So who is right?

Chiltern Railways have just released their arguments for the 'Business Zone' approach to travel between Birmingham and London (and vice versa) for passengers who are members of the 'business community'.

As is well known, the 'Business Zone' is Chiltern's re-branding of the former First Class carriage in the ex-Wrexham & Shropshire train sets.Not surprisingly therefore, the emphasis is on the generous leg-room and seat width offered in these carriages, along with the other W&S features of power sockets, WiFi and a dedicated train host.

What has not been carried forward is the Wrexham & Shropshire's emphasis on food. Indeed the £20 supplement on the 'Silver' trains actually gives nothing extra to the Standard Class offering but access to the 'Zone' seats - food and drink has to be purchased. An interesting decision when you consider that a 'full' carriage will generate £600 of revenue per trip... It seems to be an open secret that Chiltern's management was split over this aspect of the Mainline structure, with strong arguments being put forward for at least light refreshments to be included in the Zone supplement.

Nevertheless, the fare difference with the Virgin First Class package is enormous - £115 maximum compared to £240 - and, of course, it avoids the dreaded 'First Class' label for those business travellers whose companies are cost-concious.

Roll on Monday when we can begin to see if Chiltern's reading of the business community is correct...

London to Birmingham Walk-on Return Fares from Monday 5th September 2011

See separate blog post for Birmingham to London fares - there are differences!

This analysis is based upon the information published in the Avantix Traveller Fares Information CD-ROM (04 September 2011 - 02 January 2012 (or until further notice) NFM 10) published by TSO. Unless stated, all fares are valid for a calendar month. DON'T forget that PEAK fares are valid on all services, and that OFF-PEAK fares are valid on SUPER OFF-PEAK services...


PEAK time return fares (Monday-Friday) - through services ONLY
To Birmingham New Street (Virgin / London Midland); to Birmingham Moor Street (Chiltern)

• Virgin Trains from London Euston 0623 to 0923 AND 1503 to 1843 (journey time c84 mins) - £149 standard; £240 First; £256 Virgin Business Return
• LondonMidland trains from London Euston 0530 to 0813 (journey times 153 / 123 mins) - £65 standard; £90 First
• Chiltern Railway trains from London Marylebone NO Peak time fares UNLESS return from Birmingham Moor Street is before 0825 (£75 fare then applies)

OFF-PEAK return fares (Monday-Friday) - through services ONLY:

To Birmingham New Street (Virgin / London Midland); to Birmingham Moor Street (Chiltern)

• Virgin Trains from London Euston 0603 then 0943 to 1103, 1343 to 1443, AND 1903 to 1943  (journey time c84 mins) - £44.30 standard; £240 First NOTE travel back from Birmingham New Street barred 0610 to 0950.
• LondonMidland trains from London Euston 0846 onwards (journey times 135 / 123 mins) - £26 day / £27 monthly standard; £90 First NOTE travel back from Birmingham New Street barred before 0753.
• Chiltern Railway trains from London Marylebone 1607 to 1840 (journey times 90 mins to 107 mins) - £50 standard; business zone supplement (£20) available on 1650 and 1807 services NOTE travel back from Birmingham Moor Street barred before 0825

SUPER OFF-PEAK return fares (Monday-Friday)- through services ONLY:

To Birmingham New Street (Virgin / London Midland); to Birmingham Moor Street (Chiltern)

• Virgin Trains from London Euston 1123 to 1323, AND 2003 onwards  (journey time c84 mins) - £24.50 standard; £240 First NOTE travel back from Birmingham New Street barred until 1130 and from 1410 to 1950. NOTE Virgin may withdraw this fare from Saturday 8th October 2011
• LondonMidland trains from London Euston 1046 to 1554 and from 1946 (journey times 135 / 123 mins) - £19 standard; £90 First NOTE travel back from Birmingham New Street barred before 1053 and from 1653 to 1853
• Chiltern Railway trains from London Marylebone before 1607 and from 1915 (journey time 96 mins fastest / 122 mins slowest) - £25 standard; business zone supplement (£10) available on 0837 service NOTE travel back from Birmingham Moor Street barred before 0955

Birmingham to London Walk-on Return Fares from Monday 5th September 2011

See separate blog post for London TO Birmingham fares - there are differences!

This analysis is based upon the information published in the Avantix Traveller Fares Information CD-ROM (04 September 2011 - 02 January 2012 (or until further notice) NFM 10) published by TSO. Unless stated, all fares are valid for a calendar month. DON'T forget that PEAK fares are valid on all services, and that OFF-PEAK fares are valid on SUPER OFF-PEAK services...


PEAK time return fares (Monday-Friday) - through services ONLY
To London Euston (Virgin / London Midland); to London Marylebone (Chiltern)

• Virgin Trains from Birmingham New Street 0610 to 0950 (journey time 84 mins) - £149 standard; £240 First; £256 Virgin Business Return
• LondonMidland trains from Birmingham New Street 0553 / 0653 (journey times 129 / 137 mins) - £65 standard; £90 First
• Chiltern Railway trains from Birmingham Moor Street 0546 to 0815 (journey time 90 mins fastest / 131 mins slowest) - £75 standard; business zone supplement (£20) available on 0619 and 0655 services.

