Down the Cross City line from Sutton Coldfield, or up from Chester Road if you're heading that way…read more(actually, a trainspotter would say you were heading up from Sutton and down from Chester Road, but that's a different kettle of anoraks) is Wylde Green - a sleepy little station in a leafy little part of town. The station is effectively nothing more than a place to pick up and drop passengers off and has no facilities other than a ticket office and a whole heap of stairs to get up the platform (a right bugger if the train's just pulling in as you're buying your ticket!) and is a very modern metal and concrete construction with very long platforms. One upside to the place is that you can walk off the Sutton end of both platforms and walk along a path which leads you up onto Highbridge Road, which makes access pretty easy from all directions.

A ticket booth rather than office just about provides a roof for those in the queue, but that's…read moreabout all the shelter you'll find until you're on the platform themselves. It has two, one taking commuters towards Brum, the other towards Lichfield. From Station Road, you access the to-New Street trains by passing the ticket booth and navigating a wide but steep stairwell. For Lichfield, you access the platform by ramp. Those amount to exits too, but you can access and leave both platforms away from Station road and further into the residential streets towards Jockey Road. And that's the thing, despite the name of this station, this is still essentially a central Sutton stop, the best point by which to access Boldmere or Beeches Walk's restaurants and pub, perhaps even Empire cinema. If you want Wylde Green's commercial strip running alongside Birmingham Road, or even Penns Lane, Chester Road is the station to use. There is parking at Wylde Green railway station, and it has been expanded within the last couple of years, but there remain better park and ride options at stations along the Sutton stretch of the Cross-City Line, particularly Four Oaks. Don't expect a shop or vending machine either. This is simply about getting you from A to B.

Historic old station is Sutton Coldfield, and one of the few on the Cross City line which manages…read moreto preserve it's old look and feel whilst still having modern facilities. The station has at least four different entrances which makes it easily accessible whichever direction you're travelling from. There's also a big car park and a new lift for disabled access. The Birmingham-bound platform has a self-service ticket machine which is ideal as it saves a long slog to the ticket office, the platform is also covered which helps on rainy days and there's a small newsagents which is run by a very friendly gentleman. One of the problems with the station is that the entrance next to the Station pub closes early which means you either have to walk all the way round to the main entrance on Railway Road or down a dark alley to enter the platform through a gate further down. If the gate's open, you might as well leave the door open a bit longer, surely?

This station just about offers a blast from the past; a window into how things were and cannot be…read moreagain. It was once the scene of a major rail tragedy back in the days of steam engines, but it's the waiting rooms and awnings which speak of the '50s loudest. For all that, despite the recent installation of a lift, things don't feel all that pleasant, with new infrastructure and branding making for a jarring experience. It always seems that bit too dingy and dusty. It's not that well laid-out either, with running commuters a common sight as they try to navigate their way up a ramp from the Lichfield-bound platform, through the ticket office, and down the steps to the Birmingham-bound platform. It's a journey in itself. This is why Four Oaks has a link bridge over the tracks. A handy tip now: The Birmingham platform (complete with auto-ticket machine) and indeed the stairs leading up to the ticket office can be accessed via a doorway at the end of Station Street by The Station Hotel pub. If you're already in the heart of commercial Sutton, this can save you the job of walking the incline to the formal Railway Road entrance. But be warned, this entrance is not always open and you could find yourself having to access the Railway Road entrance anyway, adding a precious minute or two onto your itinerary; not ideal if your train is due. There is parking, with access further along Railway Road. Both platforms are well-sheltered, all too rare on the Cross-City Line, and on the Birmingham-bound platform, there is a small shop. Near the shop is an access to Park Road; the fourth entrance / exit to the station.

