Solihull is a stop on the Chiltern Main Line in the West Midlands between Olton and Widney Manor.
WMR 172 339 departs with a Birmingham bound service
Information
Type:
National Rail
(Chiltern Main Line)
Station code:
SOL
Opened:
1852
Platforms:
2
The station was opened in 1852 by the Great Western Railway on it's line from London Paddington to Birmingham Snow Hill. The station originally had a pair of platforms [1] but in the 1930s the line was quadrupled between Olton and Lapworth. Solihull was rebuilt to have two island platforms. The line began to be run down in the late 1960s and one island platform was taken out of use when the line was reduced back down to a pair of lines, the disused platform still exists but is decayed and very overgrown now.
One island platform remains in use though the platform buildings have been reduced to a single structure, the original GWR canopies removed by British Rail [2]. New canopies have been restored around the building during improvements to the station in recent years.
The station platforms are on an embankment with the ticket hall and station entrance on the ground level. The station is managed by Chiltern Railway and served by them and West Midlands Railway.
Station entrance
Stairs (and lift) down to ground level
Between the platforms, the disused island platform can be seen in the background
Platform building
Chiltern 168 003 arrives with a London Marylebone service
[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Banbury to Birmingham (Middleton Press, 2004) Map. XXI [2] Ibid. Fig. 76
