The cheapest way into Birmingham is the free Air-Rail Link monorail to Birmingham International station, then a train to New Street in about 9 to 18 minutes, with advance and off-peak fares from around £3.50. Trains are very frequent, roughly every 5 to 10 minutes, and there are direct services to London Euston too. Prices checked August 2026.
The free Air-Rail Link monorail
Birmingham Airport is one of very few UK airports with a free people-mover to its rail station. The Air-Rail Link is a cable-hauled monorail connecting the terminal (first floor) to Birmingham International railway station (first floor). The journey takes roughly 90 seconds, cars run continuously about every 2 minutes, and it costs nothing. It operates approximately 03:30 to 00:30 daily; outside those hours a free courtesy bus covers the same short link.
Trains to Birmingham New Street
From Birmingham International, trains reach Birmingham New Street in about 9 to 18 minutes. Fast intercity services take around 9 to 10 minutes, while stopping services take 11 to 18 minutes. The service is very frequent, roughly every 5 to 10 minutes, with about 150 trains a day. Advance and off-peak fares start from around £3.50. Operators include West Midlands Railway, London Northwestern Railway, CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast and Transport for Wales.
Direct trains to London Euston
Avanti West Coast runs direct trains from Birmingham International to London Euston in as little as about 1h08 to 1h10, with typical journeys of 1h10 to 1h36 depending on stops, and around 95 services a day. Advance fares start from around £10 to £13. Combined with the 90-second monorail, you can be at the airport and in central London inside about 90 minutes door to platform.
Buses and coaches
Local buses are run by National Express West Midlands. The X1 links Birmingham city centre with the airport and NEC and continues to Coventry, stopping at the airport at bus stop K. The X12 links the airport with Solihull from bus stop L. Single fares are low, with National Express West Midlands capping singles at around £2.00 and an all-day Daysaver around £4.50; some capped singles are as low as £1.70. Pay by cash or contactless on board.
For longer trips, National Express and FlixBus run daily coach services from BHX to towns and cities across the UK. Fares vary by route and how far ahead you book, so check the specific service before you travel.
At a glance
| Mode | Fare | Time | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air-Rail Link monorail | Free | ~90 seconds | Every ~2 min |
| Train to New Street | from ~£3.50 | 9 to 18 min | Every 5 to 10 min |
| Direct train to London Euston | from ~£10 to £13 | ~1h10 | ~95 a day |
| X1 bus to city centre | ~£2.00 single | 30 to 45 min | Frequent daytime |
When a taxi is worth it
Public transport is usually cheaper and faster into the centre, but a taxi earns its keep for a group with luggage, for door-to-door travel, or late at night when trains and buses thin out. See the taxis page for fares, and the routes page for times to places beyond the city.
Public transport FAQs
Is the Air-Rail Link really free? Yes. The monorail between the terminal and Birmingham International station is completely free and runs roughly every 2 minutes, taking about 90 seconds.
What is the cheapest way from Birmingham Airport to New Street? The free monorail to Birmingham International, then a West Midlands Railway train to New Street in about 9 to 18 minutes, with fares from around £3.50.
Can I get a direct train to London from the airport? Yes. Avanti West Coast runs direct trains from Birmingham International to London Euston in as little as about 1h10, with advance fares from around £10 to £13.
Which bus goes to Birmingham city centre? The National Express X1 from bus stop K links the airport with the city centre and Coventry, with low capped single fares around £2.00.
More: Overview, Taxis, Parking, Drop-off, Routes, FAQs.
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Last verified August 2026 by the Birmingham Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Birmingham Airport website before you travel.