(20th Nov '09) - Things a bit hectic at the moment, but I *will* return ratings as soon as I can! =:...
(20th Nov '09) - Things a bit hectic at the moment, but I *will* return ratings as soon as I can! =:)
Member since:23.01.2001
Reviews:93
Members who trust:63
Now this really is remarkable - a railway company that gives a consistently good service. It says something about the current state of rail infrastructure that this *is* remarkable, instead of merely routine, but nevertheless credit where credit is due, and it is due here.
My experience of Chiltern is through their Birmingham Snow Hill to London Marylebone services, so perhaps my comments won't apply to their other lines. I would doubt that, though, given their excellent performance here.
Birmingham to London is one of the very few rail routes where there is genuine competition between operators. At the top, you have Virgin - when it is working, it's often an excellent service, but "walk on" fares are ludicrously expensive, and there are far too many restrictions. At the bottom, Silverlink provide the cheapest service - but it's barely above bus levels of comfort. Chiltern have aimed to fill the gap, and it's a task
they perform admirably.
Birmingham Snow Hill is not the most auspicious place to begin a journey -it's usually clean and efficient (though they really need to do something about the toilets, which are closed far too often), but is rather soulless - echoey and cold. The small shop is much too limited, and its hours are too short.
The ticket conditions are straightforward, something which is very welcome if you have previously spent hours trying to wade through Virign's convoluted Terms and Conditions. Basically, going from Birmingham to London, you can catch any train from 7:45am onwards; coming back, you can catch any train except the 6:00pm. Simple and sensible. And the prices are sensible, too - a day return including a One Day all-zones Travelcard is £26.
Most of the trains are "Clubmans" - this means that they have only one class of seating, but I doubt anyone minds this, as the level of comfort is a revelation for those used to cramped, dirty commuter trains. There is a *lot* of legroom - even in the non-table seats you can sit very comfortably without touching the seat in front - and the armrests are well designed. All the 2x2 seats have a decent table, rather than the tiny plastic horrors rail companies normally inflict on you, on the chair in front's seat back, which is another welcome touch; and the chairs themselves are far more comfortable than pretty much any others in modern trains.
An electronic display board in each carriage carries a constant scrolling readout of the stops remaining on the journey, and seems to be very reliable - I've never yet seen a dead one. There are also the traditional voiceover announcements, of course, but even here there is often a discernible trace of pride in the "thank you for travelling with Chiltern" type of comments - something you would never get with many other companies.
The journey itself is usually uneventful, which is exactly how a train journey should be - the ride is smooth, noise is kept ot a minimum, and (wonder of wonders) even the windows are clean! If all trains ran as well as this, there would be no talk of crisis in Britain's rail network.
One innovation that (sadly) doesn't really work is the "mobile phone-free" carriage. Too many people are simply too lazy, or too stupid, to bother to read the signs. On one recent trip a young man a couple of seats in front was yattering away about his work almost the entire way - I was very, very close to doing something I shouldn't have... still, maybe this will be like no smoking signs, which were also widely ignored at first, but seem to have an effect now.
Catering isn't really a strong point either. There are trolley services on many trains, but they often only run for part of the journey. The food itself is unremarkable but edible - nothing to write home about.
The terminus in London is Marylebone, and this is another plus point. The relaxed, civilised atmosphere is a world away from the noise and crowds of Euston, but there is still a decent range of shops and places to eat. The clinching factor is that the toilets are free! (Unlike Euston, or indeed Birmingham New Street.)
Chiltern are now my automatic first choice for Brum-London journeys, and II recommend you try them too. (But not *too* many of you, please, or I won't get a seat!)
================= UPDATE - 18th July 2001 =======================
Six months on, and Chiltern are still riding high in my affections. Against all expectations, they have retained their comfortable trains, punctual services and sensible ticketing arrangements. In fact, in some ways things have improved still further. More trains are now "Clubmans", which still haven't been beaten for comfort. Chiltern have had their franchise renewed, and will be doubling the last remaining single-track section of the line. The new Warwick Parkway station has been a success, with plenty of people doing the "park and ride" from the M40. And four trains a day have been extended through to Stourbridge Junction, with the promise of one as far as Kidderminster if the demand is there.
Given all this achievement, it gets increasingly difficult to accept other companies' excuses for their failings. Granted, Chiltern is quite a small concern compared with a company like Virgin, but other commuter services (Connex, anyone?) have been pretty bad too. If only they'd start enforcing that phone-free carriage, things would be pretty much perfect.
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I travel to London from the home Counties too and apart from the Tesco trauma which wasn't their fault I do like the trains and the service, however the people at rush hour at Marylebone are idiots and most are wearing suits - what is that about?
Disillusioned 02.09.2001 22:34
I use this line all the time, I use it to go from Beaconsfield to Gerrards Cross often to see friends there and I also use it if going into London. Agree its an excellent line, its always on time and the trains are nice. (And about first class, often no-one goes in First Class but as there's hardly ever a guard on this line there's nothing stopping you going in.) Its not much better though the seats are a bit bigger, thats it really. Anyway thanks for the opinion. Should get round to writing my own on this line soon. :) Cheers, James.
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Jan 24th, 2001
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