Chiltern Railways Class 168 Clubman trains

[CyrusWuff]

You used to be able to get joint-availability season tickets, valid at both Aylesbury and Haddenham, do Chiltern still do these?

They do, though it's at a slight premium over the Haddenham fares (as that's the more expensive route) and only available for London Terminals or as a Zones 1-6 Travelcard. The price should be in the Fares Finder on KnowledgeBase.

 

[RPM]

If you live in somewhere like Aston Clinton or Wing and you drive to get to the station, then it's a no brainer to go from Tring. The trains are faster and there are more of them, and the car park is bigger. Train standards are about the same, I don't see much difference in comfort between the 165s and the 350/2s, and definitely not with the 321s.

If you're having to use public transport, the sensible choice would be Aylesbury, simply to avoid that two mile walk from Tring town centre.

I don't see what they could do to speed up the Aylesbury trains, the main issue is the number of stops the trains make in Buckinghamshire. Take out a Wendover stop and there'd be war on.

You used to be able to get joint-availability season tickets, valid at both Aylesbury and Haddenham, do Chiltern still do these?

There's a very strong case for making every other Chiltern service fast from Amersham, or at least all stations to Amersham, then Harrow & MYB. However Chiltern run over LUL metals very much on LUL's terms. LUL, bless their cotton socks, are rather fixated on metro style "all stations" type operation and they don't really do fast trains so Chiltern have to comply with their landlord's wishes, albeit reluctantly.

 

[Tetchytyke]

The peak trains that run fast Marylebone-Amersham/Missenden aren't a great deal quicker than the off-peak all-stations, mostly because of the line speed north of Neasden. The real time savings would be north of Amersham, and given the residents of Missenden and Wendover I don't see them losing their fast trains any time soon.

 

[aylesbury2]

They do, though it's at a slight premium over the Haddenham fares (as that's the more expensive route) and only available for London Terminals or as a Zones 1-6 Travelcard. The price should be in the Fares Finder on KnowledgeBase.

I remember seeing on Chiltern Railways' website a few months ago that the absolute quickest journey possible from Haddenham to Marylebone only stop High Wycombe took 26 minutes - now the quickest time for the same service is 41 minutes - is there any reason for this? If you add a 25 minute bus journey from Aylesbury then there isn't much difference - there would be if the journey only took 26 minutes like it used to!

 

[NSEFAN]

I remember seeing on Chiltern Railways' website a few months ago that the absolute quickest journey possible from Haddenham to Marylebone only stop High Wycombe took 26 minutes - now the quickest time for the same service is 41 minutes - is there any reason for this? If you add a 25 minute bus journey from Aylesbury then there isn't much difference - there would be if the journey only took 26 minutes like it used to!

Are you sure you didn't misread it? 25 minutes is about the fastest time from High Wycombe to Marylebone, so you'd have a tough time doing it from Haddenham in 26!

 

[aylesbury2]

Are you sure you didn't misread it? 25 minutes is about the fastest time from High Wycombe to Marylebone, so you'd have a tough time doing it from Haddenham in 26!

I'm certain, and up until recently it said that on the Wikipedia page for Haddenham and Thame Parkway too, how strange!

 

[NSEFAN]

Even without a stop at Wycombe, it would be impressive to do Haddenham to Marylebone in 25 minutes. Perhaps the original source on the Chiltern website was wrong, and quoted by someone on wikipedia?

 

[The Planner]

Its about 40-41 miles from Haddenham to Marylebone?? So 25 minutes means an average of around 100mph, not likely!

 

[Class 170101]

Fastest possible journey is around 34 minutes according to realtime trains once the pathing time is stripped out.

 

[aylesbury2]

As NSEFAN stated, it was probably a publishing error on Chiltern's part then. It looks like the fastest is currently 41 minutes, which would probably work out the same or slightly longer than going from Aylesbury. Are the only stop High Wycombe trains guaranteed to be 168s or 172s with WiFi/power sockets and tables ('Mainline') as Chiltern call it? If not the extra hassle and cost is probably not worth it, as previously mentioned there is the chance of missing the connection or having to stand for 40 minutes due to the number of stops made before Haddenham especially at peak hours.

 

[Nym]

There's a very strong case for making every other Chiltern service fast from Amersham, or at least all stations to Amersham, then Harrow & MYB. However Chiltern run over LUL metals very much on LUL's terms. LUL, bless their cotton socks, are rather fixated on metro style "all stations" type operation and they don't really do fast trains so Chiltern have to comply with their landlord's wishes, albeit reluctantly.

