Local advice needed please

[5harp3y]

Hi Guys,

I'm heading up to Birmingham on Christmas Eve (from Surrey )and looking for some local advice on the traffic conditions around this time.

If its gonna be mega hectic then i might consider leaving the day before etc.

any advice / guidance is greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Tim

[mcdjl]

Avoid the M42 as far as possible on any day at any kind of rush hour.

[5harp3y]

ok will do, M6 toll it is then

[mcdjl]

Will the M6 toll be much use for you heading london> birmingham? Assuming you come up the M6 you'll use the M42 to get to the toll by which time you'll probably be just as well off staying going back to the M6 unless you're actually headed up beyond(in which case the trffic might not justify the extra tax anyway)

[5harp3y]

Got two choices by the looks of it:

M1 -> M6 -> A38M

or

M40 -> M42 -> M6 -> A38M

[Viper]

i do London from B'ham regularly, M40 is the way to go, more reliable
as it avoids the never ending luton roadworks

the toll road wont really help

Edited by Viper on Monday 15th December 18:55

[5harp3y]

Cool thanks for the info, used the M40 before and its much better than the m1!

[Who me ?]

5harp3y said:

Got two choices by the looks of it:

M1 -> M6 -> A38M

or

M40 -> M42 -> M6 -> A38M

And depending on which you use it's either clock or anti clock on M25 .
M40 has roadworks (and SPECS) around Longbridge (J15 ,I think ---Warwick /Stratford one -don't know how long for ),and Saturday afternoon was slowing traffic back to J13 .Problem is that though the overhead signs mention this back as far as J9, th road reports (crtainly not O2) didnt mention it till I was in it .Don't know how bad it got further on as I bailed out early and went via back roads to J15.

[Slinky]

Where in Birmingham are you heading to? City Centre or elsewhere?

[5harp3y]

Slinky said:

Where in Birmingham are you heading to? City Centre or elsewhere?

Heading to Star City to take some kids to the MINI Golf thing.

[smiller]

The time of day, and the day itself, is critical.

When are you planning the trip?

[5harp3y]

Christmas Eve, leaving early (before 9) but can leave later etc

[ali_kat]

5harp3y said:

Slinky said:

Where in Birmingham are you heading to? City Centre or elsewhere?

Heading to Star City to take some kids to the MINI Golf thing.

M40, M42, M6.

It will be the getting home again later in the day that you will hit the traffic

[nicktowe]

Virgin trains to birmingham advance ticket usually cheaper than taking the car. And avoids the M42 rush hour.

[5harp3y]

nicktowe said:

Virgin trains to birmingham advance ticket usually cheaper than taking the car. And avoids the M42 rush hour.

Nearly £60 for the train, thats a tank of diesel or 600miles in my car, so much much cheaper to drive.

[ali_kat]

nicktowe said:

Virgin trains to birmingham advance ticket usually cheaper than taking the car. And avoids the M42 rush hour.

But, unfortunately, doesn't go anywhere near where he needs to be

[Tangoed]

Be careful, Stab city as its known is not the best place!