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Friday 4 Jul 2025

Black Sabbath homecoming gig signals mega weekend for Birmingham

Region & Route:

North West & Central: Central

| North West & Central

Black Sabbath's 'Back to the Beginning' gig at Villa Park is one of several huge events taking place in Birmingham this weekend.

England v India at Edgbaston, ELO at the Utilita Arena, the Colmore Food Festival, and Billy Ocean at the NEC means more than 200,000 extra people could be in the city centre across Friday, Saturday and Sunday - with many travelling to and from venues by train.

The 'super weekend' means passengers are being urged to take some simple steps to help make their journeys as smooth as possible. This incudes:

• Plan your journey in advance
• Always check before you travel and allow plenty of extra time
• Don't rely on last trains to get home and know your last three services

Extra staff will be on hand at Birmingham New Street and other stations in the city centre to help passengers make their journeys.

Black Sabbath fans are being encouraged to use both Aston and Witton stations to get to and from Villa Park, to help make getting to the gig and home afterwards as simple as possible.   

Elizabeth Graham, Network Rail’s Birmingham New Street station manager, said: "It's due to be an amazing weekend with historic gigs, brilliant sport, and a huge food festival attracting huge crowds into the city centre. We will be on hand all weekend to help people but need everyone to plan ahead, and always check before they travel so they can get in and out of the city centre as easily as possible.

"I'd also encourage people to not rely on the very last train to get home as it will likely be very busy and you might not be able to get on. It's always better to know your last three trains and allow extra time. 

"Of course, when you're at Birmingham New Street, make sure you take a selfie with our own Ozzy the bull and see the stunning Black Sabbath mural on Navigation Street."

Lucy Wootton, head of the Grand Railway Collaboration, which represents the rail industry, including train operators, in the West Midlands, added: "We are ready to welcome passengers into stations and onboard trains this weekend, but we are expecting the railway to be extra busy throughout Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. As always, please plan ahead and check before you travel to help you get to where you want to go.”

Passengers can plan their journey and check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk or with their train operator.