Where is Sutton Coldfield Station?

Sutton Coldfield Station is at Railway Road, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, B73 6AQ

 

In brief

The station opened in Sutton Coldfield back in 1862. The line was extended to Lichfield in 1884. In 1978 the station became part of the Cross City Line between Redditch via Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley. The line through the station was electrified in the early 1990s. The station is served currently by Class 323 Electric Multiple Units (soon to be replaced). Since 2018 there has also been services to Bromsgrove on the Cross City Line (since Barnt Green to Bromsgrove was electrified).

London Midland 323211 at Sutton Coldfield Station. Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

Sutton Coldfield Station - history

The station was constructed in 1862, as the northern terminus of the line from Birmingham built by the London and North Western Railway.

In 1884, the line was extended north to Lichfield, and after the grouping of railway companies in 1923, it came under the control of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.

Sutton Coldfield Station (June 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The station was the location of the Sutton Coldfield train disaster on 23 January 1955 when an express from York to Bristol travelling at excessive speed derailed.

A memorial to the 17 people who died was unveiled in the station concourse on 23 January 2016.

Plaque marking the Sutton Coldfield Rail Disaster of 1955 seen at Sutton Coldfield Station (April 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

From 1978, the station became one of those served by the new Cross-City Line, sponsored by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive.

As part of that scheme, there were proposals to demolish the station and rebuild it, as happened to many of the other stations on the line. However, local campaigning saved it.

Sutton Coldfield Station (January 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Big Sleuth Birmingham 2017

For the 10 weeks from July 2017, there was a trail of painted bears, from Wild in Art all around Birmingham and Sandwell. There was several bears around the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield. When the trail ended, the bears were auctioned off for the Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity.

At Sutton Coldfield Station was The Big Sleuth bear called Wildlife Detective by the artist Kathleen Smith. The sponsor was London Midland.

Wildlife Detective - The Big Sleuth at Sutton Coldfield Station (August 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

Class 323 trains at Sutton Coldfield

Trains normally run between Redditch (or Bromsgrove) via Birmingham New Street towards Four Oaks and Lichfield Trent Valley.

London Midland held the franchise in the West Midlands from 2007 to 2017.

London Midland 323216 at Sutton Coldfield Station (January 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

West Midlands Railway took over at the end of 2017, and inherited the fleet of Class 323's.

West Midlands Railway 323201 at Sutton Coldfield Station (June 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown