Chiltern out / Virgin back

Last Wednesday found me waiting at Birmingham Snow Hill for the 8.12 Chiltern Clubman service to London Marylebone It was running around 15 minutes late, but my wait was enlivened by the antics of the depature screens which seemed convinced that Chiltern was going to run a service to London at 8.22 as well...

There is no printed reference at Snow Hill to this service, and no announcements were made about it. Of course, Chiltern has been running an empty stock train from Snow Hill to return the 8.10 arrival from High Wycombe. Looking at the Chiltern's electronic train planner, it looks as if this working now picks up the timing of the 915 from Banbury for arrival in Marylebone is down as 10.38.

However, on Wednesday, I couldn't investigate further as a text alert arrived saying the train was cancelled so I stuck my orginal plan... As there is so much slack in the current timetable, I suspected that the 812 would make up time, and in the event it did; arriving virtually on time (although the arrival board at Marylebone remained convinced that it was going to be 15 mins late even after arrival!).

As ever, the 812 was a pleasure to use: table with sockets, trolley service; friendy staff; cheap fares... I am definitely a happy Chiltern customer.

I had booked back on the 21.03 Virgin Pendolino from London Euston as the £22 Advance First Class fare on this journey is such a bargain. Regular readers of this blog will know that Virgin have been slack on tickets checks of late on this service. Not tonight... barrier check at the platform entrance (very friendly staff) and an on-board check as well.

Quiet Coach H lived up to its billing, being virtually empty. Still, this meant that the WiFi had reasonable download speeds. Tea / coffee offered on departure, then sandwiches / fruit / soft or alcoholic drink after the Milton Keynes stop. Arrival on time at Birmingham New Street completed an very pleasant journey. Pity Virgin can't offer off-peak walk-on First Class fares to encourage usage of these empty coaches!