Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: remy on June 28, 2016, 10:52:03 PM
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After 20 years of driving from south Birmingham, parking on the bevington road and walking to VP from there, I've moved to Worcestershire and will begin to take the train to Aston station come August.....
What I would like to know is how safe is the station to and from, is it packed out come 4.45pm, are the trains regular or crap?
Any seasoned travelers amongst the fans?
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Quite a variable experience
Brilliant at every 10 minutes on a Saturday, but only half hourly on a Sunday, and trying to get one after a night match can make you lose the will to live.
Although I am going the other way so it might be different - I am sure when I am waiting for a train on a night match there are loads heading back into town, but none going in my direction.
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I rarely have much of a wait at any time. If we start winning a few matches and it's worth staying until the end it might be more of a problem, though.
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We have been using it travelling from the south of the city for years. Travelling into town is normally fine but it often gets packed out at New St. It depends where you get on for how regular they are, from Longbridge they are every 10 minutes, if you are coming from further out then they are less frequent.
If you try to get on straight after the game there is usually a massive queue but leave it half an hour and it is fine and the frequency is the same.
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Train from Stourbridge to Snow Hill. Bus from outside Snow Hill to The Bartons. Bus from The Bartons to Brum after the match. Train from Moor Street back home.
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Only got the train back to New St a couple of times (early-mid 2000's) from Aston and both times there was a bit of unpleasantness on the platform. Once was after Arsenal had beaten us, can't remember the other team. Long time ago though and hardly likely to be representative now. whatever it's like these days, it's probably preferable to losing the will to live whilst trying to get back to the M6.
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I use Aston station after games, but to go the other way - towards Lichfield. I can honestly say that I have never seen any trouble on either platform. Opposition fans are sometimes on the platform for Birmingham, but not a problem.
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I can also say the on,y place I have ever (even back in the 80s) seen trouble on my journey to & from Villa Park has been close to the ground, never at Aston station. I think Witton is a bit more unpredictable because it's close to the away end and is used by more away fans.
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I usually get the train the New Street after the games I don't get any trouble.
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I've used Aston Station for years going in the opposite direction, never had any kind of problem and trains on a Saturday are regular. I do tend to have a pint after the game and wait for the queues to die down a little. Its well organised and isn't any different on the opposite platform when I've gone into town rather than home.
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I've used the cross city line for many years from Selly Oak to Aston and have never experienced any problems but after the game i go in Swan & Mitre over the road for a couple or five pints as their are queues
of considerable length. You don't say where in Worcestershire you are actually coming from but if it is Worcester Foregate St you can get on to the Aston train at University which will save some hassle of the hustle & bustle of New St.
As previous posters have already said trains every 10 minutes, a brilliant service, not so great on Sundays when every 30 minutes.
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Go on the londonmidland.com page, put in where you're travelling from & to and it will give you times and train changes.Will also give you info about disruption.Better than network rail train info.
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Cheers Fellas.
Its actually Redditch to Aston.
It's going to mean I can have more than one pint without having to drive home. Because I will be taking Remy Jnrs I and II with me now I was a bit concerned the carriages are packed out at full time with the kind of morons from outer space like I witnessed in Paris when Chavski fans pushed that bloke off or the scene from Rise of the foot-soldier on the Inter city whatsit.
It's all change for me now at VP:
New Manager
New Owner
New Kit
New Players
New League
New teams to play
New optimism
New way to get to games
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I've taken my 5 year old a couple of times no problem
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Cheers Fellas.
Its actually Redditch to Aston.
It's going to mean I can have more than one pint without having to drive home. Because I will be taking Remy Jnrs I and II with me now I was a bit concerned the carriages are packed out at full time with the kind of morons from outer space like I witnessed in Paris when Chavski fans pushed that bloke off or the scene from Rise of the foot-soldier on the Inter city whatsit.
It's all change for me now at VP:
New Manager
New Owner
New Kit
New Players
New League
New teams to play
New optimism
New way to get to games
On average I think the journey takes about 40 - 50 mins as I go from Redditch direct, until the new owners had taken over I would have recommended the pub by Redditch train station to have a drink in but its gone a bit downhill now. Had no real trouble at Aston station apart from pranksters throwing snowballs at the Bradford semi and it can get a bit of a wait as it is a small station after the game, so a walk or taxi to new street can be a good decision if it is a busy matchday.
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The only bit of anti-social behaviour I've seen on a train in the last couple of seasons was when some woman had her shopping on a seat and I had to stand up.
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Cheers Fellas.
Its actually Redditch to Aston.
