Road, Rail & Access

[David_itl]

The problem for the regions is, without sounding too harsh, is the tourists are being brainwashed into visiting London or Edinburgh, like in your example about explaining where you from and getting s non-plussed reaction.

There is one post on another website that stated "Birmingham is desperately trying to get a US3 to do a non-Florida service , but it is really unappealing. The UK outside of London and Scotland is not a tourist destination or a huge US business draw"

I'm afraid that it i were to respond, i would be banned (my thoughts on those statements started "Ignorant beyond belief. Have you even bothered to look at a map to see what is there to explored. If Americans want to be price gouged visiting London or Scotland then more fool them," Then I gave up on continuing that on so didn't bother posting. That year after year I am going to 30 to 40 places of interest taking at least 7000 to 8000 photos without touching London or Scotland must mean that I am a masochist wilfully inflicting pain on my eyes.

What England and Wales regional governmental bodies have to do it get Visit Britain from paying lip service to our attractions, I googled "day trips from Birmingham" and it gave me no fewer than 19 places to go none of which were in London. The last couple of years I've been taking minibus tours from Liverpool, Manchester and Windermere to North Wales, the Lake District and North Yorkshire that are a superb way to get a feel for out areas, and I've still got trips to go on.. You can even do minibus tours from York all over the place.

My mother had to spend some time in hospital and one of the nurses tending to her was from New Zealand and asked where what she could do at the weekend as she had literally emigrated the week before. My mum told her a whole host of places and that nurse said "we've never been told about those places, only what to see and do in London"

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there David_itl, I couldn't agree more, all travel organisations only want to promote all other cities and airports in the UK for weekend breaks, but not Birmingham and the West Midlands and Warwickshire. Because simply they get better incentives to promote anywhere else apart from Birmingham, I was told that years ago, when I went to my local travel agent at that time. I replied, but that's unfair, she replied, it's been like that for years. That's shear ignorance against Birmingham and the West Midlands. Don't promote that area, only else where. This is also where it's getting more difficult to promote the area, with all these negative behaviour. I think that someone needs to heavily promote Birmingham, Birmingham airport and the surrounding area on social media big time and see what the response will be.

 

[TM3]

@David-itl

I took you up on that point on this MAN forum and the idea that people in Birmingham were comfortable with growing BHX by getting overflow traffic from LHR so upset so many people they got me banned from commenting on the MAN Route Rumour thread ever again.

At the end of the day I can't see anyone coming to the UK for the first time choosing to visit Manchester over London or Edinburgh. I'm not disputing that there are nice outdoorsy things you can do (if you leave Manchester) but these aren't really in Manchester and I can't really see them competing with what your typical London or Scotland tourist wants to see.

I don't think we should be too snobby about what American tourists want to see as there is also a lot more to see in the US than New York, Las Vegas and Disney. You've got to accept that certain things have a mass market appeal.

I don't think it's about tourist growth though I think the main oportunities exist to grow WMids as a business centre in the long term.

 

[Ianbutty]

UK Central should be the name. The centre of the UK....

....yes I know, before anyone says, 'its not the centre of the UK. Soligbury in Derbyshire or Yorkshire or Northumberland or South Scotland is....'

.....trouble with Midlands Gateway is...what are the Midlands? They mean nothing to most people. Northerners think it is the south and the southerners think it is the north. Hairy Bikers have not made a series about food here, and it rarely features on the weather. On digging for Britain recently subtitled the Midlands Alice Whatshername was everywherenbut the, um, seemingly Midlands.

It is a migratory route for northerners to get to the south and southners to get to the north. So bad is the regions reputation or anonymity, the logjam on the M6 is people's abiding memory.

Don't get me wrong, I love the place, but, despite all it's wonders, rich cultural history, landscapes and hidden gems, how many travel books are there in Waterstones in Chelmsford on the Midlands? None. Zilch. Zero.

Yorkshire, Cumbria, Scotland, Wales, South West...loads. (sorry none on the North West either).

So let's put the Midlands on the map by not calling this hub Midlands Central.

 

[Nibbles]

The problem for the regions is, without sounding too harsh, is the tourists are being brainwashed into visiting London or Edinburgh

This is exactly the point i was getting at. The only way this country will prosper long term is if that view of the UK from the rest of the world changes, i.e. that there is more than just London or Edinburgh. I think, to be fair, that it has started to change more recently including off the back of Covid staycations bringing the rest of the UKs areas to the worlds eye through social media. But it needs to be sustained. And for that it also needs decision makers (right to the top - i.e. central government) to be bought in to that too. Again, it is changing a little bit, but its very slow.