OFF-PEAK return fares (Monday-Friday) - through services ONLY:

To London Euston (Virgin / London Midland); to London Marylebone (Chiltern)

• Virgin Trains from Birmingham New Street 1010 to 1110 AND 1410 to 1950  (journey time 84 mins) - £44.30 standard; £240 First. NOTE travel back from London Euston barred from 0615 to 0930 AND 1500 to 1845
• LondonMidland trains from Birmingham New Street 0753 to 1033 AND 1653 to 1853 (journey times 134 mins fastest / 144 mins slowest) - £26 day return / £27 monthly return standard; £90 First NOTE travel back from London Euston barred before 0846
• Chiltern Railway trains from Birmingham Moor Street 0822 to 0915 (journey time 96 mins fastest / 125 mins slowest) - £50 standard

SUPER OFF-PEAK return fares (Monday-Friday)- through services ONLY:

To London Euston (Virgin / London Midland); to London Marylebone (Chiltern)

• Virgin Trains from Birmingham New Street 1130 to 1350 then 2010 onwards (journey time 84 mins) - £24.50 standard; £240 First. NOTE travel back from London Euston barred before 1123 AND from 1330 to 2000 NOTE Virgin may withdraw this fare from Saturday 8th October 2011
• LondonMidland trains from Birmingham New Street 1053 to 1553 AND 1953 onwards (journey times 134 mins fastest / 145 mins slowest) - £19 monthly return standard; £90 First NOTE travel back from London Euston barred before 1046 and from 1648 to 1913
• Chiltern Railway trains from Birmingham Moor Street 0822 to 0955 (journey time 96 mins fastest / 125 mins slowest) - £25 standard; business zone supplement (£10) available on 1555 service NOTE travel back from London Marylebone barred from 1607 to 1840

Britain's best value rail fare?

Is the Birmingham to Rugby First Anytime Single Virgin Trains only fare the best value fare in Britain? For £7.90, the traveller gets:

• Access to the First Class Lounge at Birmingham New Street: light refreshments (incl. cereal in the morning); papers; WiFi; and a free toilet (!)
• Virgin First Class travel on a Pendolino: table seats which align with the windows; power sockets; Free WiFi; meals or light refreshments served at the seat; and newspapers
• Journey time of just over 30 mins.

Overall, a package worth far more than the fare as Virgin charge standard class passengers £4 to access WiFi; Virgin shop meal prices start at £3.95; the newspapers are the Independent (£1) and the Financial Times (£2); and, of course, Network Rail charge 30p to use the toilet at New Street...

Chiltern Railways Business Zone

At long last, the full details of the new 'Business Zone' on Chiltern Mainline services have emerged. Basically, it is access to the former first class Wrexham & Shropshire carriages for a supplement to the standard class fare where ex-WSMR stock is used. This stock is now branded the 'Silver Service' and will start on Monday 5th September 2011.

In detail (Monday-Friday)...

Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone departures:
0619 (arr 0806); 0655 (arr 0825); 1055* (arr 1232); 1555** (arr 1742)

London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street departures:
0837** (arr 1017); 1337* (arr 1617); 1650 (arr 1835); 1807 (arr 1940)

* No supplement payable on these services BUT no dedicated host and no seat reservations
** REDUCED supplement payable on these services

Cost:

£20 each journey (£10 for departures marked **) for which you get:
WSMR First Class comfort with a dedicated Business Zone host BUT no inclusive catering.
As with the standard class Silver Mainline fares, there are tables, power sockets, Wi-Fi. Seat reservations are also promised BUT so far there doesn't appear to be a system in place to make them...

Apparently, Business Zone seats will be available to purchase on board if space is available.

Chiltern's August Closures

For the next two working weeks, Marylebone will be closed due to the final push being made for Chiltern Mainline. The effect on Monday-Friday services from and to Birmingham are as follows:

Monday 15th - Friday 19th August: No through trains from Birmingham; one through train from London (Paddington) at 22.20 (arr Moor St 0045).
Going South from Moor Street to Paddington (change at Didcot Parkway) at 06.14, 07.17, 08.15; then hourly to 15.15; 15.55; 16.55; 18.15; 19.51; and 21.17. Journey times around 2 hours 20 minutes.
Going North from Paddington (change at Didcot Parkway): 07.15; 08.00; 08.51; 09.48; 10.50; 11.48; 12.50; 13.48; 14.50; 15.48; 16.49; 17.48; 18.15; 19.30; 20.45; and 21.45. Journey times around 2 hours 30 minutes.

Monday 22nd - Friday 26th August: NO through trains from or to Birmingham.
Going South from Moor Street to Paddington (change at Didcot Parkway) at 06.14, 07.17, 08.15; then hourly to 15.15; 15.55; 16.55; 18.15; 19.51; and 21.17. Journey times around 2 hours 20 minutes.
Going North from Paddington (change at Didcot Parkway): 07.15; 08.00; 08.51; 09.48; 10.50; 11.48; 12.50; 13.48; 14.50; 15.48; 16.49; 17.48; 18.15; 19.30; 20.45; 21.45; and 22.15 (Friday 26th ONLY). Journey times around 2 hours 30 minutes.

So, if you don't want to pay Virgin's fares, LondonMidland will be faster than Chiltern over the next two weeks, and, with their RailSale, considerably cheaper if you book online!

Let's hope that Chiltern's new services will be worth it...