Chiltern timetable

[The Planner]

...presumably until it gets re-controlled to a ROC. Will that be West Midlands (if it happens), Swindon or Rugby?

Won't be Swindon, the Western wouldn't want LNW on their patch.... will go to Rugby I would expect.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Won't be Swindon, the Western wouldn't want LNW on their patch.... will go to Rugby I would expect.

It should go to the ROC that will control HS2 through the same area.
That should get the regional rivalries going...

 

[Buttsy]

Be great if there was a Boxing Day service over the new Oxford route in future as it'd mean I might get to a footy match without having to drive!

 

[nw1]

Between London and Bicester North, it'll be rammed because of the outlet village. Chinese tourists and students, in particular, seem to go crazy for that place.

Completely bizarre. Knew it was a mistake to choose the Pyrenees as my French holiday destination this year. Next year I'm picking an industrial estate on the edge of a small town 60 miles out of Paris. Never mind the Lake District, that's boring. Come to Bicester Village!!!

And don't even get me started on the idea of choosing to go shopping for non-essential items the day after Christmas Day. Have people really got nothing better to do with their Christmas....?

 

[Cherry_Picker]

The Chinese shoppers are in London on holiday. It seems they consider Bicester to be a part of London too.

 

[NSE]

Glad I stumbled upon this, two days ago I went to Stafford and returned today. I only booked it the night before, and was just fiddling around to try and get it cheaper. I often split at Birmingham with advances, and did this time, but took Chiltern from Maylebone. First experiences with them, and I was pleased. It was comfy, free wifi in standard, the tables were adequate. Yeah, you have to take the advertising with a pinch of salt, but it was fine. I was impressed at £18 single, departing Marylebone at 15:45, only booked the night before. I only had a 168, so didn't experience a 67, but I was happy.

Today, I returned from Stafford direct first class, and yes, I prefer Virgin first class every time. So no, if I'm in an emergency and a rush I'm gonna take virgin, ultimately it is quicker, but when I wanna save cash Chiltern is a very good option, and more than just a back up.

On a side note, I also found such small formations leaving London to be weird, coming from AC/DC commuter land. I know diesels generally come smaller than EMU's, but coming out of Central London, it seemed odd. The Chiltern route seemed really popular. The oddest thing, was seeing the Stratford train as a 172, the whole concourse cleared for it, surely that one is crying out for more capacity?

 

[CyrusWuff]

The oddest thing, was seeing the Stratford train as a 172, the whole concourse cleared for it, surely that one is crying out for more capacity?

That was probably mostly people going to Bicester Village, and the Stratford trains are generally only a two car unit because of the short platforms at Bearley and Wilmcote. Running anything longer would require the Guard to lock vehicles out of use.

 

[Eagle]

There are longer trains that go to Stratford, but those are usually the ones that omit Bearley and Claverdon.

 

[NSE]

oh, I was gonna say. Two coaches at about 15:30 still seemed a bit short :P