All three Train Operating Companies are discounting fares heavily this week and over the weekend for travel between Birmingham and London and vice versa. Full details:
Chiltern Railways
£10 Go Further fare available 27th-30th December - voucher needed
LondonMidland
25% off ONLINE bookings from 27th December to 15th January
Virgin Trains
Super Off-peak fares available without restriction 28th December to 2nd January. Can be upgraded onboard to First Class for £10 each individual journey
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Chiltern Railways' fares from 2nd January 2012 additional split fare information
Now that Chiltern have increased the Anytime Fares to £56 single and £85 return between Birmingham and London via High Wycombe, it is time to revisit the Split Fares scenarios for this route...
Travelling from Birmingham Moor Street on the 0619 or the 0733 Monday to Friday? If you are travelling one way OR you know you can return from London Marylebone before 4pm or after 7pm (or on a Saturday / Sunday) then SPLIT the single fare at Banbury: £50.30 (£16.60 + £33.70); for the return journey buy a Super Off-peak through single for £24.90 (making a total return fare of £75.20). Of course, the Super Off-Peak return from London is only 10p more than the single so, as it lasts a month, you might as well buy it and have an effectively free journey whilst saving almost £10...
Travelling from Birmingham Moor Street on the 0546 or the 0815 Monday to Friday?
If you are travelling one way OR you know you can return from London Marylebone before 4pm or after 7pm (or on a Saturday / Sunday) then SPLIT the single fare at Bicester North: £41.30 (£16.40 + £24.90); for the return journey buy a Super Off-peak through single for £24.90 (making a total return fare of £66.20). Of course, the Super Off-Peak return from London is only 10p more than the single so, as it lasts a month, you might as well buy it and have an effectively free journey whilst saving almost £20...
If you need to return from London Marylebone between 4pm and 7pm Monday to Friday and can use the 1607 or the 1737 or the 1840, then SPLIT the return fare at Bicester North: £72.10 (£22.50 + £49.60) - a saving of almost £13
Chiltern cannot refuse to sell you these tickets and you DO NOT have to get off the train at the intermediate split fare station!
Travelling from Birmingham Moor Street on the 0619 or the 0733 Monday to Friday? If you are travelling one way OR you know you can return from London Marylebone before 4pm or after 7pm (or on a Saturday / Sunday) then SPLIT the single fare at Banbury: £50.30 (£16.60 + £33.70); for the return journey buy a Super Off-peak through single for £24.90 (making a total return fare of £75.20). Of course, the Super Off-Peak return from London is only 10p more than the single so, as it lasts a month, you might as well buy it and have an effectively free journey whilst saving almost £10...
Travelling from Birmingham Moor Street on the 0546 or the 0815 Monday to Friday?
If you are travelling one way OR you know you can return from London Marylebone before 4pm or after 7pm (or on a Saturday / Sunday) then SPLIT the single fare at Bicester North: £41.30 (£16.40 + £24.90); for the return journey buy a Super Off-peak through single for £24.90 (making a total return fare of £66.20). Of course, the Super Off-Peak return from London is only 10p more than the single so, as it lasts a month, you might as well buy it and have an effectively free journey whilst saving almost £20...
If you need to return from London Marylebone between 4pm and 7pm Monday to Friday and can use the 1607 or the 1737 or the 1840, then SPLIT the return fare at Bicester North: £72.10 (£22.50 + £49.60) - a saving of almost £13
Chiltern cannot refuse to sell you these tickets and you DO NOT have to get off the train at the intermediate split fare station!
Virgin Train fares 28th Dec to 2nd January
UPDATE 27th December - Virgin's website is showing the Super Off-peak fares as being available on ALL Pendolino services between Birmingham and London and vice versa
Virgin Trains are offering a Super Off-peak fare of £22 return between London and Birmingham from Wednesday 28th December to Monday 2nd January. These are WALK-ON fares and are available after 2pm in both directions. Better still, the £10 First Class upgrade is possible on each leg if room is available once you have boarded the train. Thus, a First Class return is possible for £42.... NOTE that railcard reductions are also possible!
So, if travelling in the afternoon / evening both ways, it is cheaper NOT to book an advance fare...
Virgin Trains are offering a Super Off-peak fare of £22 return between London and Birmingham from Wednesday 28th December to Monday 2nd January. These are WALK-ON fares and are available after 2pm in both directions. Better still, the £10 First Class upgrade is possible on each leg if room is available once you have boarded the train. Thus, a First Class return is possible for £42.... NOTE that railcard reductions are also possible!
