In message , Aidan Stanger
writes
You included London on its route, so Birmingham would be more likely to
become "one city" with London!

Just as an aside here from someone with a lot of experience of the
London - Birmingham "corridor".......

I think that one of the reasons that Birmingham has fared so well in the
last two decades with things like the National Exhibition Centre,
National Indoor Arena, International Convention Centre, Symphony Hall,
etc. is that it's convenient for a large proportion of the country
(Northern England, Wales) AND it isn't THAT far from London.

The NEC in particular is so well served by fast trains from Euston
direct to Birmingham International (in is it 85 minutes?) that it's not
that much more hassle to reach than parts of outer London.

There was even a view in the eighties that BHX could have effectively
become London's third airport.

--
Ian Jelf, MITG
Birmingham, UK

Registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide for London and the Heart of England
http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk

Ian Jelf ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

There was even a view in the eighties that BHX could have effectively
become London's third airport.

We had a local minicab back from Heathrow to Chorleywood a few weeks ago,
and the driver was saying that more and more people are using Coventry. It
is, apparently, the same distance from here as both Gatwick and Stansted,
and tends to be cheaper fare, due to the traffic.

In message , Adrian
writes
Ian Jelf ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

There was even a view in the eighties that BHX could have effectively
become London's third airport.

We had a local minicab back from Heathrow to Chorleywood a few weeks ago,
and the driver was saying that more and more people are using Coventry. It
is, apparently, the same distance from here as both Gatwick and Stansted,
and tends to be cheaper fare, due to the traffic.

It is - however- a *very* basic airport from the passengers' point of
view, in no way comparable as an "experience" to Heathrow, Gatwick or
indeed Birmingham.

Of course I accept that the cost rather than other factors can sway
people but having recently had to meet and despatch a group from
Coventry Airport, I can't say I'd be queuing up to use it myself!

(Interesting r e-mail address, incidentally, Adrian!)
--
Ian Jelf, MITG
Birmingham, UK

Registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide for London and the Heart of England
http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk