NSWE Investment

[algy]

I think that is the major annoyance, the transport problems for VP both now and in the future are easily solvable with a bit of 'can do'. Put more frequent trains in place after the match and implement a short term one way system away from the ground in all directions.

More frequent trains is very difficult because of the bottleneck at New Street. A full implementation of HS2 might've helped but without that the best option would be to petition for a tramline but I'd say the chances of getting one are very slim.

It's also a very dense residential area and it's pinned between a trainline and the park/Aston Hall the whole location is a natural bottleneck that it's hard to do much to fix. Park and Ride schemes would be the best solution for drivers but i have no idea how popular they'd be.

Not sure about the train thing. The cross city line is down to half hourly now (wasn't it 5/6 trains per hour at one point?) and I'd assume it's not the only one to have been cut.

Know New Street is still busy but surely it can't still be at capacity if there's not as many trains going there?

I think you’re misinformed on the Cross City line. It’s only half hourly on a Sunday but it always has been. The trains are slightly less frequent than they were the rest of the time, down to 4 an hour rather than 6,  but are now 6 carriage trains rather than 3 most of the time so I would say overall capacity has increased.

Ah just noticed, it's 2tph from Lichfield, which is what I was thinking. There's more start from four oaks ... forgot about those

[tomd2103]

Just looked at that Windsor St/Avenue Rd site and I think it nails it if we were to do a new build, much larger site and it leaves us in the heart of Aston - but close enough to the city centre too!

Yeah, from my limited knowledge, I think it looks like it could be a possibility.  It does tick a lot of boxes (walking distance to the city centre, but still technically in Aston, not many pubs and restaurants in that particular area so a chance to cash in on that) and potential opportunities to work with Aston University on regenerating the surrounding area. 

Smithfield would still be my number one choice if we are going to move, but I think that gas towers site would also have a lot of potential.

[Lastfootstamper]

Hands up anyone who's going in to work for an hour's overtime. And I'm struggling a bit with the line of thinking suggesting that because New Street is one of the busiest stations in Europe it somehow means it's easier to schedule more trains into it.

[tomd2103]

How long would a new build realistically take?  Looking at Lille's ground, that took 3 years.  Would that be about right?

[HolteL4]

I think a question that would need asking is how would the local residents feel if we were to build a new stadium on the present site?
Personally, I think the majority would be against it rather than for it.

For me, like Ads said, the whole place is a bit like Triggers broom.

Present day Villa Park is holding us back. Its time to move on.

But as others have said where to? There is no where in the city centre, or the surrounding area to where we are now.  Moving to the NEC is a no because that area copes with traffic just like Aston does, don't believe me go drive round there when there is a big show on. Also with midweek games you'll have to contend with JLR shift change over which will be an absolute nightmare.

[Olneythelonely]

I think that is the major annoyance, the transport problems for VP both now and in the future are easily solvable with a bit of 'can do'. Put more frequent trains in place after the match and implement a short term one way system away from the ground in all directions.

More frequent trains is very difficult because of the bottleneck at New Street. A full implementation of HS2 might've helped but without that the best option would be to petition for a tramline but I'd say the chances of getting one are very slim.

It's also a very dense residential area and it's pinned between a trainline and the park/Aston Hall the whole location is a natural bottleneck that it's hard to do much to fix. Park and Ride schemes would be the best solution for drivers but i have no idea how popular they'd be.

Not sure about the train thing. The cross city line is down to half hourly now (wasn't it 5/6 trains per hour at one point?) and I'd assume it's not the only one to have been cut.

Know New Street is still busy but surely it can't still be at capacity if there's not as many trains going there?

I think you’re misinformed on the Cross City line. It’s only half hourly on a Sunday but it always has been. The trains are slightly less frequent than they were the rest of the time, down to 4 an hour rather than 6,  but are now 6 carriage trains rather than 3 most of the time so I would say overall capacity has increased.

Expected to be back to 6 trains per hour from next year, hopefully.

Although capacity was still an issue with 6 tph, but the new trains which have started to come in have slightly fewer seats, but a lot more capacity from a standing point of view.

[The Edge]

I think that is the major annoyance, the transport problems for VP both now and in the future are easily solvable with a bit of 'can do'. Put more frequent trains in place after the match and implement a short term one way system away from the ground in all directions.

More frequent trains is very difficult because of the bottleneck at New Street. A full implementation of HS2 might've helped but without that the best option would be to petition for a tramline but I'd say the chances of getting one are very slim.

