Overview

Birmingham Snow Hill was once one of the city's major railway stations. Though that has since changed, it offers plenty of routes across the West Midlands. The station has an accessible toilet, which is a little out of the way but there for those who need it. With heated waiting rooms, you could find yourself in worse places in the winter. I found the staff to be caring and eager to help, which goes a long way in taking the stress out of our journeys. It's definitely a mix of the old and the new, but it's a functional station with despite some shortcomings.

Transport & Parking

Snow Hill station has 857 standard parking spaces and 6 accessible parking spaces and Blue Badge holders can park for free. There is an accessible drop-off point and accessible taxis operate in the area. There is a bus stop on Livery Street, where the number 52 bus service operates, and on Colmore Row for the number 7 service. The closest tram stop is located around 160 metres away on Bull Street. The tram stop has ramp access on either side.

Access

I came via the main entrance at Colmore Row, through the automatic sliding doors and up the long corridor and bridge to the ticket office and the ticket barriers, several of which are suitable for wheelchairs and other mobility devices. On my way, I noted bike parking and the access route to the car park. The ticket office is on the left and has an adjustable counter and a hearing loop. In the area, you'll also find a ticket machine and a tactile map of the station, supported by RNIB. To travel between platforms, I had to use several lifts. It's a little more complicated than I'd like, but the lifts will get you there. The lifts are small but just about fit a powerchair and a second person. Wheelchair users will need to reverse out. It's notable that the first lift does not have braille markings, but the lifts between platforms do. The escalator was out of order during my visit, but the nearby stairs had handrails on both sides, tactile paving at the top and bottom, and clear level markings. There are three heated waiting rooms, which is great. There are two between platforms 1 and 2, and a third on platform 3. The smaller room on platform 1 has a ramp leading up to it and is rather busy with seating, making it tight for wheelchair users, but still accessible if you’re careful. The larger one on the same platform is better spaced out. The third one isn't as spacious, but not particularly troublesome to use. All have automatic doors with push buttons. Seating is plentiful across the station, with metal benches on each platform. Hearing loops operate on the platforms and throughout the station. Signage was clear, though the station is rather small, so easy to navigate. If you use the Livery Street entrance, there are automatic doors and ticket gates immediately as you enter, and a descending slope. The lift in the corridor at the foot of the slope will take you to the platforms. Hearing loops operate in this area.

Toilets

There’s a small accessible toilet on Platform 3, which is quite a trek from the main entrance. To get there, you’ll need to go through the barriers, take the lift down to the platforms, head to the end of that platform, take another lift to go under the tracks, then take a final lift up to Platform 3. A RADAR key is needed to access the toilet. There’s a short ramp leading in, so if you’re using a wheelchair or powerchair, you might need a bit of a push. The door opens outward. The space can fit a wheelchair or powerchair user plus one other person, but there’s not much room to turn. There is right-side transfer space, though it’s a bit awkward due to the layout and a bin in the way. The toilet seat doesn’t contrast with the rest of the room, but the blue grab rails beside the toilet and sink do stand out well. The sink has a small basin with a lever tap. The red emergency cord was tied around a grab rail. I untied it and added a red cord card. It’s also worth mentioning that the toilet is extremely loud, with a strong fan and plumbing noise, which could be overwhelming for anyone with sensory sensitivities. The lower rating is due to the sensory element, the red cord and the transfer space as well as the challenges in getting to the toilet

Staff

I spoke to the station manager, John, who was more than happy for me to document the station and even showed me around. It's always lovely to encounter such supportive staff.

Photos