VOLUME 35 No.10 October 2007 - Intercity Railway Society

operate Cl.350 EMUs, shared with Silverlink County, on stopping services to Liverpool and Northampton.
Cl.323 EMUs are preferred on trains to Birmingham International, Walsall, Wolverhampton and the cross
city line from Lichfield TV to Redditch. Central Trains is also to disappear in November, the services
being split largely between two new franchises, West Midlands and East Midlands. Silverlink County will
be absorbed into the West Midlands franchise. Arriva Trains Wales is the only other TOC to be seen,
with a two hourly service to Aberystwyth, usually Class 158 hauled, although Cls.150 and 153 have been
used. Silverlink County Cl.321 EMUs can also be seen.
Freight Traffic: There are no regular diagrammed workings during the day.
Central Trains 170107 & (Centro) 323219 & Arriva Wales 158825 across the entire western throat
from end of platform 4c, B’ham New Street, 25 September 2007
Best Spotting/Photography Sites:
Though New Street is busy, the variety of rolling stock is now very limited. Spotting is possible from the
end of every platform but no one position allows views of the entire station. Trains terminate in many of
the platforms and return from the direction they came, so much walking up and down and changing
platforms has to be done and keen attention is needed to avoid missing anything. The curve of the
higher numbered platforms makes it difficult to see from one end to the other, as does the dark nature of
the centre of the station. Binoculars are essential. At the eastern end, the lower numbered platforms are
best, which allow some through views of the western end of the station. By moving about on the higher
numbered platforms some views through to the west can be had but are hampered by the curvature. All
movements at this end can be seen from any platform. At the western end the higher numbered
platforms are shorter and have restricted views even of platforms 1-4. The best platform is the extended
4c, which also gives fairly unobstructed photo opportunities of the entire throat. It also has the advantage
of being under cover of a road bridge above, though this means it is in the shade.
Photography is both challenging and interesting owing to the great contrast in light, the platform ends
may be bathed in sunshine criss-crossed by overhead roadways and the centre is very gloomy.
Photographs can be taken from all platform ends with varying degrees of obstruction and shadows from
catenary gantries, signals and signs. The glass encased footbridge at the west end has possibilities if the