Out on the 0812 Chiltern Clubman from Snow Hill today - a train significantly cheaper than the last peak time service at 0745. Today's set had power points installed at the tables, and, as usual, one was free for use from Snow Hill.
This service is not too busy until Warwick Parkway so plenty of time to settle to work on my laptop. Tickets were checked after Moor Street, the buffet trolley arrived before WP, and the toilets were clean and working! Arrival on time in Marylebone for yet another efficient trip.
Meant to return on the 16.30 Wrexham and Shropshire and change at Leamington Spa but, although a refurbished set was sitting on Platform 4, I had a brainstorm and ended up on the 16.33 Clubman! This was relatively busy to Bicester North but interestingly not particularly so to Banbury - perhaps Banbury and Leamington folk have caught onto the W&S comforts (and of course slightly faster timings). Of course, no trolley service on returning peak time Chiltern trains so I wish I had caught the W&S if only for its buffet service!
Still, tables with working power points were available after Bicester, and the service arrived on time in Birmingham - actually early into Snow Hill due to the 'punctuality' timing of this last leg of the journey...
Out of interest, the Birmingham Post Business & Property Review for June 2010 carries an interview with Adrian Shooter (chairman of Chiltern Railways), which, whilst focussing rather on his garden railway, does give an insight into why Chiltern has been so successful as a franchise.
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