Villa Park Redevelopment

[dave.woodhall]

If your a regular user of the cross city line & have seen the state of Kings Norton & Northfield Stations  then you know BCC & the Train companies don't like to spend any cash on the railways. Really can't see either rushing to upgrade Witton.

Isn't Kings Norton getting upgraded with the Kings Heath, Moseley and Hazelwell stations getting opened at some point in next few years?

Sums up the transport thinking though originally those trains were suppose to commence from Moor Street but chords cost too much so they'll be another addition to New Street.

What I actually think would be quite useful would be a matchday shuttle from the Airport to say Walsall and back. They could run that through the spur line that goes from Stechford up to Aston and meets the Cross City line. It's only used for freight and late night diversions so surely could be some paths for two an hour and it would help getting fans back south of the Midlands rather than clogging up existing services into New Street.

Small Heath have trains calling at Bordesley on Matchdays so not like there can't be alterations and they probably only have about 5 fans getting off at that station.

Strange but true fact - Bordesley has to have one train a week by law.

[maidstonevillain]

Have the club ever surveyed how people get to and from games? Would be useful to know as a starting point. Much as people want more trains laid on I would think that's one of the hardest to do as train economics are in decline since COVID, less people using them.

Perhaps the club will have to sort this out running a match day fleet of buses for the first couple of miles away from VP. 50 buses running back and forth for the first couple of miles away from the ground to other transport hubs and parking could help as could making the ground a better place to stay for a while afterwards.

Didn't they have park and ride from the Fort during the Commonwealth games?

I'm always surprised they don't run a shuttle service from Star City as I get a lift there when we play midweek and always plenty walking back so demand would be there....unless we priced it at the levels we are from Birmingham city centre.

Problem is that if a (reasonably priced) shuttle service was put on, a lot more people would start parking there. Then the Star City visitors would complain thay couldn't park, the traders would start to lose custom, and put a stop to match parking.

[PeterWithe]

Validate the parking with a purchase in one of the shops?

[pauliewalnuts]

Why would star city put in place a parking validation scheme with associated costs to implement just to help Villa 19 times a year?

[PeterWithe]

So their struggling tenants would make more revenue?

[Risso]

I'm surprised more companies haven't done what that Y International place have done, and organise with the club to offer official parking. They must make a pretty penny from that every game.

[Dogtanian]

I've been to maccies, the crazy golf, pizza hut, and the cinema at Star City, and all only because we were in the area anyway for a match.

So I bet they do get extra business from fans parking there.

[Drummond]

I've been to maccies, the crazy golf, pizza hut, and the cinema at Star City, and all only because we were in the area anyway for a match.

So I bet they do get extra business from fans parking there.

Sounds like quite a night out that.

[chrisw1]

I've been to maccies, the crazy golf, pizza hut, and the cinema at Star City, and all only because we were in the area anyway for a match.

So I bet they do get extra business from fans parking there.

Fans parking there is one thing.  Offering the whole thing up for park and ride is quite another.

[SoccerHQ]

If your a regular user of the cross city line & have seen the state of Kings Norton & Northfield Stations  then you know BCC & the Train companies don't like to spend any cash on the railways. Really can't see either rushing to upgrade Witton.

Isn't Kings Norton getting upgraded with the Kings Heath, Moseley and Hazelwell stations getting opened at some point in next few years?

Sums up the transport thinking though originally those trains were suppose to commence from Moor Street but chords cost too much so they'll be another addition to New Street.

What I actually think would be quite useful would be a matchday shuttle from the Airport to say Walsall and back. They could run that through the spur line that goes from Stechford up to Aston and meets the Cross City line. It's only used for freight and late night diversions so surely could be some paths for two an hour and it would help getting fans back south of the Midlands rather than clogging up existing services into New Street.

Small Heath have trains calling at Bordesley on Matchdays so not like there can't be alterations and they probably only have about 5 fans getting off at that station.

Strange but true fact - Bordesley has to have one train a week by law.

Ah right, one of those Parliamentary services where it's more costly to actually shut the run down station.

What was I saying about the Kings Heath line yesterday, 12 month delay:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-66037299

I don't think we'll see a significant upgrade of Witton station until early 2028 as surely that is part of our bid to host Euro 2028 so will probably be some painting and sprucing up of the immediately surroundings. And a tunnel from the academy building to VP.

[SoccerHQ]

Why would star city put in place a parking validation scheme with associated costs to implement just to help Villa 19 times a year?

I've gone to watch films there in early Afternoon and it's like a ghost town so I do think it can increase footfall a bit for midweek games, maybe some special offers showing validity of match/season ticket.

Saturday and Sunday less so. It's just an idea.

No idea on rates but a Villa theme Sports Bar would be good aswell. I go in the Spoons at Perry Bar for midweek and it's always rammed there up to 7.15pm. Mostly due to the train station a minute away but pretty sure they had 50% off food for season ticket holders a while back so the potential is there.

[eamonn]

I've been to maccies, the crazy golf, pizza hut, and the cinema at Star City, and all only because we were in the area anyway for a match.

So I bet they do get extra business from fans parking there.

Sounds like quite a night out that.

Star, Starcrazy.

[Dogtanian]

I've been to maccies, the crazy golf, pizza hut, and the cinema at Star City, and all only because we were in the area anyway for a match.

So I bet they do get extra business from fans parking there.

Sounds like quite a night out that.

Best wake ever.

[chrisw1]

Seen this on Twitter.  Looks like Villa Live is off the table for now.

[dave.woodhall]

Seen this on Twitter.  Looks like Villa Live is off the table for now.

I got the impression it was never high on the list of priorities.