Morpeth is easier than most places to connect to the airport but it also has regular(ish) direct service to BHX. Of all the rail stops Morpeth is the easiest to get to for all of the locations mentioned.
I used to drive it for years. South of the river to BHX just over three hours. Stuck in traffic once. But then again let's not pretend flying isn't subject to delays. Particularly when you're CAT1.
If people think NCLBHX is viable then do explain why T3 have dropped the route and who could profitably replace them on the route.
Spotters can argue til they're blue in the face. Unfortunately it's fare paying bums on seats that make a route viable. Tragically there's aren't enough to bums paying a sufficient fare to make the route viable. To my knowledge it's not that T3 have used the 'we can make more money on a different route' excuse as I can't think of new routes or increased frequencies from them.