Rail passengers using Sutton Coldfield Railway Station's park-and-ride car park will see daily charges jump from 65p to £3 with a rail ticket – an increase of £2.35, or more than 350 per cent – under changes announced by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM). The new fee, more than double the current standard rate of £1.30, comes as the car park moves to an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) pay-on-exit system from Monday, August 17.
New pay-on-exit system and ANPR cameras
TfWM, the transport arm of the West Midlands Combined Authority, confirmed that the 337-space car park will adopt a pay-on-exit model. Motorists will no longer pay at a booth on arrival; instead, they will pay when leaving, using ANPR cameras to capture vehicle registrations. The current payment booth and its attendant are set to be removed, with one person confirming the attendant has been told he will be made redundant and will leave next month.
Under the new system, Blue Badge holders will continue to park for free by scanning the barcode on their badge at the payment machine. However, pensioners who previously received free parking – reportedly when the attendant was not present – will no longer benefit, as ANPR will capture all vehicles. Short stays of under 30 minutes for pick-ups and drop-offs will still be allowed.
Charges and timing
The new daily rate will be £3 on weekdays (Monday to Friday) and £2 on weekends and Bank Holidays. This compares with the current 65p daily charge for rail users and £1.30 for standard parking. TfWM says the change brings Sutton Coldfield in line with its other station car parks at Solihull, Longbridge, and Bromsgrove, which already use ANPR pay-on-exit systems.
The change takes effect on Monday, August 17, 2026. TfWM's website states: “From Monday 17 August 2026, parking at Sutton Coldfield Station will be changing to a Pay on Exit system. This means you'll pay for your parking when you're ready to leave. No need to pay before catching your train. The car park will use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. So when you pay, make sure you enter your vehicle registration number correctly to avoid receiving a parking charge. The current payment booth will be removed, bringing Sutton Coldfield in line with other TfWM station car parks at Solihull, Longbridge and Bromsgrove. Blue Badge holders can still park for free. To get free parking, simply scan the barcode on your Blue Badge at the payment machine.”
Why the increase?
BirminghamLive asked TfWM to explain the reasons behind the new system and charges. A spokesperson responded: “TfWM provides just over 9,500 parking spaces at 44 railway stations and five tram stops – the majority of which are free to use, funded from the transport levy element of council tax. The costs of operating and maintaining these, including the road surfaces, security cameras and lighting, continues to rise. At four of our busier sites, including Sutton Coldfield, charges are applied. The increase from £1.80 [sic, it is £1.30 at present] to £3 per day brings Sutton in line with the charges at the three other car parks and will be used to provide a well-maintained and managed facility for commuters at a reasonable cost.”
The spokesperson also noted that the car park is managed by Excel Parking, and they should be contacted regarding the car park attendant and his potential job loss. BirminghamLive has contacted Excel Parking but has yet to receive a response.
Impact on commuters
The price hike represents a significant increase for daily commuters using the Cross City Line. For someone parking five days a week, the monthly cost would rise from around £13 to £60 – a jump of over 350 per cent. The change has sparked concern among local residents, with some questioning the removal of the attendant and the impact on elderly and disabled users, despite the Blue Badge concession.
TfWM maintains that the new system will provide a more efficient and secure facility, reducing the need for cash handling and ensuring all vehicles are accounted for. The ANPR cameras will also help prevent the previous situation where some drivers parked for free when the attendant was absent.
As the August 17 start date approaches, passengers are advised to familiarise themselves with the new payment process and ensure they enter their vehicle registration correctly to avoid parking charges. The move is part of a broader trend across TfWM-managed car parks to standardise operations and manage rising costs.
