Avanti West Coast has marked a major milestone as Birmingham International station celebrates its 50th anniversary, recognising half a century of connecting passengers to Birmingham Airport, the NEC, and the wider West Midlands.
Opened on 26 January 1976, the station was purpose‑built to support the growing transport needs of Solihull, Coleshill, and neighbouring communities. Today it stands as one of the region’s most important interchanges, handling more than 300 train services per day and welcoming around five million passengers annually.
To commemorate the anniversary, senior representatives from the West Midlands Combined Authority, Birmingham Airport, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, and the NEC joined Avanti West Coast—who manage the station—for a celebratory event. A bespoke birthday cake was unveiled, alongside bunting and digital displays thanking customers for their continued support.
The station’s original design was the work of Ray Moorcroft, who later became Chief Architect for British Rail in 1977. His architectural legacy includes work on Wolverhampton and Northampton stations, as well as contributing to the notable redevelopment of London Euston in the 1960s.
Among the guests was Neil Warner, Avanti West Coast’s Deputy Team Leader and the longest‑serving colleague at Birmingham International, with nearly three decades of service.
“It is quite special to me because it's the place where I've worked nearly all my life. There's a great team here and there's been some unique characters over the years, and we’ve all got on well together,”
— Neil Warner, Avanti West Coast Deputy Team Leader
Reflecting on memorable moments from his career, he added:
“With the NEC on our doorstep, I’ve been fortunate to meet a lot of famous people, including Paul O’Grady and Prince William.”
Birmingham International continues to grow as a multimodal gateway, now served by Avanti West Coast’s Pendolino and Evero fleets, alongside services from West Midlands Trains, CrossCountry, Transport for Wales, and—new for this year—the Caledonian Sleeper.
Station Manager Jodie Watson highlighted Birmingham International’s evolving role in the region:
“For half a century Birmingham International has grown to be an integral transport hub for the West Midlands, creating a gateway for holiday and concert goers, while also connecting local people with major towns and cities.
We’re pleased to celebrate this landmark anniversary with those who have been a part of its journey. I’m proud of the great team here who provide a warm welcome to the millions of people that travel to and from the station each year.”
Image credits: Avanti West Coast
