What's the plan? Reworked Birmingham New Street

[trainophile]

I was changing at BHM this morning, and was surprised to find that RTT showed several trains arriving or departing from Platform *(number) M. Indeed my train from Hereford apparently came in on 5M. I didn't have time to suss it out as I was departing shortly from 4C and needed to visit the concourse first, but it didn't seem like M was particularly distinct from A, B or indeed C.

So what is this M thing all about?

 

[Smethwickian]

I was changing at BHM this morning, and was surprised to find that RTT showed several trains arriving or departing from Platform *(number) M. Indeed my train from Hereford apparently came in on 5M. I didn't have time to suss it out as I was departing shortly from 4C and needed to visit the concourse first, but it didn't seem like M was particularly distinct from A, B or indeed C.

So what is this M thing all about?

Middle of the platform, in my experience. I just the other day arrived from Cheltenham at 2023 on a Manchester bound 4-coach Voyager which seems determined to get as close as possible to the 2-coach 158 waiting at the very far end of 5B to leave at 2025 for Aberystwyth. That suits me fine as that takes me home to Smethwick Galton Bridge and even I can trot a matter of feet in a minute. But it plays havoc with the platform info displays, which can only cope with things in the correct A/B halves, and is potentially confusing for any late coming passengers dashing onto the platform.

 

[edwin_m]

Just seen this on twitter, not sure if it's been posted before?

Whoever proof-read that clearly isn't keeping their "end" up.

Also it doesn't cover the "M" thing at all. Sounds like someone has dropped the ball here, as if "M" is needed then the station rebuilding was the ideal time to bring it in when all the passenger routes and information screens were changing anyway. What platform number is displayed on the main departure screens for a train using "M", and which if any of the on-platform screens show its details?

 

[The Planner]

We use it depending on length or if we want to cram 3 on a platform.

 

[DPWH]

Methinks the text "Lichfield/Coventry/London of the station" and "University/Wolverhampton of the station" are both missing the word "end". Did no-one actually bother to copyedit this?

 

[Sheepy1209]

I don't have a problem finding A or B so it's not an issue for me, but is there anything to tell passengers which end of the station is 'Coventry' and which is 'Wolverhampton'?

I know when I'm down there I haven't got a clue which way the trains will go!

 

[LowLevel]

M for middle has always been used internally there - it's only since the advent of real time trains that the wider world may have become aware of it. It gets used in a few places - another is Leicester where each platform has 3 track circuited berths that are referred to by the signaller as eg 1 north/middle/south but the platform screens can only show 1/1A/1B.

 

[mikestone1952]

I have noticed on severao occasions that the middle shunt signal has been cleared for trains booked to use the "arrival" end so that the screen shows (eg)
5b while four out of five coaches are actually at 5a!
;
In this respect however I think Nottingham is far worse where the actual stopping positions in multi-occupied platforms almost never seem to conform to the screens.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

I don't have a problem finding A or B so it's not an issue for me, but is there anything to tell passengers which end of the station is 'Coventry' and which is 'Wolverhampton'?

I know when I'm down there I haven't got a clue which way the trains will go!

I'm not sure there's anything formal but if you are standing on the platform where you can see daylight and you spot the Rotunda and the Bullring (Debenhams side) then you are at the Coventry end of the station, if not then you are at the Wolverhampton end.

 

[edwin_m]

I'm not sure there's anything formal but if you are standing on the platform where you can see daylight and you spot the Rotunda and the Bullring (Debenhams side) then you are at the Coventry end of the station, if not then you are at the Wolverhampton end.

Many people will know that but the people who need that leaflet to find their platform maybe won't. There's no way of telling on the platform other than by observing train destinations and hoping they are right (and it isn't a reversing train!). Perhaps a convenient abbreviation such as "A" and "B" would help?

 

[nottinghamcity]

The refurbishment of platform 11 is now complete, pretty much bringing the major works to an end.

 

[Bald Rick]

I don't have a problem finding A or B so it's not an issue for me, but is there anything to tell passengers which end of the station is 'Coventry' and which is 'Wolverhampton'?

I know when I'm down there I haven't got a clue which way the trains will go!

If you can see dark clouds, rain and general drabness, that's towards Coventry.

If you can smell the waft of great beer, see sunshine and endless optimism about football, that's towards Wolverhampton.

 

[Busaholic]

If you can see dark clouds, rain and general drabness, that's towards Coventry.

If you can smell the waft of great beer, see sunshine and endless optimism about football, that's towards Wolverhampton.

And which way is Cloud Cuckooland?

 

[Bald Rick]

And which way is Cloud Cuckooland?

That's the second stop on the line to Lichfield.

 

[Phil.]

Methinks the text "Lichfield/Coventry/London of the station" and "University/Wolverhampton of the station" are both missing the word "end". Did no-one actually bother to copyedit this?

How handy if you know the area so are aware which direction London or Litchfield is.

 

[Hadders]

Not really sensible to say platform 4C is outside the station...