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Winter Services

Tram
Train
Bus

Travelling to Birmingham City Centre during the winter period?

There's a lot happening over the next few weeks across the region. The Frankfurt Christmas Market Birmingham will be running from November 1 2024 to December 24 2024.

There will be a range of theatre shows, festive activities, shopping and leisure attractions happening in the city centre which can lead to busier roads and fuller car parks.

If you are planning your winter activities and looking to avoid some of the traffic and parking nightmares, we can help you get to your destination with park and ride options, bus, train and tram.

Please ensure whether you plan to travel by car, bus, train or tram, that you plan ahead and check your route before you travel

For more detail on public transport options this winter and which will best suit your needs please see and select how you travel below: 

With tickets from £2, it’s easier than ever to travel by bus in the West Midlands especially during the festive season. 

West Midlands Bus has a strong network across the region with multiple city centre services available that takes the hassle of driving and parking away - leaving you more free to focus on all the fun activities available in the city centre this winter! 

We offer lots of discounts and passes. Children under the age of 5 can travel for free. You can get cheaper fares for children over 5 and under 16. Use our ticket finder to search for child tickets.

You'll need to pay an adult fare if you're 16 or over unless you qualify for one of these discounts, or passes.

To avoid standstill traffic when heading into the city centre, park and ride can be a great option with links to both tram and train across the network at our park and ride sites.

There are 5 park and ride sites along the West Midlands Metro tram line. These have free parking. You can find parking at these stops:

  • The Hawthorns
  • Wednesbury Parkway
  • Black Lake
  • Bradley Lane
  • Priestfield

Parking at most train stations is free. You only have to pay at Bromsgrove, Longbridge and Sutton Coldfield. Find out what facilities our stations have on our interactive rail map.

There are park and ride sites across our transport network. We have parking for cars and bikes. All sites are well lit, with CCTV and help points, where you can speak to someone by pressing a button.

For more information visit Bike storage at a station or Avanti West Coast. 

Travelling by train this winter could trim your journey times down significantly especially when travelling into the city centre around the festive period. 

We have a range of train stations, operators and lines to keep the region moving, particularly during the busy winter period. Find out what facilities our stations have and look up rail zones on our interactive rail map.

Use our ticket finder to find the best train ticket for you. You can also buy tickets at the station or through train operators. 

It is cheaper to travel after 18.30 returning the same evening for an off-peak price so you can make the most of the evening market atmosphere, enjoying all the city centre leisure activities whilst also making a saving! 

Car parking charges vary depending on length of stay. Please check if any closures are planned that might impact your journey to the station. Please visit our major disruption page for details.   

Due to engineering work on the West Coast mainline over Christmas, services will finish much earlier on Christmas Eve. Please check before you travel and arrive in plenty of time for your train.  

Our tram network stretching from Birmingham to Wolverhampton is another great option for winter travellers looking to skip the standstill traffic.

You can use the ticket finder to find the right tram ticket for you. You can buy tickets:

Tram stops are in four ticket zones. The zones you can travel between are based on your ticket.

There are trams every 12 to 15 minutes every day of the week. More trams are added during peak times.

View the tram timetable to find out where the tram stops. You can also plan your journey if you’re not sure of your route.

All tram stops have step-free access and are monitored by CCTV. Some tram stops have free car parking.

Major roadworks and events

Check major roadworks and events in your area to see how they might impact your travel options this winter.

Journey Planner

Plan ahead this winter.

Tickets

Find the best ticket option for your travels in the West Midlands.