Thursday 10th June

Had to split my journey at Banbury today so started by taking the 745 from Snow Hill. This Clubman service is busy into Snow Hill with commuters and then relatively busy with new commuters from Snow Hill and Moor Street through to Solihull. Still, managed to get a table at Moor Street only to find that the power point hadn't been installed on this set (I thought the upgrade programme had finished) - fortunately, my laptop battery lasted to Banbury.

Other than that, this was a typical efficient Chiltern journey: on time, buffet trolley available, clean, working toilets etc. This train gradually fills at Warwick Parkway and Leamington but is not actually 'full' until Banbury. Pity it costs so much to use through to London (BUT see my blog on fares) and yet is relatively slow due to stops at Lapworth and Hatton!

I had timed my break at Banbury to allow me to catch the 10.04 Wrexham & Shropshire service onto Marylebone. Clearly, the benefits of travelling W&S (and perhaps the fact that the 10.04 is the first service on which the Network South-East railcard can be used from Banbury) are being realised as there were a good number of passengers waiting with me for the train. So, although not full, the train was nicely busy on departure.

Alas, the service was made up of the spare set which meant that although First Class passengers had the benefit of a refurbished coach, standard class had only the old Mark III stock. These coaches are starting to look their age and, of course, do not have power points or WiFi. Still, you do get proper seats and plenty of table space... Fortunately, the buffet car was as pleasant and well stocked as ever, allowing me the treat of Welsh Cakes with my Cappucino!

My return journey was on the 1.50 Chiltern Clubman from Marylebone. Only a 3-car set so virtually full on departure. However, many were travelling only to the first stop, Bicester North (for retail therapy at Bicester Village), where a table (with working power points) became available. As with the outward Clubman journey, the service did what it says on the tin: ran to time, relatively comfortably, though without a buffet trolley. Of course, the fare is much cheaper and the timings are faster...