Travel from Birmingham to London by Train | Schedules and Fares

On Saturday, October 19, 2019, I took the 16:50 train from Birmingham New Street to London Euston. Birmingham International, Coventry, Rugby, and London Euston were all served by the service.

Leaving Birmingham New Street

Since its redevelopment in 2015, Birmingham New Street has become one of the country's most modern and impressive train stations. The station's undulating metal roof draws your attention as you approach the entrance. Inside the station, there is a wide variety of food outlets; before leaving, I grabbed some food from LEON. The station's upper concourse is a hive of activity with over 60 outlets and restaurants, and it even connects to the Bullring shopping center via the LinkStreet tunnel. The Bullring is a must-see attraction in Birmingham, if not for the dizzying array of shops, then for the striking building design (another excellent example of modern architecture) and its famous bronze bull sculpture.

Getting on the Pendolino train

The "Blackpool Belle" Pendolino train was the one I took. The city's crest was emblazoned on the train's side. Avanti West Coast commissioned the Blackpool Belle Pendolinos as part of the introduction of direct services to Blackpool. Its name is a nod to the service that transported Lancashire workers to Blackpool for Saturday night dances from the 1930s to the 1960s, which was immortalized in the Houghton Weavers' 1993 song "Blackpool Belle."

Carriage A, the quiet carriage, had a seat right at the back of the train. This made for a relaxing and enjoyable journey.

The in-flight service

Because I was in Standard Class, I did not have access to the services available to First Class passengers. I did, however, have access to Avanti West Coast's own entertainment platform, Avanti Media, as well as the free on-board WiFi. The WiFi connection was a little slow but otherwise adequate.

Carriage C housed the onboard food carriage. There were numerous food options available, including hot and cold meals, snacks, chocolates, hot drinks, and alcohol. Prices are higher than in a high-street store, but not astronomical. The cost of a meal deal is £5. 50 (sandwich, beverage, and snack) Prices for hot foods start at £2. 60 pence for porridge to £4 A chicken ciabatta costs £20, and cold eats start at £3. 30 to £4 00; and hot drinks start at £2. 00 to £2 60 Craft beers, Pimm's, and prosecco are among the interesting alcoholic beverages available.

The train ride itself

The scenery along the way isn't particularly inspiring. However, there are a few interesting bits. As you leave New Street, you can see the Birmingham skyline. There is also some beautiful countryside between Rugby and London, and as you approach Euston - about five minutes from the station - you will see Wembley Football Stadium in the distance. I arrived at Euston slightly late due to weather delays.

Freddie's best advice

Make a reservation in advance. I had reserved a window seat in the quiet carriage, which made for a very pleasant journey. My mobile ticket contained all of the information about my seat reservation, including my carriage and seat number.