It's going to mean I can have more than one pint without having to drive home. Because I will be taking Remy Jnrs I and II with me now I was a bit concerned the carriages are packed out at full time with the kind of morons from outer space like I witnessed in Paris when Chavski fans pushed that bloke off or the scene from Rise of the foot-soldier on the Inter city whatsit.
It's all change for me now at VP:
New Manager
New Owner
New Kit
New Players
New League
New teams to play
New optimism
New way to get to games
Avoid the first train after the game then go to the far end of the platform, most people cram into the first couple of coaches and there is more room further back.
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The only bit of anti-social behaviour I've seen on a train in the last couple of seasons was when some woman had her shopping on a seat and I had to stand up.
The Bitters Youth in our carriage were amusing a couple of seasons ago. You obviously get that kind of thing more at Witton than Aston though.
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We take the kids regular kings Norton to Aston. I love getting the train - makes it more of a day out. I enjoy the walk as well but takes about 10-15 mins. Great for Aston social and tavern before and after.
Can get rammed at 5pm but that's what the pub is for!
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Brilliant!
Really looking forward to first home match now. Onwards and Upwards.
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I rarely catch the rattler now but when I have, there's always been a queue so like others have suggested, a pint after the game if you're not in any rush is a good idea.
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I rarely catch the rattler now but when I have, there's always been a queue so like others have suggested, a pint after the game if you're not in any rush is a good idea.
Or just pop over the road to the Shisha bar and see what Gabby thought of the game
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I rarely catch the rattler now but when I have, there's always been a queue so like others have suggested, a pint after the game if you're not in any rush is a good idea.
Or just pop over the road to the Shisha bar and see what Gabby thought of the game
Oh you naughty boy!!!
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I'd want to punch him in the face frankly
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I'd want to punch him in the face frankly
That's a bit harsh, I'm very nice.
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I don't use the train, so can't comment on them. One other public transport option is the Supporters bus, (not sure how much they are now). But they used to arrive at VP in plenty of time for the match. The return journey was 30 minutes after ther final whistle and they used to get through the traffic fairly wel, as they got a police escort for part of the way.
I remember the one night when someone got a phone call from his wife who was normally on the bus but because of work had to take the car. She wanted to know how he was getting on and the answer was very well, we had just passed the Night Out (02) while she was still waiting to get onto the Lichfield Road.
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I don't use the train, so can't comment on them. One other public transport option is the Supporters bus, (not sure how much they are now). But they used to arrive at VP in plenty of time for the match. The return journey was 30 minutes after ther final whistle and they used to get through the traffic fairly wel, as they got a police escort for part of the way.
I remember the one night when someone got a phone call from his wife who was normally on the bus but because of work had to take the car. She wanted to know how he was getting on and the answer was very well, we had just passed the Night Out (02) while she was still waiting to get onto the Lichfield Road.
Think we may need to clarify the reference to 'The Night Out' for our younger readers and participants.
The Night Out was one if 'the' premier Cabernet nightspots in the 1970's and early 1980's in Birmingham hosting such famed acts as Roger De Courcey, Showaddywaddy, Dana, Marti Caine and The Barron Nights all while eating chicken and chips.
I think that should confuse the under 30's sufficiently.
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My son (15) has a season ticket & gets the Warwick Parkway train to Moor St, walks to New St then train to Aston.
He did it on his own all of last season, previous seasons he'd been with me occasionally so he already knew the way. If I thought there was any risk of trouble I wouldn't let him do it.
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I don't use the train, so can't comment on them. One other public transport option is the Supporters bus, (not sure how much they are now). But they used to arrive at VP in plenty of time for the match. The return journey was 30 minutes after ther final whistle and they used to get through the traffic fairly wel, as they got a police escort for part of the way.
I remember the one night when someone got a phone call from his wife who was normally on the bus but because of work had to take the car. She wanted to know how he was getting on and the answer was very well, we had just passed the Night Out (02) while she was still waiting to get onto the Lichfield Road.
Think we may need to clarify the reference to 'The Night Out' for our younger readers and participants.
The Night Out was one if 'the' premier Cabernet nightspots in the 1970's and early 1980's in Birmingham hosting such famed acts as Roger De Courcey, Showaddywaddy, Dana, Marti Caine and The Barron Nights all while eating chicken and chips.
I think that should confuse the under 30's sufficiently.
And the chicken and chips were in a plastic basket!!!!
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I only went there once, to see an unknown Sarah Brightman (whatever happened to her, and why did she airbrush her history HG get no mention in her write-ups?) perform in the dance group Hot Gossip sharing the billing with The Roly Polys. The Rolys were by far the better dancers.
I forgot to mention in my original post the function of the Night Out, but did reference the 02 so that younger folks than us old farts would know where I meant. :)