You'd find though that the signalling between Rickmansworth and Ammersham is very likely to be set up for "All Trains to Stop" for the overlaps...?

 

[JB_B]

I'm certain, and up until recently it said that on the Wikipedia page for Haddenham and Thame Parkway too, how strange!

You should be able to track back through the Wikipedia edits if you want to check. (Is there any chance you could have been simply mistaken?)

 

[67018]

Fastest time Haddenham-Marylebone is 38-39 minutes, and has been since the major timetable recast not too long ago. That's non stop though, and I think those ones only run in the peaks.

 

[West Ruislip]

If anything I think you'll see fewer 168s on the Amersham line in coming years. Currently most of the 168 workings over that line are positioning moves designed to get the units to and from Aylesbury depot for scheduled maintenance. Chiltern are in the process of planning a new maintenance depot at Banbury which will take over most of the class 168 exams so once that happens there will be fewer 168s working to Aylesbury.

Any idea how far the planning for this has got and when it's hoped that construction will start?

I gather that Chiltern also want additional tracks along part of their route to cope with HS2 construction traffic.

 

[The Planner]

Banbury depot is pretty dependant on Banbury re-signalling which was the back end of next year but has now slipped. Not sure what extra lines Chiltern are after but I suspect they are after a sneaky freebie that benefits them more for when HS2 construction is complete.

 

[West Ruislip]

This is the headline from a news website:

Chiltern demands upgrades for HS2 construction

Additional track may be needed along rail routes served by Chiltern Railways to handle trains required for the construction of.........

Do you know by how long Banbury has slipped and where the proposed depot will be?

Thanks.

 

[The Planner]

Was meant to be August 15, might well slip into 16 now. The depot will be on the down side before the station on what were old steam sidings I think.

 

[West Ruislip]

Thanks for this.

Do you know if it will be like Chiltern's Wembley depot in terms of size and facilities etc, or will it be more like Stourbridge Junction, a few sidings with no undercover maintenance facilities?

 

[aylesbury2]

Chiltern are currently extending platforms at stations south of Banbury to enable 9 car workings to deal with extra passenger numbers. I hope to see it electrified in the future, glad to see Chiltern are investing in it further.

 

[jimm]

Chiltern are currently extending platforms at stations south of Banbury to enable 9 car workings for the Oxford to Bicester line. I hope to see it electrified in the future, glad to see Chiltern are investing in it further.

No they're not.The Oxford trains will be limited to six coaches due to the length of the bay platforms at Oxford. Long trains on the Oxford route will depend on rebuilding of Oxford station, whereas these extensions will allow for longer trains to run to Banbury or Birmingham.

There is already a thread about this topic here http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=100381

The documents to do with the scoping planning application for the Banbury depot, submitted in March, are here http://www.publicaccess.cherwell.go...ils.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=N2LAT2EM0K200

 

[aylesbury2]

No they're not.The Oxford trains will be limited to six coaches due to the length of the bay platforms at Oxford. Long trains on the Oxford route will depend on rebuilding of Oxford station, whereas these extensions will allow for longer trains to run to Banbury or Birmingham.

There is already a thread about this topic here http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=100381

Thanks for correcting, the article was a little misleading!

 

[aylesbury2]

Try travelling London to Stratford (a two hour journey) on a 165, then you'll appreciate how London to Aylesbury isn't that long.

I sometimes have to visit Stratford for family reasons and I have only ever been on 168s and 172s via Leamington Spa into Marylebone? Is the 165 used on this route regularly? If so I've never been on one.

 

[RPM]

I sometimes have to visit Stratford for family reasons and I have only ever been on 168s and 172s via Leamington Spa into Marylebone? Is the 165 used on this route regularly? If so I've never been on one.

There's fewer 165 on the Stratfords now, still some though I think. 172s aren't any more comfortable than 165s mind. They were designed for Gerrards Cross shuttles and the odd High Wycombe service until the plans changed.

 

[TEW]

I'd say the 172s are slightly better than the 165s as they have 2+2 seating throughout but they're nowhere near as comfortable as the 168s.

 

[aylesbury2]

I'd say the 172s are slightly better than the 165s as they have 2+2 seating throughout but they're nowhere near as comfortable as the 168s.

Definitely, they're looking great after the livery update! I might head down to Haddenham and Thame at some point and see if I can catch one into Marylebone.

 

[168lover]

I sometimes have to visit Stratford for family reasons and I have only ever been on 168s and 172s via Leamington Spa into Marylebone? Is the 165 used on this route regularly? If so I've never been on one.

you get the odd one. Mainly at weekends.