This is an ideal station for people needing to park to get the train to Birmingham City. The…read morestation boasts two large car parks and offers wheelchair access throughout. This train line is one of the busiest in the West Midlands. It stretches as far as Lichfield (Staffordshire) and goes through to Longbridge and Redditch calling at several main town stations such as Sutton Coldfield, Erdington, Aston and of course Birmingham New Street. So if you are a shopper this is the station to get your train from. The office here is manned part-time and mainly covers the peak time slots. The staff are friendly and willing to help and they keep the car parks and surrounding areas clean and tidy. There are shelters on the platforms so if the heavens open up you can keep dry until your train arrives. This station is located on the outskirts of Four Oaks and has a large pub/restaurant next to it called the Blake Barn Inn. There is a small convenience store just a few minutes up from the station and a few minutes after that you are lead out onto the main Lichfield Road.

It's one of the quietest and relatively attractively-set stations on the Cross-City Line which…read morelinks Lichfield to Birmingham. A huge ticket office and car park boost the site and while there is a dingy underpass letting you switch platforms, it really is quite safe. Typical of the stations across the Sutton stretch of the line, the staff are particularly friendly. Despite the car park, it's not overly blessed as a viable park and ride option and over the years, residents have been increasingly complaining about commuters' ditched cars clogging up roads outside their homes. Do them a favour and drive to Four Oaks station (two stops along). That said, the location makes the activity tempting as it's just a short trip into Sutton Coldfield from here and, as the last stop within the northern end of the Birmingham boundary, also a short ride into Lichfield. If you've been using the station simply as a point to begin a rail journey, don't dismiss the idea of having a look around the estate on which it's based - the Blake Barn pub is nearby and scores not too badly with its outdoor seating and great meal deals.

Water Orton is a really beautiful station that I have spotted in my way to Coleshill area and I was…read morereally impressed with this lovely gem placed in the North Warwickshire, still a Birmingham post code. Opened in 1842, Water Orton started to be operated by London Midlands just in 1909, with traces of its original station building. There is a free car parking next to the station where you can have another privileged view of its platforms and even it's just a simple and not busy stop, it's still possible to contemplate the traces of a historical site there. The service can be a bit confusing if you are not used to this. As there is no trains announcement or display boards, it's better to get your own train timetables to don't miss your service! The trains to Birmingham and Leicester are on platform 1 and on Platform 2 there is just service for Derby. There is no train operation on Sundays. One curiosity about its facilities: during the famous tornado that hit Birmingham in 1996, the wooden staircase of this station was damaged and it had to be replaced, changing it originals for a zig zag styled one. Despite its simplicity in the service, Water Orton station is part of one of those landmarks in Birmingham and it also takes you to an area of the city with fine restaurants, lovely pubs and independent shops ready to be explored.

In the not-ever-so green push to promote park-and-ride (ie, still use your car old bean, but not…read morequite as much as you normally would), this station is the best placed along the Cross-City Line to deliver on the concept. It is blessed with space, both in terms of parking bays but also the platforms themselves. In many ways, it's a bigger affair than Sutton Coldfield, just one stop along. There are three platforms, two of which take you to Birmingham (and Redditch beyond), the other to Lichfield. This and the Birmingham platforms are joined by a link bridge with steep stairs, although both sets can be accessed individually without using the bridge (there is street-level access to Birmingham trains via a ramp on Lichfield Road just a few feet along from bar, The Greenhouse (formerly the Halfway House; a name referring to the point between Lichfield and Birmingham, as befits the Cross-City Line). Otherwise access is from a main roundabout on Lichfield Road, near the landmark Methodist church. A small street then leads to the parking bays, entrance to the Lichfield platform and the link bridge. A set of steep, wooden steps also leads from Lichfield Road into the carpark; it's just a few feet away from the ramp referenced above. The ticket office isn't huge but should provide enough room for shelter in bad weather. Otherwise the platforms are exposed, but for a small shelter on the Lichfield side and a vaguely over-hanging roof from the ticket office on the Birmingham side. Be advised that the Mere Green shops are not as close as you'd think. But this is still the best bet to access its bars and shops by foot.

