Chiltern Business Zone

[jfollows]

Let us know how you get on. The website says different and it was updated recently. Chiltern withdrew the catering!

I was on the 16:15 from Marylebone on Wednesday 12 July, which I believe was after the effective withdrawal of the catering service. At the table was a box containing some bottles of water and some bags of "popcorn", whatever that might be, which I didn't investigate. No leaflet of any sort explaining what it might be, but presumably we were intended to work out that it was included in the fare (I didn't need to pay to upgrade because my ticket was already valid). At Solihull someone got on and removed all the boxes from the tables. I wasn't hungry since I'd had a good lunch in London and didn't have any expectations of any catering service anyway (thanks to this forum), and otherwise it was a nice journey for me at a lot less cost than the normal WCML from Euston, and I wasn't in a hurry to get home.

 

[AlterEgo]

I was on the 16:15 from Marylebone on Wednesday 12 July, which I believe was after the effective withdrawal of the catering service. At the table was a box containing some bottles of water and some bags of "popcorn", whatever that might be, which I didn't investigate. No leaflet of any sort explaining what it might be, but presumably we were intended to work out that it was included in the fare (I didn't need to pay to upgrade because my ticket was already valid). At Solihull someone got on and removed all the boxes from the tables. I wasn't hungry since I'd had a good lunch in London and didn't have any expectations of any catering service anyway (thanks to this forum), and otherwise it was a nice journey for me at a lot less cost than the normal WCML from Euston, and I wasn't in a hurry to get home.

That's a peak time service though, and the OP is on an off peak service.

 

[Deafdoggie]

some bags of "popcorn", whatever that might be,

Do you really not know what popcorn is??

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Do you really not know what popcorn is??

Haha

 

[GW43125]

Don't bother with the Business Zone coach - get yourself into the "enthusiast Zone coach" i.e. the front coach and enjoy some Class 68 sounds!

I find it rather ironic that the quiet zone is the carriage immediately behind a loco that isn't exactly renowned for its quietness...

As for the catering... The one time I've wanted to use it the catering crew missed the train!

I wouldn't have minded but I'd been at Marylebone for 45 minutes so I'd have bought a coffee if I'd known!

 

[boxy321]

To clarify, the current announcements (made at great, great length), tell of drinks, snacks and fruit. I don't think this includes tea or coffee anymore. Think of a sub-weekend 1st upgrade on Virgin. I'd expect at least one hot drink for 25 quid.

Apart from the novelty of the gargantuan seats there's little reason to upgrade - it's been mentioned on here before that a lot of people think they've entered 1st class by mistake when they get on the standard mk3s.

I've never seen a Business Zone coach at weekends, but that doesn't mean they don't have them. I've also seen loco hauled trains without a BZ too.

 

[ChilternTurbo]

I've used the Business Zone coach at the weekend from London to Brum as it was only £10 to upgrade and as a Chiltern season ticket holder, the journey was actually free. It was ok but to be honest I wouldn't entertain paying anymore as standard on the Mk3s offers a similar level of comfort and ambience.