It's also a very dense residential area and it's pinned between a trainline and the park/Aston Hall the whole location is a natural bottleneck that it's hard to do much to fix. Park and Ride schemes would be the best solution for drivers but i have no idea how popular they'd be.

Not sure about the train thing. The cross city line is down to half hourly now (wasn't it 5/6 trains per hour at one point?) and I'd assume it's not the only one to have been cut.

Know New Street is still busy but surely it can't still be at capacity if there's not as many trains going there?

I think you’re misinformed on the Cross City line. It’s only half hourly on a Sunday but it always has been. The trains are slightly less frequent than they were the rest of the time, down to 4 an hour rather than 6,  but are now 6 carriage trains rather than 3 most of the time so I would say overall capacity has increased.

Expected to be back to 6 trains per hour from next year, hopefully.

Although capacity was still an issue with 6 tph, but the new trains which have started to come in have slightly fewer seats, but a lot more capacity from a standing point of view.

That gives me an idea. Trains without seats for use on matchdays. Just rails and straps to hold on to a-la those in Tokyo. Would be much cheaper to build and would shift many more people for an hour after the game.

[tomd2103]

I think a question that would need asking is how would the local residents feel if we were to build a new stadium on the present site?
Personally, I think the majority would be against it rather than for it.

For me, like Ads said, the whole place is a bit like Triggers broom.

Present day Villa Park is holding us back. Its time to move on.

But as others have said where to? There is no where in the city centre, or the surrounding area to where we are now.  Moving to the NEC is a no because that area copes with traffic just like Aston does, don't believe me go drive round there when there is a big show on. Also with midweek games you'll have to contend with JLR shift change over which will be an absolute nightmare.

To be fair, it's not really anyone on here's job to research potential sites.  There may well be some sites that could be available or purchased that noone has any idea about.

[Drummond]

I think a question that would need asking is how would the local residents feel if we were to build a new stadium on the present site?
Personally, I think the majority would be against it rather than for it.

For me, like Ads said, the whole place is a bit like Triggers broom.

Present day Villa Park is holding us back. Its time to move on.

But as others have said where to? There is no where in the city centre, or the surrounding area to where we are now.  Moving to the NEC is a no because that area copes with traffic just like Aston does, don't believe me go drive round there when there is a big show on. Also with midweek games you'll have to contend with JLR shift change over which will be an absolute nightmare.

To be fair, it's not really anyone on here's job to research potential sites.  There may well be some sites that could be available or purchased that noone has any idea about.

True, bit then that's like demanding the club 'sign a 20 goal a season striker' when there's none available and saying it's not your problem, the club just need to do it.

[Risso]

It's a bit easier to have heard of possible strikers than have an awareness of potential land purchases though I'd have thought.

[paul_e]

and of course the entire argument ignores the fact that the last 10 or so pages have included discussions on the gas towers site, Royal Mail site and Smithfields so it's not like people haven't had a think and come up with options.

[Chris Smith]

I think a question that would need asking is how would the local residents feel if we were to build a new stadium on the present site?
Personally, I think the majority would be against it rather than for it.

For me, like Ads said, the whole place is a bit like Triggers broom.

Present day Villa Park is holding us back. Its time to move on.

But as others have said where to? There is no where in the city centre, or the surrounding area to where we are now.  Moving to the NEC is a no because that area copes with traffic just like Aston does, don't believe me go drive round there when there is a big show on. Also with midweek games you'll have to contend with JLR shift change over which will be an absolute nightmare.

To be fair, it's not really anyone on here's job to research potential sites.  There may well be some sites that could be available or purchased that noone has any idea about.

None of it’s our job though but there is post after post saying we should move to a new ground.

[Risso]

None of it’s our job though but there is post after post saying we should move to a new ground.

I think you're really struggling with the point of a discussion board again Chris.

[Fasth56]

Weirdly, I was just looking at a report on the rail infrastructure and a missed opportunity for a new station on the east side, this would have had a far greater capacity than New Street. If we were to go for the Gas Holder site, this would have solved a lot of the transport problems

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/2404/matter_g_hearing_statement_cpre_warwickshirepdf.pdf

[AV82EC]

Unbelievably for the CPRE that’s a really good report although done by Arup but was no doubt kyboshed by Treasury and DfT as being too expensive or not considered by BCC and WMCA as not getting near the BCR for Treasury approval. It doesn’t proclude it being done at some point in the future though with a through HS line underground maybe creating a 5th Brum station roughly on that site with the Cross city line going under as well to free up capacity in New St. it also raises the issue of 4 tracking the New St to Cov line which is desperately needed along with 4 tracking up to Wolvo.