Chiltern to introduce new Business Class

[MidnightFlyer]

Hi,

There have been rumours of this for quite a while, but it is now on the Chiltern Railways website that they will introduce a Business Class service on the trains run by the ex-WSMR stock from the new timetable next month, or so-called 'Silver trains'. Highlights include:

• Larger tables
• Wider seats with more legroom ('than any other service from London to Birmingham' as CR put it)
• Free Wi-Fi
• Reservable seats if purchased with your ticket before you board (if bought from a booking office)
• The services of a dedicated customer host, serving, amongst other, fresh (not microwaved!) bacon rolls

Business Class is available for £20 (per single journey), and can be bought onboard subject to availability. On the 0837 northbound and 1555 southbound trains, this is reduced to just £10. Chiltern stresses that it isn't First Class: I wonder why they don't like it so much...

Looks good!

(For more info, see here http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/mainline/faqs and here http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/mainline/experience.)

 

[Lampshade]

Does indeed look good, sneaky dig at Virgin with the 'widest seats' though

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Does indeed look good, sneaky dig at Virgin with the 'widest seats' though

I thought that, do they just mean their stock or indeed the 221s / 390s too...?

 

[graham43404]

Does indeed look good, sneaky dig at Virgin with the 'widest seats' though

They could have also mentioned that there train won't smell like a toilet

 

[sulli_os]

Hi,
Chiltern stresses that it isn't First Class:

Sounds better than what XC call First Class. Doesn't sound much worse than what passes for First Class on EMT either.

 

[jopsuk]

I think by keeping it as an on train supplement and not sold as 1st class, it avoids the complication of only the loco hauled services having 1st class whilst the 168 services (the majority of Birmingham to Marylebone services) are entirely Standard Class.

 

[AlterEgo]

Just out of interest, I assume the upgrades are available as an add-on to a Priv fare? Might check out the competition.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Just out of interest, I assume the upgrades are available as an add-on to a Priv fare? Might check out the competition.

Very tempting if it is!

 

[Greenback]

Chiltern won't call it first class as they upset quite a few of their well heeled customers when they abolished it originally!

 

[AlterEgo]

Chiltern won't call it first class as they upset quite a few of their well heeled customers when they abolished it originally!

It does still utterly astonish me that a TOC which operates to Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield, Aylesbury and Princes Risborough doesn't offer even a token First Class service. I remember travelling in a NSE-liveried Networker in declassified First between Aylesbury and London some years ago. Felt like a king - I must have been about fourteen though.

 

[Greenback]

I recall that Chiltern got plenty of criticism at the time but refused to backtrack on their decision to abolish first class. Amazing really, as they pass through some very affluent areas!

It seems odd that when you have a market for a premium product who are willing to pay more, you simply remove it! And even now they seem unwilling to admit they made a mistake...

 

[bengolding]

A few people I know shifted their First Class travel from Gerrards Cross/Beaconsfield to Slough or Maidenhead as a result and catch one of the few peak HSTs.

I regularly travel on First Anytime tickets on the London-Birmingham corridor. Would I still have to upgrade on board? Am I right in assuming there is no complimentary food or drink service?

 

[bb21]

Sounds better than what XC call First Class. Doesn't sound much worse than what passes for First Class on EMT either.

Definitely better than XC's. About similar pitch as EMT's HST seats however Chiltern's are much better at the moment at least as it's all new and very clean. Anyone who has travelled in it before now as it has always been declassified will tell you.

 

[merlodlliw]

I put the thread up last Tuesday 9th August, on infrastructure, with pics. for those who missed it


Bob

 

[jopsuk]

I regularly travel on First Anytime tickets on the London-Birmingham corridor. Would I still have to upgrade on board? Am I right in assuming there is no complimentary food or drink service?

It says on the website that it is specifically not First Class. I imagine their attitude is that you'd have to pay for the upgrade. They wouldn't get the ORCATS share of the 1st class premium (I'd assume). No complimentary food or drink, but there is table service.

 

[NIMBUS]

It seems odd that when you have a market for a premium product who are willing to pay more, you simply remove it! And even now they seem unwilling to admit they made a mistake...

Probably because they didn't. Apart from on a few peak hour commuter trains, first class accommodation was always empty, whilst standard class could often be full to standing.

That was one of the reasons behind the higher spec Club class environments on the 168s (the Chiltern Clubmans, as they were originally marketed) which predominantly work the Joint line services, providing higher than standard class, albeit slightly lower than the old first class (if you think that a lack of curtains and antimacasseurs really matters), accommodation.

 

[All Line Rover]

Hmm...

"Business Zone is not first class..."

:roll:. If "Business Zone" is not First Class, what other "Class" is it? You've got the Premium (or "First") Class - in this case called the "Business Zone" - and the Economy (or "Standard") Class.

Would I bother with it myself? No, as Virgin offer some very good First Class Advance fares between Birmingham and London.

I am still under the impression that Chiltern have scrapped Advance fares. The "Mainline FAQ" only mentions Anytime, Off-Peak and Super-Off-Peak fares. I am still not sure what's going on here!

