Whitlocks End Station - A Solihull and West Midlands Gem!

Whitlocks End Station has been the southern terminus for the Shakespeare Line for trains that don't go beyond to Stratford-upon-Avon since 2011.


Where is Whitlocks End Station?

Whitlocks End Station is at Tilehouse Lane, Major's Green, Solihull, B90 1PN. It is close to the border with Worcestershire (between Hollywood and Dickens Heath).

 

In brief

The station was named after the hamlet of Whitlocks End. It is close to the villages of Tidbury Green and Dickens Heath in the West Midlands (Solihull), Major's Green and Hollywood in Worcestershire. It was opened in 1936 as Whitlocks End Halt, gained it's current name from 1968. The station was rebuilt in 1999, and since 2011 has been the southern terminus of trains that don't continue onto Stratford-upon-Avon (instead of Shirley until 2010).

Whitlocks End StationWhitlocks End Station (April 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

Whitlocks End Station - details

The main entrance to Whitlocks End is from Tilehouse Lane via the ramp to platform 1 (for trains towards Birmingham Snow Hill). Usually trains coming from Stratford-upon-Avon will use this platform.

Whitlocks End StationWhitlocks End Station (April 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

For trains terminating at Whitlocks End, they use platform 2.

Whitlocks End StationWhitlocks End Station (April 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Tickets can be bought from the ticket machine, or now from the West Midlands Railway app (until 2017 the franchise was run by London Midland).

Whitlocks End StationWhitlocks End Station (April 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

There is a large car park here, so passengers are encouraged to park at Whitlocks End, rather than Shirley (which has a smaller car park).

Whitlocks End StationWhitlocks End Station (April 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Until 2010, terminating trains ended at Shirley, but from 2011, this was changed to Whitlocks End. At least one train an hour continues onto Stratford-upon-Avon.

Whitlocks End StationWhitlocks End Station (April 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Timetables can be found on the station boards, or online, including in the apps.

Whitlocks End StationWhitlocks End Station (April 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Trains that start at Whitlocks End go towards Birmingham Snow Hill, onto Kidderminster, Stourbridge Junction or Worcester Foregate Street (or Shrub Hill).

Whitlocks End StationWhitlocks End Station (April 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Trains at Whitlocks End

West Midlands Railway took over from London Midland at the end of 2017. So going into 2018, the Class 172's were initially still in green and yellow, including West Midlands Railway 172 218, around March 2018.

Whitlocks EndWhitlocks End Station (March 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

In December 2018, West Midlands Railway 172 341 was seen on a service to Stratford-upon-Avon on platform 2.

Whitlocks EndWhitlocks End Station (December 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Not long after West Midlands Railway 172 333 arrived at platform 1 from Stratford-upon-Avon, there was a lot of passengers at the platform.

Whitlocks EndWhitlocks End Station (December 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Whitlocks End during the third lockdown

By 2021, the station had replaced all of it's signs with the new West Midlands Railway signs.

Whitlocks EndWhitlocks End Station (February 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

There was no one at the station at the time, due to being in lockdown, so just on a daily walk at the time past the station.

Whitlocks EndWhitlocks End Station (February 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Would only be a couple more months before things returned to normal.

Whitlocks EndWhitlocks End Station (February 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

There was maybe one person sitting at platform 2.

Whitlocks EndWhitlocks End Station (February 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

Project dates

15 Mar 2023 - On-going

Passions

Transport, Travel & tourism

Contact

Your Place Your Space

Jonathan Bostock

0121 410 5520
jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com