Chiltern Railway fares from Tuesday 2nd January

Chiltern 'have announced that as of 2 January 2013, fares will be going up by an average of 3.5%, which is significantly lower than the average industry increase of 3.9%.' (http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/news/january-fares-increases)

Of course, the devil is in the detail... Season ticket holders seem to be bearing the brunt of the increases - see analysis at https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwD8vJ2m9VtYN2JEdU9SdlpqczA/edit?pli=1 which makes scary reading for those who commute into London from stations between Bicester North and  Kidderminster. Clearly if you can renew before the 2nd January 2013 it makes sense to do so.

For those of us who travel ad hoc between Birmingham and London, the news is not bad... ticket prices are held at 2012 levels ie £95 Anytime Return, £50 off-peak return, and £27.50 super off-peak return. However, Chiltern have made a significant change to the super off-peak fare restriction FROM London. From the 2nd, Super Off-peak tickets will be barred between 0630 and 0900 Monday to Friday meaning that the cheapest ticket will be the off-peak fare. Still significantly cheaper that Virgin BUT now on a par with LondonMidland...

The Business Zone supplement remains at £20 peak / off-peak and £10 super off-peak. If travelling south and returning north on the peak Business Zone services then it makes sense to buy the £125 Business Zone return fare. NOTE that there is no need to buy this fare if first travelling north.

12 Dec. update - my thanks to @centraluser for pointing out that the 0605 Monday-Friday service from London Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill still has Super Off-Peak fare validity (£27.50) AND that it is a Clubman train so has free WiFi. However it takes 117 mins to reach Moor Street, doesn't convey catering,  and is clearly a commuter service as it nears Birmingham. The equivalent 0603 Virgin Trains service from Euston has Off-peak validity (£47), conveys catering, offers WiFi at a price (£4) and takes 84 mins...