Used a first-class 'Great Escape' voucher from LondonMidland today to travel south on the 0853 from New Street.
The first class compartment of the Class 350 EMU was moderately busy, and the two tables were occupied when I joined at 0850 so I had to make do with an airline style seat. Fortnately, all seats have power sockets, and the pull down table is sufficiently large to support a laptop.
The train got busier as the journey progressed and the first class gradually filled to capacity. No ticket checks were carried out during the journey so there was nothing except inate honesty to prevent standard class ticket holders sitting in the compartment.
The journey arrived on time in Euston which it should as the timing is very gentle 145 minutes! No attempt to check tickets at Euston...
Returned from London on the 1350 Chitern Clubman service from Marylebone. Reasonably busy but tables available so was able to set up my laptop in 'working comfort'. All seats on a Clubman have power sockets... Typical speedy Chiltern service: 119 minutes to Moor Street. Ticket barriers at Marylebone and a ticket check after Banbury.
The 'Great Escape' fare was £20, and my return Chiltern Super Off Peak Return was £19.50. During a normal working week, the comparable fares for the outward journey would have been £95 LondonMidland (£16 x 2 if booked in advance) and £32 Chiltern. Given that the Chiltern service is faster and offers more flexibility and at least the same level of comfort and facilities, I'm afraid it looks to me as if the LondonMidland 'no frills' First Class is not actually worth the extra from the Birmingham end.
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