One of the features of the summer 2011 Chiltern timetable* is the increased use of former Wrexham & Shropshire stock on Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone services. On Tuesday I was able to try out two of the new workings: the 10.55 from Moor Street and the 18.30 from Marylebone.
The stock of the 10.55 departure had the declassified first class carriage at the Birmingham end of the train, making it the first carriage that intending passengers pass. However, it is still branded 'First Class'; clearly most Chiltern passengers from Birmingham don't realise that Chiltern don't run First Class as most walked resolutely onto the standard class carriages further down the train (though of course W&S standard class is far superior to any other company's offering!).
Inside the First Class carriage all was quiet. Plenty of table seats to choose from, with, of course, power sockets and to my great delight working WiFi. Not only was it working but the download speed was superb - easily beating Virgin's Pendolino offering (I was able to download mb attachments on my email, something that Virgin has never allowed me to do). Better still, it is FREE.
What was not available was a buffet service nor was a trolley loaded... I gather that there are problems training the Chiltern catering stewards to (wo)man the W&S buffet car - though as one commented the other week 'How difficult is it to fry bacon...' Shame, not least because I would have patronised one of Moor Street's superb refreshment outlets had I known!
The run to Marylebone was good, and the First Class carriage remained quiet. Arrival on time at 12.55.
Coming back, the 1800 arrival into Marylebone which is the stock for the 18.30 was delayed heavily by an earlier incident on the line. Though a quick turn-around was achieved by the platform staff and crew, departure wasn't until after 1845. What a difference in loading! Clearly, the commuters from Bicester North and Banbury do understand about declassified First Class as the carriage was full. WiFi working again but no buffet car or trolley (though I think that this due to policy not staff).
Although I love the ex-W&S stock, one downside is that there is no ability to catch up on lost time unlike the Clubmans which always seem to be able to do so past Banbury. So arrival into Moor Street was around 20 minutes late.
Overall, the comfort & ambience of the W&S lives on but the service 'spirit' has gone. Let's hope that Chiltern rediscover that spirit when the Chiltern Mainline is launched in September...
* ex-W&S stock work the following M-F services from Moor Street: 0543, 0614, 1055, 1555. From Marylebone, the services are 0820, 1320, 1630, 1830
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