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Written by James Power - 25 Mar 2008
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Location notes
Tile Hill is situated between Coventry and Birmingham New Street on the West Coast Mainline.
The area is a field adjacent to Tile Hill Station, on the outskirts of Coventry in the West Midlands.
Railway type and traffic
The railway is predominantly Class 390 Pendolinos working Virgin West Coast services between Wolverhampton/Birmingham New Street and London Euston. You also get Class 350/323 EMUs working London Midland services between Birmingham New Street and Coventry/Northampton.
Currently, spring 2008, there is a loco-hauled passenger working on a Monday - Friday which uses the line and is worked by an DB Schenker Class 90 and ex-Virgin MkIII coaching stock, although a shot of this working is only possible from April - September owing to the longer days.
There is little freight that use the line, a DB Schenker enterprise from Bescot to Wembley in the evening.
Environment
Tile Hill is an Western suburb of Coventry in the West Midlands. This is a location I visited since 1992 when I first got into railways and never had any problem with people, although I must emphasis that it is always best to be on your guard.
Having said that, you seldom see many people in the field anyway other than the occasional dog walker or jogger.

Please note:
That from about October until August time, the field tends to be used for crops, it is out of courtesy that no-one uses the field duting this time. Adequate photographs can be equally obtained from the station.
Road directions
From the Coventry Ring Road:
Travel on the B4101 towards Earlsdon/Hearsall Common, once you pass under the ??Spon?? End arches, bear left onto Hearsall Lane, follow until you reach Fletchampstead Highway, turn right onto Fletchampstead Highway, then take First left onto B4101 again. At this point there is a major traffic light junction.
Once back onto B4101, follow for about 2 miles, once you past Plants Wood, turn left onto Station Road and keep straight on, you pass over the rail line and take your immediate left - This is the Station car park.

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Tile Hill map co-ordinates
Parking
You can leave your car in Tile Hill Station car park.
Public transport
Travel Coventry operate route 34 to Tile Hill Station on a regular basis from Coventry City Centre. Likewise, you can also use route 33 but this would involve a walk of about 10 - 15 minutes from Tile Hill Lane.
It is easier to catch the train to Tile Hill, the station is served every half hour Monday - Saturday by London Midland local trains between Birmingham New Street and Coventry/Northampton.

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Amenities
If you walk up Station Road, the road over bridge at Tile Hill Station, you need to turn right onto the road and over the rail line, this will lead you to a small shopping arcade, there is a chippy there.
Accommodation
There is plenty of accommodation to be found in Coventry City Centre.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Tile Hill

Googly map
Streetmap links
Tile Hill general view map
Tile Hill close up map

Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Tile Hill



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Photographic notes
As the line runs on a East - West axis, the light is good in the morning for East-bound shots and afternoon/evening for West-bound shot.
Being a quiet location, it is well suited to videography.

Update 2011 - Reports are that the field area of this location (fig 2 - 3) is no longer accesible. Making this a station only shot.


General views - All photographs © James Power unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west


Fig 1 - Looking west

From the station.

Fig 2 - Looking east


Fig 2 - Looking east


Fig 3 - Looking west


Fig 3 - Looking west


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