Trains to Birmingham Airport
With flights to over 150 destinations, Birmingham Airport is one of the most popular in the UK. With Birmingham being right in the centre of England, the airport has excellent train links to the rest of mainland UK.
Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry operate services to Birmingham International from Birmingham New Street station in the city centre. These trains run 7 days a week, every 15 minutes during peak times and every 30 minutes off-peak. A convenient and free Air-Link shuttle bus runs from Birmingham International to Birmingham Airport terminal. Buses run every few minutes during the day, Monday to Sunday.
Read on to learn more about buying train tickets, timetables and possible connections.
Getting to Birmingham Airport by train
You can use Trainline to book cheap train tickets to Birmingham International train station. This will save you time and money on taxis and airport parking, so you’ll have more cash for your holiday. For the lowest price fares, we recommend you book your tickets well in advance of your journey. National Railcards can save you a further 1/3 off an adult’s journey and 60% off fares for your kids.
Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry operate the trains from Birmingham New Street to Birmingham International. The journey takes approximately 20 minutes. Trains run every 15 minutes during peak times and 30 minutes off-peak, 7 days a week. On Monday to Friday, the train runs from 5:20 a.m. to just before midnight. Trains start later and end earlier on weekends. The train usually operates from some time before 6 a.m. to some time after 11 p.m. However, on Sundays the train starts running at 8:30 a.m.
Birmingham New Street is within easy reach of England’s Midlands and the rest of the UK. You can get direct trains to there from Leicester, Wolverhampton, Northampton and Worcester. This central station also has excellent train links for passengers travelling from further afield. Trains also run directly to Birmingham International from Manchester, Bournemouth, Northampton, Coventry and London.
A convenient and free Air-Link shuttle bus connects Birmingham International to Birmingham Airport terminal. The journey takes only 2 minutes and trains run every few minutes during the day. Buses run 7 days a week, from 3:30 a.m. through to 2 a.m. at night. If you need somewhere to stay before an early flight, then there’s a Novotel hotel just opposite Birmingham airport terminal. From there, it’s only one minutes’ walk to the departure lounge.
Useful travel tips
We want to make travel easier for you, which is why we’ve compiled a selection of useful travel tips to help you on your way.
Off-peak fares
Learn more about peak and off-peak fares, and how they can affect the cost of your journey.
Seat reservations
Need information about seating? Read our guide to find out more about what's available.
Railcards
Want to see how much you could save by using a railcard? Read our handy guide on all the different railcards available.
Things to do in Birmingham Airport
Birmingham Airport is the 3rd largest airport in the UK outside of London, servicing over 1 million passengers each month. So, it has plenty of shops, eateries and places to relax. Depending on which entrance you use, the check-in desks are either straight in front of you or on your left. You’ll need to go upstairs to get to the security gates and the departures lounge.
After security, you’ll find a duty-free store with a selection of confectionary, alcohol, souvenirs and other products. After that, there’s a variety of shops, coffee shops and restaurants. For food and drink, there’s Costa Coffee, Burger King, Pret a Manger, Wetherspoons and other eateries. Birmingham Airport terminal also has plenty to cater to shoppers such as Dixons Travel, JD Sports, Boots, WHSmith and other stores.
If you’re planning a holiday in Europe, then why not take the train for a memorable experience? You can use Trainline to book cheap fares to major European cities such as Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Brussels, Barcelona and Rome.