The 'new' (2009) Digbeth Coach Station, Birmingham - 19 August 2017

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1335) – The National Express coach station stands in Digbeth, Birmingham. This passenger entrance is at the corner of Digbeth (left) and Mill Lane (right).

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1343) – Edwards Coaches of Llantwit Fardre BV66 WPP seen in Barford Street, Birmingham about to cross Bradford Street in order to enter Digbeth Coach Station. It was working the 0640 National Express service 528 from Haverfordwest in West Wales to my home town of Rochdale (1740). It was however running 28 minutes late. It is a Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B11RT that was new in October 2016.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1344) – Edwards Coaches of Llantwit Fardre BV66 WPP seen entering Digbeth Coach Station, Birmingham. The entrance is on Bradford Street directly opposite Barford Street and, like the coach exit, is gated. Where the coach station site is not enclosed by buildings it is protected by deep red vertical ornamental girders which can be seen in the photo. (The gaps do provide limited opportunity for some photography!). The coach is a Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B11RT new in October 2016 and was working the 0640 National Express service 528 from Haverfordwest in West Wales to my home town of Rochdale (1740). It was however running 28 minutes late.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1345) – A view of the National Express Coach Station in Birmingham seen from Bradford Street. Where the coach station site is not enclosed by buildings it is protected by deep red vertical ornamental girders visible beyond the parked vans. Coaches enter the station between the building and cabin on the right. The coach on the left is a Caetano Levante operated by Llew Jones of Llanwrst. That on stand 1 is Edwards Coaches of Llantwit Fardre BV66 WPP, a Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B11RT new in October 2016, which was working the 0640 National Express service 528 from Haverfordwest in West Wales to my home town of Rochdale (1740). It was however running 28 minutes late.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1346) – I only took the one photograph from this point of the National Express coach station in Birmingham. It didn’t turn out very well I’m afraid but is included here to show the view looking towards Digbeth down Mill Lane. Where the coach station site is not enclosed by buildings it is protected by deep red vertical ornamental girders seen on the right. Before redevelopment the exit of the original coach station was were the fence stands.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1346) – A view of the coach loading area at the National Express Coach Station in Birmingham seen from Mill Lane. Before redevelopment the exit of the original coach station was at this location. Coaches now exit the site to Rea Street through the gates at the far end having entered from the gate on Bradford Street out of shot to the right. Where the site is not enclosed by buildings it is protected by deep red vertical ornamental girders. Seven Caetano Levante coaches can be seen in this photograph. There are 16 loading stands.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1352) – A view of the coach loading area at the National Express Coach Station in Birmingham seen from the exit gate on Rea Street. Before redevelopment the entrance of the original coach station was at this location and coaches departed in to Mill Lane at the far end where the van is parked. Coaches now enter the site from Bradford Street through a gate facing loading stands 2/3. There are 16 loading stands and in this view there are ten Caetano Levante coaches visible.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1354) – The National Express Coach Station in Birmingham stands on Digbeth and is bordered by Mill Lane at the northern end and Rea Street, seen here, at the southern end. Where the coach station site is not enclosed by buildings is protected by deep red vertical ornamental girders which can be seen in this photo. East Yorkshire Motor Services 75 (FN62 CEU), a Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B9R that was new in December 2012, had just left the coach station by the exit gate just out of shot on the left. It was heading for Scarborough on service 327.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1356) – A view of the exit gate and coach loading area at the National Express Coach Station in Birmingham seen from Rea Street. The jackknife style gates open and close for each coach. Before redevelopment the entrance of the original coach station was at this location and coaches departed in to Mill Lane at the far end where the van is parked. Coaches now enter the site from Bradford Street through a gate facing loading stands 2/3. The coaches all have Caetano Levante bodywork, there 16 loading stands in total.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1403) – Mike de Courcey Travel of Coventry MD34 (BV17 GOX) seen leaving the National Express coach station in Birmingham heading for London on National Express service 420. It had arrived in from London about 30 minutes earlier on a northbound run. A Caetano Levante bodied Scania K440 that was new in March 2017 the rear end and sides or which feature an advert for the then latest ‘Transformers’ film circa June 2017.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1403) – Mike de Courcey Travel of Coventry MD34 (BV17 GOX) seen leaving the National Express coach station in Birmingham heading for London on National Express service 420. It had arrived in from London about 30 minutes earlier on a northbound run. A Caetano Levante bodied Scania K440 that was new in March 2017 the rear end and sides or which feature an advert for the then latest ‘Transformers’ film circa June 2017.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1358) – Edwards Coaches of Llantwit Fardre BV66 WPR seen leaving the National Express coach station in Birmingham heading for Bradford on service 321. It is a Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B11RT that was new in October 2016.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1357) – Edwards Coaches of Llantwit Fardre BV66 WPR seen leaving the National Express coach station in Birmingham heading for Bradford on service 321. It is a Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B11RT that was new in October 2016.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1412) – A view of the coach loading area at the National Express Coach Station in Birmingham seen from Rea Street. Before redevelopment the entrance of the original coach station was from Rea Street and the exit was in to Mill Lane at the far end where the van is parked. Coaches now enter the site from Bradford Street through a gate facing loading stands 2/3. The coaches all have Caetano Levante bodywork, there 16 loading stands in total.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1353) – East Yorkshire Motor Services 75 (FN62 CEU) seen leaving the National Express coach station in Birmingham heading for Scarborough on service 327. It is a Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B9R that was new in December 2012. Where the coach station site is not enclosed by buildings is protected by deep red vertical ornamental girders which can be seen in this photo. Both the entrance and exit gates to the property open and close for each coach.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1347) – A clock inside the Coach Station in Birmingham which features some names of places served by National Express.

Saturday 19 August 2017 (1349) – Edwards Coaches of Llantwit Fardre BV66 WPP seen on stand 1 at the National Express coach station in Birmingham. It was working the 0640 service 528 from Haverfordwest in West Wales to my home town of Rochdale (1740). It is a Caetano Levante bodied Volvo B11RT that was new in October 2016.