Stoke-on-Trent to Lichfield City

[onlinespotting]

I plan to take my mum to Lichfield. Last time we went we were able to change at Trent Valley. This would not be possible now that she requires a wheelchair for longer journeys. Can we change at birmingham new street?

 

[Watershed]

I plan to take my mum to Lichfield. Last time we went we were able to change at Trent Valley. This would not be possible now that she requires a wheelchair for longer journeys. Can we change at birmingham new street?

It's not a permitted route, however if you explain your accessibility requirements to West Midlands Trains, they should say which alternative arrangements and reasonable adjustments they suggest. For example, that could mean a taxi from Lichfield Trent Valley, or allowing you to travel via Birmingham where that wouldn't normally be permitted.

 

[507020]

It's not a permitted route, however if you explain your accessibility requirements to West Midlands Trains, they should say which alternative arrangements and reasonable adjustments they suggest. For example, that could mean a taxi from Lichfield Trent Valley, or allowing you to travel via Birmingham where that wouldn't normally be permitted.

Of course when you intend to travel on a route that is not permitted, you can always use split tickets, e.g. Stoke-on-Trent - Birmingham New Street and Birmingham New Street - Lichfield City, but why can you not travel via Lichfield Trent Valley? I recall it having lifts the last time I changed there, although I didn’t use them and I would generally try to avoid changing at Birmingham New Street if at all possible.

 

[Watershed]

Of course when you intend to travel on a route that is not permitted, you can always use split tickets, e.g. Stoke-on-Trent - Birmingham New Street and Birmingham New Street - Lichfield City, but why can you not travel via Lichfield Trent Valley? I recall it having lifts the last time I changed there, although I didn’t use them and I would generally try to avoid changing at Birmingham New Street if at all possible.

Good point - lifts were indeed installed around 2020. In which case the OP's mother should not struggle to change at Lichfield TV.

 

[onlinespotting]

Ah there are indeed lifts there now, however they were installed in 2020 (June I think) after lockdown - we hadn’t been since before then - can somebody advise me how to add a link?

 

[andy amtrain]

The lifts are frequently out of order and now platform 3 is closed so they are no use any how. the only way from the up platform to Lichfield city is by replacement bus. I would suggest a visit to a different more enlightened part of the world, with such a shoddy service WMT/NR do not deserve your custom

 

[Birmingham]

The lifts are frequently out of order and now platform 3 is closed so they are no use any how. the only way from the up platform to Lichfield city is by replacement bus. I would suggest a visit to a different more enlightened part of the world, with such a shoddy service WMT/NR do not deserve your custom

Lichfield is a lovely little city to visit! But as you say, Platform 3 at Trent Valley is currently out of use as per the West Midlands Railway website.

 

[30907]

The lifts are frequently out of order and now platform 3 is closed so they are no use any how. the only way from the up platform to Lichfield city is by replacement bus. I would suggest a visit to a different more enlightened part of the world, with such a shoddy service WMT/NR do not deserve your custom

Welcome to the forum. The arrangements they describe until the platform is repaired appear perfectly reasonable - does your local knowledge show otherwise?