So, if travelling in the afternoon / evening both ways, it is cheaper NOT to book an advance fare...
Virgin Trains fares from January 2nd 2012 additional split fare information
Both First and Standard Class passengers can save money on walk-on fares between Birmingham and London by splitting fares at key stations en-route. You DO NOT have to get off the train, and Virgin cannot refuse to sell you the appropriate tickets... NOTE that some of these split fares are for Day Return journeys - do check if you want to be away for more than a day.
First Class OFF-PEAK return fares: £184.60 by splitting fare at Birmingham International - £6.60 + £89 + £89
Standard Class PEAK fares:
All services except 0730 from Birmingham New Street: £143 by splitting fare at Coventry - £5 + £138
If you can use the trains which call at Rugby: £130.20 - £7.20 + £123
If you can use the trains which call at Milton Keynes: £113 - £84 + £29
First Class OFF-PEAK return fares: £184.60 by splitting fare at Birmingham International - £6.60 + £89 + £89
Standard Class PEAK fares:
All services except 0730 from Birmingham New Street: £143 by splitting fare at Coventry - £5 + £138
If you can use the trains which call at Rugby: £130.20 - £7.20 + £123
If you can use the trains which call at Milton Keynes: £113 - £84 + £29
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Virgin Trains fares from January 2nd 2012
PLEASE NOTE the following is based on my analysis of the Virgin Trains online booking system and may not be entirely accurate. I will update as corrections are notified, BUT, as ever, always check with Virgin Trains before travelling. All fares are Birmingham to London / London to Birmingham and are Virgin Trains specific.
What can you say about Virgin? Unlike their rival TOCs, it appears that Virgin have increased fares across the board...
Virgin Business Returns - now £271 (BUT remember that Railcard holders, except Family & Friends and Two Together, get discounts)
First Anytime Returns - now £254 (BUT remember that Railcard holders, except 16-25, Family & Friends, and Two Together, get discounts). ONLY BUY if you are travelling on the 07.30 from New Street; otherwise split fare at Coventry*.
Standard Anytime Returns: now £158 (BUT remember that Railcard holders, except Two Together, travel at Off-peak fares at anytime)
First Off-peak SINGLE - now £92.70 by splitting fare at Birmingham International £3.70 + £89 (available from New Street 0529, 0550, 1010 onwards; from Euston 0943 to 1443 and 1903 onwards).
Standard Off-peak Return - now £47 (available from New Street 0529, 0550, 1010 onwards; from Euston 0943 to 1443 and 1903 onwards).
* Split fares for First Class (all return). NB Elements of these split fares are for Day Returns only - do check if you are planning to be away for more than a day...
At Coventry: all services except 0730 from New Street - £235.40 (£7.40 + £228)
At Rugby: xx.50 services from New Street / xx.03 services from Euston - £210.80 (£16.80 + £194)
At Milton Keynes: xx.30 services from New Street / xx.43 services from Euston - £192 (£144 + £48)
Virgin cannot refuse to sell you these tickets - you don't need to leave the train...
What can you say about Virgin? Unlike their rival TOCs, it appears that Virgin have increased fares across the board...
Virgin Business Returns - now £271 (BUT remember that Railcard holders, except Family & Friends and Two Together, get discounts)
First Anytime Returns - now £254 (BUT remember that Railcard holders, except 16-25, Family & Friends, and Two Together, get discounts). ONLY BUY if you are travelling on the 07.30 from New Street; otherwise split fare at Coventry*.
Standard Anytime Returns: now £158 (BUT remember that Railcard holders, except Two Together, travel at Off-peak fares at anytime)
First Off-peak SINGLE - now £92.70 by splitting fare at Birmingham International £3.70 + £89 (available from New Street 0529, 0550, 1010 onwards; from Euston 0943 to 1443 and 1903 onwards).
Standard Off-peak Return - now £47 (available from New Street 0529, 0550, 1010 onwards; from Euston 0943 to 1443 and 1903 onwards).
* Split fares for First Class (all return). NB Elements of these split fares are for Day Returns only - do check if you are planning to be away for more than a day...
