LondonMidland's Great Escape: good value but too successful (part 1)?

This week and next, LondonMidland are offering off-peak day ranger tickets at £10 standard class and £20 First Class through the Great Escape promotion. Effectively, these are walk-on fares but quota-limited through the need to download a voucher to qualify. Off-peak for this promotion starts at 9.30am Monday to Friday though there are easements (no restriction Saturday / Sunday), and returning from London Monday to Friday also has some restrictions (see part 2).

However, unlike previous promotions on these lines from LondonMidland, there is no easement on the Birmingham to London route so I duly rolled up with my voucher for the 9.33 Desiro to Euston. First indications seemed to indicate that the First Class compartment would be quiet as the ticket clerk at Victoria Square said that mine was the first one he had had to do. However, joining the train showed that many were also taking advantage of the promotion...

Secured a table with working power point for my laptop and settled down to work (one of the 'advantages' of LondonMidland could be said to be the lack of WiFi which means there is no temptation to do email...). Soon joined by a family - two adults and a young girl - who were off to the Tower for the day (using the 2 for 1 attraction vouchers). Clearly the 2 hour 16 minute journey time did not outweigh the promotional savings...

The 4 car Desiro left New Street fairly full (including in First Class), and continued to pick up passengers through to Coventry. Have to admit that I was still thinking that after Coventry matters would quieten but the crowds at Coventry and Rugby disabused me. By Northampton, despite the addition of a 4 car set from Crewe, it was standing room only in Standard, and full in First Class... Fortunately, the train calls only at Milton Keynes and Watford Junction after Northampton so matter got only marginally worse.

So, what was good and what was bad? Well, the Desiros ride well and given that the seating is commuter style are relatively comfortable. However, apparently the toilets were 'disgusting' in the set that left Birmingham - the description of the mother of the family - though to be fair the train manager did apologise and suggest that the 17 (17!) minute layover at Northampton would give ample time for a comfort stop... Time keeping was ok but that wait at Northampton.... LondonMidland could rival Chiltern times if there was more flexibility in the timetable pathing (I know, I know, that's why we need HS2 - but that won't answer the immediate need...). The usual bug bear: the train manager didn't appear aside from one ticket inspection nearing Coventry. I know it must be awful to be abused by standing passengers when there is little that you can do BUT train managers are the public face of the company so should at least show that they care...

Finally, a matter outside of LondonMidland's control... We were brought into Platform 17 at Euston which, alas, is one of the ones with relatively poor access and exit. Yesterday, the exit situation was worsened by the loading of a Virgin service for which Virgin staff were actually checking tickets before passengers could join the train. Much grumbling about the delays that this caused as one of the two narrow exit ramps was effectively blocked. Not good customer care by Network Rail.