Birmingham International Station | Trains to Birmingham International

Birmingham International opened in 1976 to serve the airport and its ever-popular neighbour, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), which opened in the same year. The NEC overflows with Britain's most important trade shows and exhibitions, from Crufts to the BBC Good Food Show and the Clothes Show Live, and the 16,000-capacity Genting Arena hosts concerts and sporting events. Covered walkways and escalators connect the NEC complex and Birmingham International. Not long after the station opened, the first-ever commercial Maglev (magnetic levitation) transport system in the world connected it to the airport. In the 1990s, reliability problems and a lack of spare parts signalled the end of the line for the hovering train that 'flew' 15mm above the tracks. A cable-pulled AirRail link replaced it in 2003 and now carries passengers the 500m between the station and the terminal for free.

Birmingham International is a well-connected train station, allowing passengers to reach all corners of the country once they've landed or before they have departed. You can take Virgin Trains to London Euston, Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley. Arriva Trains Wales services reach Wrexham and Chester. CrossCountry trains terminate at Manchester Piccadilly and Bournemouth via Reading. Finally, West Midlands Railways services continue on the Birmingham New Street or into London via Northampton.

Liverpool Airport is a very popular airport for travellers from North West England. It services flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Many choose to arrive at the Airport by train, a convenient and time and money saving option. Liverpool John Lennon Airport is 7.5 miles southeast of Liverpool city centre. The closest train station is Liverpool South Parkway station, to which direct trains run from Liverpool. Lime Street station (operated by East Midland Trains) and Liverpool Central station (operated by Merseyrail).

Find out more about trains to Liverpool Airport

Station details & facilities

The AirRail link and the NEC entrance are at opposite ends of the concourse, where you will find a Cafe Ritazza, WHSmith and Subway, as well as the ticket counter, money exchange and stairs/lift to the bus station. On this level there are also toilets, the First Class Lounge, and the stairs, lifts and escalators down to the platforms. There are waiting rooms and toilets between platforms 2 and 3, and platforms 4 and 5.