At Coventry: all services except 0730 from New Street - £235.40 (£7.40 + £228)
At Rugby: xx.50 services from New Street / xx.03 services from Euston - £210.80 (£16.80 + £194)
At Milton Keynes: xx.30 services from New Street / xx.43 services from Euston - £192 (£144 + £48)
Virgin cannot refuse to sell you these tickets - you don't need to leave the train...
LondonMidland fares from 2nd January 2012
PLEASE NOTE the following is based on my analysis of the LondonMidland online booking system and may not be entirely accurate. I will update as corrections are notified, BUT, as ever, always check with LondonMidland before travelling. All fares are Birmingham to London / London to Birmingham and are LondonMidland specific.
First the good news... the Standard Anytime Return remains at £65 and the First Anytime Return remains at £90
Now for the not so good news... the Standard Day return has been abolished; the Standard Off peak return is increased to £27; and the Standard Super Off-peak is increased to £20.
Restrictions are as before:
from Birmingham New Street: Off-peak returns out 0753 onwards, back 0846 onwards; Super Off-peak returns out 1053 to 1554 and 1953 to 2133, return 1046 to 1554 and 1946 to 2146.
From London Euston: Off-peak returns out 0846 onwards, back 0753 onwards; Super Off-peak returns out 1046 to 1554 and 1946 to 2146, return 1053 to 1554 and 1953 to 2133.
First the good news... the Standard Anytime Return remains at £65 and the First Anytime Return remains at £90
Now for the not so good news... the Standard Day return has been abolished; the Standard Off peak return is increased to £27; and the Standard Super Off-peak is increased to £20.
Restrictions are as before:
from Birmingham New Street: Off-peak returns out 0753 onwards, back 0846 onwards; Super Off-peak returns out 1053 to 1554 and 1953 to 2133, return 1046 to 1554 and 1946 to 2146.
From London Euston: Off-peak returns out 0846 onwards, back 0753 onwards; Super Off-peak returns out 1046 to 1554 and 1946 to 2146, return 1053 to 1554 and 1953 to 2133.
Chiltern Railways' fares from 2nd January 2012
PLEASE NOTE the following is based on my analysis of the Chiltern online booking system and may not be entirely accurate. I will update as corrections are notified, BUT, as ever, always check with Chiltern before travelling. All fares are Birmingham to London / London to Birmingham and are Chiltern specific.
The key change from Birmingham Moor Street is that the Anytime Return increases from £75 to £85. As the Anytime Single is £56, we're back to the days of checking if two singles are cheaper (ie by returning on a Super Off-Peak Single £24.90), and / or checking the split fares option... for instance, Banbury looks a likely possibility except for the two Silver train departures
Interestingly, the Business Zone Return Package remains at £115 but is only available on the 0619 / 0655 Silver trains from Moor Street and the 1646 / 1807 return workings from Marylebone.
Of course, the above is academic for those travelling from London Marylebone UNLESS a return from Moor Street is planned before the 0825 departure.
The Off Peak Return stays at £50 (Single £49) and the Super Off-Peak remains £25 (Single £24.90). Restrictions appear to be as before: from Moor Street, Off-peak starts with the 0825 and Super Off-peak with the 0955; from Marylebone, Super Off-peak is available until the 1537 and then restarts with the 1915 departure (in between it is Off-Peak).
The key change from Birmingham Moor Street is that the Anytime Return increases from £75 to £85. As the Anytime Single is £56, we're back to the days of checking if two singles are cheaper (ie by returning on a Super Off-Peak Single £24.90), and / or checking the split fares option... for instance, Banbury looks a likely possibility except for the two Silver train departures
Interestingly, the Business Zone Return Package remains at £115 but is only available on the 0619 / 0655 Silver trains from Moor Street and the 1646 / 1807 return workings from Marylebone.
Of course, the above is academic for those travelling from London Marylebone UNLESS a return from Moor Street is planned before the 0825 departure.
The Off Peak Return stays at £50 (Single £49) and the Super Off-Peak remains £25 (Single £24.90). Restrictions appear to be as before: from Moor Street, Off-peak starts with the 0825 and Super Off-peak with the 0955; from Marylebone, Super Off-peak is available until the 1537 and then restarts with the 1915 departure (in between it is Off-Peak).
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
OK Virgin you can delight - but can I afford the experience?
Regular readers of my blog will know that I have a soft spot for Chiltern and that I can be critical of Virgin. The cause in both cases is my perception of the 'value for money' of each company's offering.