The aspiration, in 30 years time, is that you can ask anyone in the world about the UK and they'll name 4 or 5 cities alongside London, and ideally would've been to at least one of. Then, everything else will work much better.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

The name needs to include the major city of the region, which is obviously Birmingham. That's how people booking a trip from overseas will identify where they are travelling to. ''UK Central' or 'Midlands Central' (don't both words mean the same thing?), would be meaningless to them, in the same way that 'East Midlands Airport' gives little information to anyone from outside of the UK. 'Nottingham Airport' would.

 

[nancledre]

Kevin, I think you are 100% correct but unfortunately when the opportunity occurred we had cries of “big brother” from the surrounding conurbation. The inhabitants of Greater Manchester have no problem with the M word but suggest the B word and its akin to making a bad smell in church.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Kevin, I think you are 100% correct but unfortunately when the opportunity occurred we had cries of “big brother” from the surrounding conurbation. The inhabitants of Greater Manchester have no problem with the M word but suggest the B word and its akin to making a bad smell in church.

I'm originally from Bloxwich, Walsall and so consider myself a 'Black-Country Lad'. As such, I have no problem with the airport and other transport infrastructure being identified with Birmingham. Also, I would prefer the region to be known as 'Greater Birmingham' than the 'West Midlands'. 'Greater Birmingham' would have a much better identity and marketing potential overseas, than the 'West Midlands'. I think people from overseas, when hearing of 'Greater London' and 'Greater Manchester' misunderstand these to imply that they are the major centres within England, whereas they are really just Counties. The West Midlands really missed a trick by refusing to accept 'Greater Birmingham' as it's identity.
The house that I was born in, was at the time in Staffordshire, it is now in the West Midlands. So, I also identify with Staffordshire.

 

[LichfieldBlue]

The name needs to include the major city of the region, which is obviously Birmingham. That's how people booking a trip from overseas will identify where they are travelling to. ''UK Central' or 'Midlands Central' (don't both words mean the same thing?), would be meaningless to them, in the same way that 'East Midlands Airport' gives little information to anyone from outside of the UK. 'Nottingham Airport' would.

Birmingham, Central England Gateway got a decent ring to it?

 

[Brum X]

Hi there David_itl, I couldn't agree more, all travel organisations only want to promote all other cities and airports in the UK for weekend breaks, but not Birmingham and the West Midlands and Warwickshire. Because simply they get better incentives to promote anywhere else apart from Birmingham, I was told that years ago, when I went to my local travel agent at that time. I replied, but that's unfair, she replied, it's been like that for years. That's shear ignorance against Birmingham and the West Midlands. Don't promote that area, only else where. This is also where it's getting more difficult to promote the area, with all these negative behaviour. I think that someone needs to heavily promote Birmingham, Birmingham airport and the surrounding area on social media big time and see what the response will be.

That's all I do Andrew mate, promote, big up, passionate about Birmingham. Brum in the name, Brum in the photo's

#0121

https://twitter.com/x_brum

Kevin, I think you are 100% correct but unfortunately when the opportunity occurred we had cries of “big brother” from the surrounding conurbation. The inhabitants of Greater Manchester have no problem with the M word but suggest the B word and its akin to making a bad smell in church.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Metro extended to BHX.

I've been hearing about this for 10 years or so. Won't hold my breath.

Ambitious £1bn tram plan for East Birmingham, NEC and airport

Exclusive - East Birmingham and North Solihull tramline 'needs to happen' finally say local leaders

www.birminghammail.co.uk

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Start with sorting the A4545 island first.You think Kingsbury island was bad well my lord it’s bad enough.
Traffic lights on the junction of the A45 now.
Walk way to the Viewing area on R33 is now demolished

 

[Scania1800]

Metro extended to BHX.

I've been hearing about this for 10 years or so. Won't hold my breath.

Ambitious £1bn tram plan for East Birmingham, NEC and airport

Exclusive - East Birmingham and North Solihull tramline 'needs to happen' finally say local leaders

www.birminghammail.co.uk

If the government gives the go ahead & funding, it’s 100% happening, however not until the next decade

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Didn’t know where to add this but I’ve seen rumours from a reliable source that bhx is due to get a new bus link.17A via chelmsley wood and Airport and NEC from the 20th July

 

[tartan201]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1973353272498069768

 

[jfy1999]

Good to see that BHX will be connected to Inverness on a regular basis once again, even if it’s not by air!

 

[jfy1999]

here’s a video of the start of the Sleeper service.

 

[jfy1999]

NCP has gone into administration.

Lots of people online are saying that they won’t be missed!

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

I’ve noticed that the A45 path on R33 has reopened after construction of multiple months.This means the bridge for entrance towards the slope is now accessible with more width available to use