Yesterday, courtesy of Chiltern's Mainlineforapound promotion, I was able to travel on two of Chiltern's 'nice and fast' services for the princely sum of £2 return. Going up to London, I joined the 0855 from Birmingham Moor Street. Coming back, I was on the 1630 from London Marylebone. Both, of course, are Clubman services.
The 0855 starts as a commuter service from Kidderminster at 0809 and so was reasonably busy on arrival. No problem getting a table seat however, despite the fact that the service was a 3 carriage, rather than 4 carriage, set. As ever, quite a few commuters left at Solihull but London bound passengers joined. Then a flood of people at the last stop before Marylebone - Warwick Parkway - as this is first train on which the £50 return fare (as opposed to the £75 return fare) is valid. Still, no standing passengers.
One of the Mainline enhancements is the provision of free WiFi in Clubmans, to go with the power sockets and tables - in theory making a good working environment. Alas, the WiFi seems to be taking time to bed down on the Clubmans: availability yesterday was erratic, and Chiltern haven't managed to solve the 'black' hole in mobile coverage between Aynho Junction and Bicester North. Nevertheless, some use was possible and I was amused to see Google ask me if I wanted to change to Google.se as it had detected that I was using a Swedish service (Chiltern's WiFi provider hails from there)...
Another enhancement is going to be improved catering trolleys. Alas, yesterday's was an old style one and took an age to traverse the train (having been loaded at Moor Street). In fact, I think that it was as we were passing through High Wycombe that finally a full service had been provided. Still, the prices aren't bad - £1.60 for tea / £2 for coffee - but you don't get a 'pot' on the Clubmans.
Slightly disconcerting to find that the disabled toilet appeared not to be working - in fact, the door lock, though working, was failing to display 'engaged' outside, giving the impression that the door had failed. Still, better than the other way round I suppose.
Arrival into Marylebone was around 5 minutes late (ie 98 rather than the booked 93 mins) as a local train got in the way at Princes Risborough. Overall, though, for a pound, the service can't be faulted!
Coming back, my journey was enlivened by the companionship of a member of the Railway Performance Society who was timing the Clubman run for the logs kept by the Society. One of Chiltern's sources of pride on Mainline is the work done at Northolt Junction to raise the line speed there. My companion wasn't disappointed: the Clubman recording 100mph as it breasted the rise into South Ruislip.
A downside of the improved opportunities for Clubmans (and indeed Silver trains) to show their paces is the inability of the old Turbos to get out of the way as timetabled. Good running was marred at Gerrard's Cross, High Wycombe, and Bicester North by the failure to clear the main line promptly, but then the railways would run alot more smoothly if passengers wouldn't insist on getting off the trains at their stations... Nevertheless it does appear that the Mainline timetable is very tightly planned and thus open to delays very easily.
Alas, my own journey was marred by the failure of the WiFi altogether on this set though at least the power points were working. No catering trolley of course, being an evening service. One wonders how the Silver trains are doing in this respect.
Arrival into Birmingham Moor Street was 4 minutes down (94 mins for the journey as opposed to the booked 90) BUT of course arrival into Snow Hill was on time as the 16.30 is booked to stand for 4 mins at Moor Street!
Lots of quibbles I know but overall Mainline is going to be worth it, I'm sure
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