However, yesterday, I can genuinely report on being delighted by Virgin's service to and from London, though, as ever, there is a sting in the tail...
Let's start with the price of the fares. Thanks to Virgin's First Class sale in November, I was able to book the two journeys for £17 each way, using the 11.10 out of Birmingham New Street and the 20.23 return from London Euston.
Moving onto the running... both trains departed and arrived on time, and, of course, the journey time was only 84 minutes out and 82 minutes back.
Now onto ambience / facilities / staff... There is no doubt that travelling First Class on Virgin is SO much better than the Standard Class offering of the company. At New Street - such a depressing station - one can escape to the First Class Lounge before joining the train, whilst at Euston, the equivalent lounge is spacious and comfortable. On board, you can actually see out of the windows in First Class; there are power points, tables, and free WiFi for every passenger, and, of course, complimentary refreshments served to the seat.
Yesterday, I was pleasantly surprised to be offered a bacon roll on the journey down. On the way back, the sandwich choice was Beef and Horseradish or White Stilton and Chutney... The staff were attentive and friendly.
Even better, two of my regular bugbears with Virgin didn't occur. First, there was not the unnecessary litany of ticket restrictions on departure from New Street. Secondly, there was actually a ticket check on board upon departure from New Street, and a barrier check (!) before departure from Euston.
So Virgin definitely added to the pleasure of my trip yesterday - where's the sting? Well, naturally, it comes in the cost of travelling in such comfort on a walk-up basis... If I had not booked ahead, I would have had to pay £87.50 each way (and that's knowing to split the fare at Birmingham International!) - four times what the standard off-peak return would cost me on a walk-up basis.
Quite honestly Virgin, that is too huge a premium for First Class delights (especially when Chiltern offer much of the above in their Standard Class fares)...
However, yesterday, I can genuinely report on being delighted by Virgin's service to and from London, though, as ever, there is a sting in the tail...
Let's start with the price of the fares. Thanks to Virgin's First Class sale in November, I was able to book the two journeys for £17 each way, using the 11.10 out of Birmingham New Street and the 20.23 return from London Euston.
Moving onto the running... both trains departed and arrived on time, and, of course, the journey time was only 84 minutes out and 82 minutes back.
Now onto ambience / facilities / staff... There is no doubt that travelling First Class on Virgin is SO much better than the Standard Class offering of the company. At New Street - such a depressing station - one can escape to the First Class Lounge before joining the train, whilst at Euston, the equivalent lounge is spacious and comfortable. On board, you can actually see out of the windows in First Class; there are power points, tables, and free WiFi for every passenger, and, of course, complimentary refreshments served to the seat.
Yesterday, I was pleasantly surprised to be offered a bacon roll on the journey down. On the way back, the sandwich choice was Beef and Horseradish or White Stilton and Chutney... The staff were attentive and friendly.
Even better, two of my regular bugbears with Virgin didn't occur. First, there was not the unnecessary litany of ticket restrictions on departure from New Street. Secondly, there was actually a ticket check on board upon departure from New Street, and a barrier check (!) before departure from Euston.
So Virgin definitely added to the pleasure of my trip yesterday - where's the sting? Well, naturally, it comes in the cost of travelling in such comfort on a walk-up basis... If I had not booked ahead, I would have had to pay £87.50 each way (and that's knowing to split the fare at Birmingham International!) - four times what the standard off-peak return would cost me on a walk-up basis.
Quite honestly Virgin, that is too huge a premium for First Class delights (especially when Chiltern offer much of the above in their Standard Class fares)...
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
December catch-up
Chiltern Railways
The new timetable - starts Sunday December 11th - can be downloaded here Very little has changed BUT note that the 16.50 Silver service will now depart at 16.46
There is an opportunity to Tweet questions on the new timetable to Bevis Thomas, Head of Train Planning from 0830 - 0930 on Thursday 8th December #ttmbev
There is a 'Meet the Managers' session at London Marylelone on Wednesday 14th December from 4pm to 7pm.
On Thursday 15th December, Malcolm Holmes (General Manager Mainline) will be answering Tweets on catering from 5pm to 6pm #ttmmal
LondonMidland
The new timetable - starts Sunday December 11th - can be downloaded here (and a mobile version here) The new timetable will be integrated into the iPhone App on 12th December. No major changes BUT remember that most of the xx.13 off-peak departures from London Euston do the run to Birmingham New Street in 2hours 3mins.
