h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Someone I know needs to get to Birmingham International by about 8.00 to 8.30am tomorrow, travelling from the northwest. They are thinking of going via the M54 and M6. Can anyone out there with experience of the M6, junctions 11 southwards, at that time of the morning advise on what time they should aim to join the M6, jn 10A? They are hoping they'll miss the rush hour jams - I'm not so sure.
Waz

I should tell them to plan for at least a bit of a delay between junctions 10A through to 6 and then around 4/4A. They will largely miss the rush hour, but you never can tell with the M6. There was virtual gridlock last Thursday because of an accident between junctions 3 and 4 that spread to all of the roads around B'ham International.

I never go M42-M6 andmore M42-M5 around birmingham is much quicker - even if it is a few extra miles.

Would it be possible for them to stay at a hotel nr the airport - that way carparking is usually paid for too?

It's too late to sort out the hotel option I think, they need to come to Shropshire this evening - I should have asked here earlier. I didn't know the hotels might cover parking.

It's a help to know they ought to miss the main jams at that time. You can't really avoid the risk of accidents whatever way you travel. I'll check out the M42 route but it probably means going via Kidderminster to get onto the M5 avoiding Wolverhampton. And that's a long way south. Would anyone recommend the old A5 over the top of Birmingham then dropping south, east of Sutton Coldfield?
Waz (glad to have chosen her flight via Manchester )

A5's usually pretty good.

M6 is a nightmare, as a rule. Have they still got the roadworks up in the north of the city as well?

B

A5? Pretty Good?

Basically there is no good time. I used to hit the M6 J14/13 at 6:15am and get to Bham international by 7am easy doing 70-80mph all the way. Doesn;t happen now.

Of course, theres the 50 zones now as well around 11-10 (i think) because of the BNRR construction and yes, the speed cameras do work

6 O'clock should do but you might end up being an hour early the other end if it all goes smoothly.

Or you could go across to rugely / luchfield and down to Coleshill, head for the M6 J4 but go strraight over it and go past the business park. Tis back roads (but main back roads). Swings and roundabouts.

Get the train

The A5 is currently a nightmare. Part of it is closed with a nice diversion in place while they construct the new toll road. It is probably quicker to keep with the M6 and put up with the delays.

Cheers Ictoan, 6.00 would mean a 5.00am start from here which is what he was thinking it might be. It sounds as if the A5 is out.

Trains? The last twice I tried to use trains we ended up asking for a taxi. We would have missed the flight otherwise. Richard Branson paid, which was ok and arriving right outside departures in a taxi was nice . But the stress getting to that point wasn't worth it. At least in a car you have the illusion of being in control. You don't have to fight your way through streams of commuters who look at your luggage as if it's something you should be scooping up with a pooper scooper either .
Waz

Oh! Oh! You're flying from there? Then you should use the trains so you can use the new "Sky Rail" which links the station and airport! if you get the time go for a quick zip to the station and back. I dunno ifit is actually any good, but at least you can say you've done it. Or they have since it isn;t you that is going!

Hmm, actually, maybe would work beeter for "Sky Rail" ?

I'm coming back via Birmingham in a couple of weeks time so I can check out sky rail then. I'll let know what camp it's in .

I haven't heard he didn't get there so he must have got there. We decided the Rugeley/Lichfield route would be the best bet. According to the AA it's shorter and should take the same time as M54/M6/M42. for all the advice, it was a big help.
Waz

It used to be great going rugely/luchfield, then 2 years ago or something when the M6/M42 was stuffed up one friday afternoon some idiot phoned into the local traffic office saying 'Hey, why not get off the M42 at Junction 9, go up to stafford and rejoin the M6 at J13 or 14 and thereby miss out all the trouble'.

Since then, every man, woman and their dog uses it! My nice little rat run destroyed