Sutton Coldfield

Historic old station is Sutton Coldfield, and one of the few on the Cross City line which manages to preserve it's old look and feel whilst still having modern facilities. The station has at least four different entrances which makes it easily accessible whichever direction you're travelling from. There's also a big car park and a new lift for disabled access. The Birmingham-bound platform has a self-service ticket machine which is ideal as it saves a long slog to the ticket office, the platform is also covered which helps on rainy days and there's a small newsagents which is run by a very friendly gentleman.

One of the problems with the station is that the entrance next to the Station pub closes early which means you either have to walk all the way round to the main entrance on Railway Road or down a dark alley to enter the platform through a gate further down. If the gate's open, you might as well leave the door open a bit longer, surely?

This station just about offers a blast from the past; a window into how things were and cannot be again. It was once the scene of a major rail tragedy back in the days of steam engines, but it's the waiting rooms and awnings which speak of the '50s loudest.
For all that, despite the recent installation of a lift, things don't feel all that pleasant, with new infrastructure and branding making for a jarring experience. It always seems that bit too dingy and dusty.
It's not that well laid-out either, with running commuters a common sight as they try to navigate their way up a ramp from the Lichfield-bound platform, through the ticket office, and down the steps to the Birmingham-bound platform. It's a journey in itself. This is why Four Oaks has a link bridge over the tracks.
A handy tip now: The Birmingham platform (complete with auto-ticket machine) and indeed the stairs leading up to the ticket office can be accessed via a doorway at the end of Station Street by The Station Hotel pub. If you're already in the heart of commercial Sutton, this can save you the job of walking the incline to the formal Railway Road entrance. But be warned, this entrance is not always open and you could find yourself having to access the Railway Road entrance anyway, adding a precious minute or two onto your itinerary; not ideal if your train is due.
There is parking, with access further along Railway Road.
Both platforms are well-sheltered, all too rare on the Cross-City Line, and on the Birmingham-bound platform, there is a small shop. Near the shop is an access to Park Road; the fourth entrance / exit to the station.