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Location notes
Gravelly Hill is a suburb of Birmingham, located to the North of the City Centre in the shadow of the M6 Junction 6, more commonly known as 'Spaghetti Junction'.
The station is on the Northern part of the 'Cross City' line, which runs between Redditch, Birmingham and Lichfield.
The station is on the Northern part of the 'Cross City' line, which runs between Redditch, Birmingham and Lichfield.
Railway type and traffic
The Cross City line is served by London Midland class 323 EMUs, which generally run about every 10 minutes Monday to Friday, and almost all services stop at Gravelly Hill.
Few other trains pass this way, although class 220/221 Voyager DEMUs pass regularly on ECS moves to and from Central Rivers depot at Barton Under Needwood to the North.
Occasionally, if the route via Tamworth is closed due to engineering work, diversions will pass here.
Few other trains pass this way, although class 220/221 Voyager DEMUs pass regularly on ECS moves to and from Central Rivers depot at Barton Under Needwood to the North.
Occasionally, if the route via Tamworth is closed due to engineering work, diversions will pass here.
Link to Real Time Trains
RTT Link Gravelly Hill Station
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
This link should be close to the location, but may not be the actual location so please check the page. This link will take you to what is happening 'around now'. Dates and times can be changed at the top of the page.
Environment
Gravelly Hill is in a residential area, so is fairly quiet outside the peak periods.
The station is in a grassy cutting, which gives some illusion of being away from the city.
After dark it is no worse than anywhere else in North Birmingham, but it is best to exercise caution as you would anywhere else.
The station is normally staffed from around 06:00 to 23:30 ish.
The station is in a grassy cutting, which gives some illusion of being away from the city.
After dark it is no worse than anywhere else in North Birmingham, but it is best to exercise caution as you would anywhere else.
The station is normally staffed from around 06:00 to 23:30 ish.
Road directions
From Birmingham City centre, take the Aston expressway, then follow the A5127 towards Erdington / Sutton Coldfield for around 1/2 mile. Bear left at the 'Y' junction, then take the second left into Hunton Hil - the station is immediately ahead.
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Gravelly Hill Station map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Gravelly Hill Station map co-ordinates
Parking
Parking can be difficult here during the day as many commuters park in the surrounding streets. There will usually be space in nearby streets.
Public transport
Services from Birmingham to Four Oaks and Lichfield run around every 10 minutes Monday to Friday, and all stop at Gravelly Hill. An off peak return from Birmingham as currently (October 2007) £1.60
Regular buses also pass close by, most buses from Birmingham to Sutton Coldfield pass this way - the fare is currently £1.40 each way maximum.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Regular buses also pass close by, most buses from Birmingham to Sutton Coldfield pass this way - the fare is currently £1.40 each way maximum.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
There are no public toilets in the immediate vicinity - please do not ask the station staff if you can use theirs - company policy prohibits it.
There is an off license about 300 yards down the road (up the ramp from Platform 2, turn left and down the hill) which also sells crisps and snacks etc, apart from that there are plenty of shops and eateries in nearby Erdington, which is either a 15 minute walk (Up the ramp from plat 1, turn right, down to the main road, turn left and keep going) or a train ride to Erdington station and a 5 or 10 minute walk.
There is an off license about 300 yards down the road (up the ramp from Platform 2, turn left and down the hill) which also sells crisps and snacks etc, apart from that there are plenty of shops and eateries in nearby Erdington, which is either a 15 minute walk (Up the ramp from plat 1, turn right, down to the main road, turn left and keep going) or a train ride to Erdington station and a 5 or 10 minute walk.
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.
Gravelly Hill Station
Streetmap links
Gravelly Hill Station general view map
Gravelly Hill Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Gravelly Hill Station
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Gravelly Hill Station
Googly map
Gravelly Hill Station general view map
Gravelly Hill Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Gravelly Hill Station
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Light is best for Northbound trains until mid morning, however due to the cutting the sun does not get high enough to clear all the shadows except during the summer.
For Southbound trains the light is best from 13:00/14:00 onwards.
For video the station is fairly quiet, although the station is equipped with an Auto PA system, which some may find intrusive, especially with such a frequent service.
For Southbound trains the light is best from 13:00/14:00 onwards.
For video the station is fairly quiet, although the station is equipped with an Auto PA system, which some may find intrusive, especially with such a frequent service.
General views - All photographs © Justin Buckley unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking north
Fig 3 - Looking south
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.
