Warwick it might depend on the ticket you hold.

 

[Chrius56000]

. . .There are through trains to Wolverhampton that start from Walsall via S.G.B.!

 

[MrJeeves]

It depends entirely on the journey being made. Most of the time it seems like, yes, journeys from Walsall to stations on the line between Kidderminster, Smethwick Galton Bridge, B'ham Snow Hill through to Leamington/Stratford can be made via Smethwick Galton Bridge.

Walsall to Stourbridge Jn, for example, is permitted via Perry Barr and Smethwick Galton Bridge.

Walsall to Stratford-upon-Avon is also valid changing at Smethwick Galton Bridge, even though you'll go through Birmingham New Street twice to do so.

There are likely some journeys which cannot be made this way, though. I'd certainly recommend doing a search via Smethwick Galton Bridge to make sure it's permitted for any particular journey you choose to make. For example, you cannot travel to Leamington Spa by changing at Smethwick without purchasing a combination of tickets for your journey (but you can to Warwick, strangely).

The forum's ticketing site will allow you to explicitly choose to "change at" Smethwick Galton Bridge, and also prevent changes at stations like Birmingham New Street and entirely disable walks between stations to help you get the exact itinerary you would like.

 

[crosscity]

Walsall to Stratford-upon-Avon is also valid changing at Smethwick Galton Bridge, even though you'll go through Birmingham New Street twice to do so.

No. You'll go through Birmingham twice, but usually only once through New St. This doesn't detract from your otherwise excellent information, though.

 

[MrJeeves]

No. You'll go through Birmingham twice, but usually only once through New St. This doesn't detract from your otherwise excellent information, though.

Oops, yes, I misread Moor Street as New Street on the itinerary I checked

 

[crosscity]

Oops, yes, I misread Moor Street as New Street on the itinerary I checked

It is, of course, possible to get to Leamington Spa and points further south directly from New St. It really depends on where the Op is planning on going.

 

[Deafdoggie]

. . .Whilst I haven't had to use the trains for over six months, if I wanted to use a station in either direction along the Birmingham Snow Hill route from Walsall, would I be entitled to change at Smethwick Galton Bridge as this has lift access to all four platforms, as I suffer from gout/arthritis and need to minimise lengthy walks as much as possible, or do I have to plan journeys specifically via Smethwick Galton Bridge?

It depends exactly where you are going, but generally it is fine to change at Galton Bridge rather than Bhm.
Depending on the journey and time of day a daytripper may be cheaper anyway & thus you can go anywhere.
Don't forget that if you have a West Midlands bus pass you can use it for free train travel after 09:30 (anytime weekends) so again, any route is permitted within zones 1-5