Some things in life never change. One of these is probably Erdington station. You can be almost…read moreguaranteed that as you pass through it on your way into town, you'll see some poor sod running up the ramp from the street to try and catch the train you're on (the same frequently happens at Wylde Green too). As a station, Erdington does its job and does little more (but then, what more would it need to do?) It's got a waiting room (on the Brum-bound platform) and a bus-shelter on the Lichfield-headed one. The ticket office is located on the street at the entrance to the Brum platform. As the line runs over the road, the station is high up, which is why there's the ramp for people to always be running up. The station is about 10 minutes walk from the middle of Erdington and so if you're going to Erdington from anywhere in all honesty, you're probably better off getting one of the many buses that arrive in all directions and stop right by the High Street.

Friendly, reliable & efficient. Used this taxi service to travel in & out of Birmingham in order to…read moresee a show. Dropped off & picked up almost at the door. Receptionist & drivers couldn't have been more helpful. Highly recommended. Mrs Linda Worrall.

Bizzy Bees offers a 24/7 private hire service and promises cheaper fares thanks to the latest in…read moretrade technology. Perhaps where it scores highest is through specialising in early morning bookings, along with a text message service - perfect should you feel your jelly legs won't carry you home after a drink or six. But it's more than a professional service for the tipsy weekend set, airport transfers and business travel are also offered, with up-to-eight-seater vehicles. It all fits its bold intention to become the area's best private hire service and a genuine wish to put the customer first. Customers may pick a vehicle, from a range of fleets, which best suits their needs, including stylish, chauffeur-driven motors. A comprehensive website adds to these little details, right down to a luggage guide for those planning on getting away from it all. Time to add their number to your phone.

Aston Railway Station is on Lichfield Road, it is one of two main railway stations which serves…read moreVilla Park which is home to Aston Villa FC, unlike Witton which is slightly closer to the stadium it does have step-free access and it is only a 10 minute or so walk to the ground which makes it easy to get to from Villa Park as the club have funded their own few tweaks making the station resemble the club it represents - Aston Villa crest added to station signage - A guided walkway to the stadium with large Aston Villa signs It is a pretty small station, it is run by West Midlands Railway who run all the services which go in and out of here. Services from here mainly go into Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Valley, yet some services do go into Walsall and even Wolverhampton. It is a shame Aston doesn't have West Midlands Metro services, which The Hawthornes does but with it only being a short train journey anyway with frequent services around every ten minutes back into Birmingham,t that is okay. The station has a small partially sheltered waiting room. As a category E station which is the lowest category station which is partially staffed (I presume it is only staffed on Aston Villa matchdays?), it is pretty small and only does have two platforms. Communication from the station is pretty poor. There was a lift issue meaning the issue from platform 1 was marked as out of order but for some bizarre reason other than it being posted on the West Midlands Trains railway no one was aware of the issue and they were still sending disabled passengers to the station to get stranded - both Birmingham New Street (major train station nearby) and the rail company staf were unaware which is pretty abysmal which means until further notice it is impossible for disabled customers to get a route via train to a train station near Villa Park, having to go through the difficult process of arranging a taxi. Being unable to use steps, I had to do this and West Midlands Trains made it so much harder compared to Northern Rail and co when there was a similar issue at Manchester Victoria, closer to home. A very basic station, yet with poor facilities and communication it is only good for providing access to Villa Park via railway and that location is the only reason for an extra star. 2*

If you're travelling out of New Street towards Lichfield or Walsall, assuming you've sped through…read morethe sorry state of Duddeston station, the first stop you'll come to is Aston. I've used Aston quite a bit over the years, when either going to Villa Park (a 10-15 minute walk away) or changing trains. Perhaps owing to its proximity to a popular destination, Aston station has been kept neat and tidy and is one of the more modern stations on the line. It even has a warm waiting room on both platforms should you be waiting on a cold day. The ticket office is located in the waiting room on the out-of-town bound platform. As this is where the line splits for Lichfield and Walsall and every local service stops here, the station is very well-served whichever direction you're travelling in.