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Location notes
Longbridge Station is situated on the Birmingham Cross-City line between Lichfield Trent Valley and Redditch, running on a North East - South West axis
Railway type and traffic
At this point, Longbridge is a quadruple track with the Up and Slow lines on the outside with the main lines in the middle.
Mainly used by Virgin Voyagers and Central Trains City Link services, there is also a very intense local passenger service operating over the Cross City line utilising Class 323 EMUs operated by Central Trains on behalf of Centro.
Freight traffic also uses the line, with mainly steel and coal operated by DB Schenker and Freightliner Heavy Haul, while DRS also plays a role in running an as-required Nuclear Flask train from Berkeley to Crewe.
It is also common for charter trains to use this line at weekends as well.
Mainly used by Virgin Voyagers and Central Trains City Link services, there is also a very intense local passenger service operating over the Cross City line utilising Class 323 EMUs operated by Central Trains on behalf of Centro.
Freight traffic also uses the line, with mainly steel and coal operated by DB Schenker and Freightliner Heavy Haul, while DRS also plays a role in running an as-required Nuclear Flask train from Berkeley to Crewe.
It is also common for charter trains to use this line at weekends as well.
Environment
The environment is very suburban, the station is also staffed and is well monitored by CCTV, as with any location though its always best to be on your guard.
Road directions
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Longbridge Station map co-ordinates
Parking
Public transport
As mentioned before though Central Trains operate a very frequent service on a Monday - Saturday - up to 6 trains an hour from Birmingham New Street, although 2 carry on to Redditch. Same sort of service pattern going towards Birmingham as well, the fares are also very reasonable so it may be cheaper to leave the car in Birmingham and go to Longbridge by train.
Please note it is only services from Birmingham New Street that serve Longbridge.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Please note it is only services from Birmingham New Street that serve Longbridge.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
As the location is in a well populated suburb, there are shops and a couple of pubs nearby. There are toilets on the station itself.
Accommodation
There are plenty of Bed and Breakfasts and hotels in Birmingham City Centre, but there are none, that are known, at the location.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Longbridge Station
Streetmap links
Longbridge Station general view map
Longbridge Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Longbridge Station
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Longbridge Station
Googly map
Longbridge Station general view map
Longbridge Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Longbridge Station
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The photography is best for morning shots of traffic going towards Birmingham when the light is behind you, an added interest is the former Rover foundry which you can also get in the shot to give a suburban feel.
The sun moves round about 11 - 12 by which time its ideal for traffic from Birmingham. From about 14:00 you are better off going onto the Birmingham-bound platform for traffic coming from the North. Mainly freight would be of interest after that time, unless you like units.
For videographers, there should be minimal noise as you will be at the end of the platforms, if there are any specials due Longbridge does tend to get quite congregated so its better being early and setting up before hand.
If you are there in the morning, please be aware that 4 services an hour terminate at Longbridge, and tend to wait a while on the platform before crossing over to work back to Birmingham.
In the event of a charter being due you may end up with a Class 323 in the picture, although if you are at the opposite end of the platform you should be OK as you will get most of the train.
The sun moves round about 11 - 12 by which time its ideal for traffic from Birmingham. From about 14:00 you are better off going onto the Birmingham-bound platform for traffic coming from the North. Mainly freight would be of interest after that time, unless you like units.
For videographers, there should be minimal noise as you will be at the end of the platforms, if there are any specials due Longbridge does tend to get quite congregated so its better being early and setting up before hand.
If you are there in the morning, please be aware that 4 services an hour terminate at Longbridge, and tend to wait a while on the platform before crossing over to work back to Birmingham.
In the event of a charter being due you may end up with a Class 323 in the picture, although if you are at the opposite end of the platform you should be OK as you will get most of the train.
General views - All photographs © James Power unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south
Fig 2 - Looking south
With a unit paused in the platform.
Fig 3 - Looking north
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
Bewdley Tunnel and Black stone nature reserve
