17th February 26. Birmingham!

I was going to collect a new Transit custom. From a dealer compound near Birmingham airport today. Its a short walk from Lea Hall station to the compound to collect the van. Not an early start today as just this job today.

Aylesbury Station

So, from Aylesbury station on the 9.57am to Princess Risborough. Then a 30 minutes wait for the Birmingham Snow Hill train.

I changed at Banbury to get a direct train to Birmingham New Street. Where I then find a train to Lea Hall. And the short 15 minutes walk to the collection point. It's right next to Birmingham international airport and on the flight path in. Makes for an interesting walk. Especially today when it's quite foggy. To hear the planes so close. Then see them at close range dropping out of the mist.

Walking to the collection compound

To see the various businesses on the street which is varied to say the least. Is another interesting thing about this walk. There seems to be an importer of Japanese cars and the street and pavements are full of unregistered (in this country) Toyota Prius's and other Japanese models, not sold here. The signage on the place suggests they supply the army of Uber drivers with their cars..

Looks like a very good, profitable business.

By the time I arrived at the compound the fog was lifting quickly due to the sun getting stronger as it rose higher.

The staff in this place are great. Very friendly and helpful and typical I find of the Birmingham people.

They pointed me to the van ,

New Ford Transit Crew Cab Custom

Release paperwork handed over and signed and I was on the way back to Aylesbury. Only around an hour and a half.

New Transit. Ready to go

The drive from here back to Aylesbury takes you round the airport perimeter and onto the M42 to head south and pick up the M40 as far as Bicester then A41 to Aylesbury

B33 0TJ to Aylesbury

The roads around the airport and bypassing Solihull are all new and seem to be ready for some major improvements to infrastructure in the area. A lot of the area is Land Rover factory and surrounding so perhaps some expansion for them. Maybe not, but either way it's a great road system now from there to the M42.

My only other job today is to collect the MG3 above from my Aylesbury customer for delivery tomorrow morning to a retail customer in Canterbury.

For now it's safely parked at home. As I am.