But using the Off-Peak fare, that's £50+£20+£20=£90. £90 is not very good value in comparison to Virgin's £44! (And even though Chiltern's ticket is flexible, you are almost tied to a specific train because of the limited number that offer a "Business Zone.")

I still don't understand why Chiltern won't act sensibly and re-instate First Class proper, instead of trying to introduce a First Class that isn't First Class.

 

[bb21]

I still don't understand why Chiltern won't act sensibly and re-instate First Class proper, instead of trying to introduce a First Class that isn't First Class.

You won't choose them regardless of how cheap they are as they don't have any nibbles.

 

[NightatLaira]

What an ironic time we live in... possibly the best first class experience in the country is now being offered by a London to Birmingham company on the slow route.

Watch and Learn!! EC, VT, EMT, FGW, etc!

 

[bb21]

What an ironic time we live in... possibly the best first class experience in the country is now being offered by a London to Birmingham company on the slow route.

And with a low walk-on fare.

VWC's Any Permitted FOR £240
Chiltern's SOR plus upgrades both ways £115, or £95 possibly if you go against the main flow.

 

[merlodlliw]

More info from Charlie Hume in this weeks http://www.nwrail.org.uk/nwnews.htm for those interested.


Bob

 

[TDK]

Hmm...

"Business Zone is not first class..."

:roll:. If "Business Zone" is not First Class, what other "Class" is it? You've got the Premium (or "First") Class - in this case called the "Business Zone" - and the Economy (or "Standard") Class.

Would I bother with it myself? No, as Virgin offer some very good First Class Advance fares between Birmingham and London.

I am still under the impression that Chiltern have scrapped Advance fares. The "Mainline FAQ" only mentions Anytime, Off-Peak and Super-Off-Peak fares. I am still not sure what's going on here!

But using the Off-Peak fare, that's £50+£20+£20=£90. £90 is not very good value in comparison to Virgin's £44! (And even though Chiltern's ticket is flexible, you are almost tied to a specific train because of the limited number that offer a "Business Zone.")

I still don't understand why Chiltern won't act sensibly and re-instate First Class proper, instead of trying to introduce a First Class that isn't First Class.

You may not want to bother with it but are you a business man wanting to travel from Birmingham to London or back in a more relaxing environment than in standard class but without the first class trimmings? Maybe you are but if not business class will not apply to your needs unless you just want to try it out - it is classed as business class to attract buisness people to travel to or from Birmingham with a more relaxed environment and to be ables to work from the train with some food as well, I think it is a great idea to be honest and it will hopefully attract some custom from VT.

Sorry but you quote " If "Business Zone" is not First Class, what other "Class" is it?" It is business class! :roll::roll::roll:

Carry on with your all line rover ticket and bash what you want to but don't critisize a company that is trying to improve the journey by train until you have actually tried it.

 

[oversteer]

The 'first class' seats are probably worth the upgrade fee alone!

 

[87015]

Hmm...

"Business Zone is not first class..."

:roll:. If "Business Zone" is not First Class, what other "Class" is it? You've got the Premium (or "First") Class - in this case called the "Business Zone" - and the Economy (or "Standard") Class.

Did you have the same hissy fit when Virgin were calling First Class whatever other silly names they had for it in years gone by?
Club Class on XC and Premier Class on WC wasn't it? Definately had a few Mk3s branded as the latter, about the same time as that stupid stick on names such as "The Big Dish" they had going on.

 

[radamfi]

Will Any Permitted First Class tickets be valid in Chiltern Business Class?

 

[NightatLaira]

Any permitted is ok, so long as it doesn't LM only or VT only

 

[Greenback]

Did you have the same hissy fit when Virgin were calling First Class whatever other silly names they had for it in years gone by?
Club Class on XC and Premier Class on WC wasn't it? Definately had a few Mk3s branded as the latter, about the same time as that stupid stick on names such as "The Big Dish" they had going on.

ALR may not be able to remember those days!

 

[All Line Rover]

You won't choose them regardless of how cheap they are as they don't have any nibbles.

I am impressed by the quick journey time, though. Virgin will have some stiff competition!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

ALR may not be able to remember those days!

Correct, but I agree that it was idiotic for Virgin to dream up such stupid names. A TOC is not an airline in many ways!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I do agree with 'Business Class' as a name. The sort of services these trains will be running could be classed as InterCity, yet the service that will be being given won't be InterCity First standard, but will be better than Standard Class. No hoards of catering staff, no plates, no mess etc, just large, spacious tables and seats, free Wi-Fi, and a chance after a long day to relax in a quieter environment without all the trimmings and relative movement of First Class (apart from the occasional visit form the trolley). I am tempted to try this.

 

[jopsuk]

and a chance after a long day to relax in a quieter environment without all the trimmings and relative movement of First Class (apart from the occasional visit form the trolley). I am tempted to try this.

the way it's being marketed, it seems to be more about the chance to make the train an extension of your office- be prepared for the clatter of keyboards and people holding lengthy discussions on their mobiles.