Chiltern Railways timetable from 9th December 2012 - a touch of spin?

Chiltern's timetable of services from Sunday 9th December 2012 is now available as a PDF download: http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/sites/default/files/Timetable%209%20%20December%202012%20-%20%2018%20May%202013(1).pdf and as a printed booklet from staffed Chiltern stations.

In the current Winter 2012/13 CBD Digest there is a classic piece of Chiltern 'spin' in an article headlined 'Snow Hill to London faster and more frequent' (illustrated by a Silver Train arriving at Moor Street!) in which it is said that 'the new service will reduce the overall journey time by up to an impressive 22 minutes'. Now whilst it is true that Snow Hill is getting a better Silver Train service thanks to the two morning 'up' peak services now starting at Kidderminster and Stourbridge Junction respectively, it hides the sorry tale of  longer journey times from Birmingham. The quickest journey is now 94 minutes from Moor Street and many hover around the 100 minute mark and worse. A sad reversal of the September 2011 Mainline launch plan.

The key changes in the timetable are:

FROM BIRMINGHAM (Monday-Friday)

FIRST train now 0515 from Moor Street - arrives in London Marylebone 0659 (Clubman but no catering)
0546 from Moor Street NO LONGER a Silver Train BUT has catering

SILVER TRAINS at 0650 and 0706 from Snow Hill (0655 / 0711 from Moor Street). Timing has slipped to 94 mins and 112 mins respectively. Note these trains start at Kidderminster and Stourbridge Junction respectively giving Business Zone from The Hawthorns park and ride on the 0650.

Other peak Clubman services at 0751 Snow Hill (0755 Moor Street), 0807 Snow Hill (0810 Moor Street),  and 0852 Snow Hill (0855 Moor Street).

OFF-PEAK Silver Trains at 1055, 1255, and 1555 from Moor Street. Catering on the xx.55 Mainline departures from Moor Street until 1555

LAST train to London Marylebone is 2115 from Snow Hill

FROM LONDON MARYLEBONE (Monday-Friday)

FIRST train now 0605 - arrives in Snow Hill at 0810. NOT a Clubman / NO catering BUT £27.50 Super off-peak fare is valid...

FIRST Clubman 0715 - arrives in Snow Hill at 0859 NO catering BUT £27.50 Super off-peak fare is valid...

FIRST Clubman with catering 0815 - arrives in Snow Hill at 1002

FIRST Silver Train 0845 - to Moor Street ONLY arrives 1044

OTHER off-peak Silver Trains 1015 and 1315 to Moor Street ONLY

PEAK Silver Trains 1647, 1715 (to Kidderminster) and !815  (to Kidderminster calling at The Hawthorns) - timings 116 mins, 94 mins, and 103 mins respectively

LAST train 2307 (to Moor Street)