I know there are a few people on this forum lucky enough to live in the glorious midlands, so thought I'd ask for some opinions on which of these journeys would be easiest/quickest.
Bearing in mind both journeys would be done in rush hour, and I hate the Birmingham New Road with a passion only reserved for that stupid Dixons ad where she taps on the perspex doing a phone order, when Dixons don't even DO phone ordering....grrr.
Anyway...
Journey 1: Wolverhampton to Worcester, probably on the A449 through Kiddermister as we live on that side of town, and the previously mentioned hatred of the New Road to get to the M5.
Journey 2: Wolverhampton to Solihull. I'm guessing this would have to involve the M6 somewhere - would it actually be easier to go up to the M6Toll junction at Cannock (about 15 minutes away from me) and go in that way... or would that just not work at all? Maybe I'm just looking for an excuse to play the coins in the bucket game again.
I know potentially both journeys could take anything up to 2 hours if traffic is bad, just wondered which would be the least painful.
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Although now resident in Cornwall I am from this area so, I would:
Journey 1. Use M54 to get on M6, accept the traffic will be slow until you get to junction 8 : the M5 interchange. A449 will take you through lots of hold ups at rush hour. Using the M54 (Stafford Rd junction) puts you on the M6 but even if it is bumper to bumper you should be on the M5 within 20 minutes. This has got to be quicker than the A449. I know, I've tried both!
Journey 2. M6, M42. Any alternative will be fraught and fractious at peak hours.
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PG, I don't know the area so can't help with your query I'm afraid but I hope you don't think I'm being too nosey if I ask, why?
Are you lucky enough to have two job offers and the deciding factor is the journey?
Are you just passing an idle moment and wondering?
Are you planning a bank job in Wolverhampton and need the quickest getaway route?
I think we should be told, if only to satisfy my incurable curiosity!
Cockle
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Knowing PG, I'd think either the bank job or possibly idle curiosity. My money's on the former ;-)
Sorry - I'll leave now
--
Adam
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Iwould favour Wolverhampton to Worcester any time. You wil avoid the boring provinciality of Solihull and get yourself into the refreshing medium of the Worcestershire countryside where your spirit will rise to the heights that it deserves.
Motoring is about freeedom not competing with those who view the car as a status symbol.
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Not wanting to keep you in suspense...
Yes, two jobs, kind of. Both would be temporary though, as things seem to be in this area I've set my sights on, so it wouldn't be worth moving closer to either.
The Worcester job would be an extension of something I've already done for the last 18 months, whereas the Solihull one is more of a project coordinating type opportunity I think, which would certainly look good on the CV but is probably a bit of a nightmare to get to.
On the other hand, I've already turned down a year's contract somewhere else in Worcester, in which travel was a large factor - it took me two hours to get to my induction day. However, the turned down job wasn't quite in the dream area, which the current worcester possibility is.
I need to make a decision on the Solihull one by Wednesday, whereas I only heard about the Worcester thing today.
And then there's the year's contract in Southampton, which WOULD involve a move, back home in fact. But lets not even throw that one into the equation!
So no, no bank job... although that might be an option if none of the above come good.
Motoring link... new job = new car for Pologirl! :)
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Both journeys are around an hour or less, on one proviso; get thee into the office for 7:45 and your day will be sweet. Any later and you can add a minute to your journey for every minute delayed.
I've belted back and forth around the routes in question on a few occasions and you REALLY want your car parked before 8:00am.
Trust me, you get used to it and the first 30 minutes of your day will be your most productive.
Good luck,
ND
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Why not consider the train? There is a direct service from Wolves to Solihull, journey time of just 29 minutes in the peak ! If it's for commuting you can get all sorts of season tickets, which has got to be cheaper than using the car trying to cross Birmingham in the rush hours day after day.
Going to Worcester by train might not be so much fun as you would have to change at Smethwick or Birmingham New St / Snow Hill.
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