Congratulations to the company on receipt of the Golden Spanner award for the reliability of the Class 350/2 EMUs which run the Birmingham to London services
Virgin Trains
The new timetable - starts Sunday December 11th - can be downloaded here No major changes BUT it does show the planned additional trains over the Olympics / ParaOlympics period.
The new, much improved, version of the iPhone App can be downloaded here Now able to book multiple passengers in one transaction, and to see live running updates.
The new timetable - starts Sunday December 11th - can be downloaded here Very little has changed BUT note that the 16.50 Silver service will now depart at 16.46
There is an opportunity to Tweet questions on the new timetable to Bevis Thomas, Head of Train Planning from 0830 - 0930 on Thursday 8th December #ttmbev
There is a 'Meet the Managers' session at London Marylelone on Wednesday 14th December from 4pm to 7pm.
On Thursday 15th December, Malcolm Holmes (General Manager Mainline) will be answering Tweets on catering from 5pm to 6pm #ttmmal
LondonMidland
The new timetable - starts Sunday December 11th - can be downloaded here (and a mobile version here) The new timetable will be integrated into the iPhone App on 12th December. No major changes BUT remember that most of the xx.13 off-peak departures from London Euston do the run to Birmingham New Street in 2hours 3mins.
Congratulations to the company on receipt of the Golden Spanner award for the reliability of the Class 350/2 EMUs which run the Birmingham to London services
Virgin Trains
The new timetable - starts Sunday December 11th - can be downloaded here No major changes BUT it does show the planned additional trains over the Olympics / ParaOlympics period.
The new, much improved, version of the iPhone App can be downloaded here Now able to book multiple passengers in one transaction, and to see live running updates.
In praise of Chiltern
The Winter 2011 issue of the Chiltern Railways' onboard newsletter notes that in the period 21 August to 12 November the company received 8,254 letters / emails / phone calls of which 17 were 'praise only' (that many? I can hear disgruntled commuters muttering...).
Now I know that Chiltern aren't perfect but for me - a self-employed businessman who wants to work on his journeys and also wants to watch the pennies - the company does get many aspects of its offering right. Take yesterday's journeys as an example.
First, the fares. Travelling super off-peak, my 'turn up and walk-on' return ticket (valid for a month) from Birmingham to London cost £25.
Secondly, comfort and space. For my £25, I travelled south in the de-classified Business Zone on the 10.55 from Moor Street, and returned in a Clubman on the 20.10 from Marylebone. On both journeys, I enjoyed free WiFi and plenty of table space. On the journey south, I had a sausage bap and tea for £3.50. On the journey back, I had access to working power points...
Thirdly, the staff. Undoubtedly, the on train staff are a superb advertisement for Chiltern: friendly, helpful, and visible. They are backed up by Chiltern's wonderful Twitter team...
Of course, Chiltern don't get everything right. There appears to be an ongoing problem with power sockets in the Business Zone tripping out - glad I don't pay the supplement - and, more importantly, the services don't seem to be able to keep to time. Both journeys yesterday lost around 5 minutes for no noticeable reason.
Nevertheless, if you want to work on the journey to / from London and you are watching the pennies, then Chiltern is the way to go!
Now I know that Chiltern aren't perfect but for me - a self-employed businessman who wants to work on his journeys and also wants to watch the pennies - the company does get many aspects of its offering right. Take yesterday's journeys as an example.
First, the fares. Travelling super off-peak, my 'turn up and walk-on' return ticket (valid for a month) from Birmingham to London cost £25.
Secondly, comfort and space. For my £25, I travelled south in the de-classified Business Zone on the 10.55 from Moor Street, and returned in a Clubman on the 20.10 from Marylebone. On both journeys, I enjoyed free WiFi and plenty of table space. On the journey south, I had a sausage bap and tea for £3.50. On the journey back, I had access to working power points...
Thirdly, the staff. Undoubtedly, the on train staff are a superb advertisement for Chiltern: friendly, helpful, and visible. They are backed up by Chiltern's wonderful Twitter team...
Of course, Chiltern don't get everything right. There appears to be an ongoing problem with power sockets in the Business Zone tripping out - glad I don't pay the supplement - and, more importantly, the services don't seem to be able to keep to time. Both journeys yesterday lost around 5 minutes for no noticeable reason.
Nevertheless, if you want to work on the journey to / from London and you are watching the pennies, then Chiltern is the way to go!
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