markskoda
Member
London Midland Trains. Thank you. You have allowed me to move around the U.K. during my 5 weeks here in comfort and at an acceptably affordable price.
Usually on new trains and on time.
Usually on new trains and on time.
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WillPS
Established Member
London Midland are certainly a favourable franchise. Helps of course that they were dealt a decent hand when Central Trains was split, but credit is certainly due for their trains.
tsr
Established Member
I have found their trains to be clean enough, relatively comfortable and on time on the few occasions when I have needed to use them. The handful of staff I spoke to were friendly and knowledgeable, and very understanding of specific requirements (e.g. leaving enough time for heavy luggage to be moved when alighting, and also knowing arrival times at less-well-used stations). As for pricing... the tickets I used were off-peak returns or singles bought "on the day" from Southern ticket offices and allowed me to travel on any applicable operator. They were not extortionate.
On a minor note, the aesthetics can be a tad boring, in my opinion, but no worse than Southern.
SS4
Established Member
LM's network map is quite small. North of Crewe it goes to Liverpool only and south it goes via Stafford/Stoke and then onto London either via Birmingham or via the Trent Valley as well as the local routes in the West Midlands
I like travelling with LM but I would say a lot of their business is derived by marketing themselves as a cheap alternative to Virgin on the London-Birmingham route and serving places like Nuneaton and Tamworth is also helpful.
As for seating I prefer 350s to 390s
I like travelling with LM but I would say a lot of their business is derived by marketing themselves as a cheap alternative to Virgin on the London-Birmingham route and serving places like Nuneaton and Tamworth is also helpful.
As for seating I prefer 350s to 390s
Hope you take the time to contact them direct and pass on your appreciation.
ChiefPlanner
Established Member
Forwarded to LM management.
MK Tom
Established Member
As someone who travels with LM pretty much constantly I consider them excellent in terms of punctuality, cleanliness and customer service. Almost all of their late-runnings are caused by something beyond their control. My only issue with them is the seating on 350/2s - that aside, excellent operator and an improvement over Silverlink.
DiscoStu
Member
Blimey - you must have been lucky and got them on all 5 of their good days a year...
Slightly harsh I think.
I use LM regularly between Northampton and Euston, and only have positive things to say about them. Comfortable trains, and practically always on time.
dvboy
Established Member
The only things I don't like on LM are 323s and 350/2s because of the seating arrangements.
87015
Established Member
I have very little positive to say about them. Less peak services, shorter and slower off-peak services, evening peak restrictions and the total inability to do anything when the slightest thing goes wrong. Silverlink never left me stranded at Northampton for five hours and set three sets empty to BY with the traincrew whilst freight and Pendos merrily passed through either.
They were the only LSE operator who thought an unstrengthed Saturday service, so next to no morning peak trains, would be suitable for the working days between Xmas and new year. It wasn't, you'd have thought they might have learnt from the shambles on Xmas eve with a full SX peak but 4 cars all afternoon, but evidently not...
Mutant Lemming
Established Member
Have had good and bad days with LM but generally they are okay if a bit slow. Would be nice for them to have a few faster paths where possible and a credible alternative from Lime Street to Euston would be a plus.
P.S. The Great Escape does help
P.S. The Great Escape does help
I agree with 87015.
I have used them/Silverlink since 2005 for commuting at opposite ends of the country. Just as rubbish at both ends.
A camel farts in Rugby and they can the service at the first opportunity and pick up £££ from other operators in the process. Profitable? Yes. Squeezing the pennies out of everything? Yes. Unable to recover a service after the slightest breeze? Definitely.
Control/siggies don't think much of their non-existent action plan. They do more harm than good usually.
I will give credit for the TV service and the Super Off-Peak fares, but then any franchisee would have done that so its nothing special.
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I can beat that!
Some farce at Stafford saw control order the crew round and sent the train back to Crewe empty to park up in early evening. Didn't bother getting cross-acceptance on XC and the next one got through 5 hours later at about quarter to 11. Rammed to the gills and they canned it at Wolves.
The best one in memory has to be the crew in the most recent Penkridge farce who found a spare 170 at New St and a spare 170 crew. Didn't tell control until it was too late, found a load of angry pax and made off for Liverpool. They took it all the way there and all the way back. Praise where due.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Helpful money spinner that. Brings the cash rolling in!
87015
Established Member
Oh, and they have managed to annoy Travel West Midlands enough by just telling passengers to use them without asking for acceptance that TWM now won't accept tickets when the riot is LMs fault and not infrastructure related - like that day before Christmas when there was no north Cross-City for five hours and three Walsalls in six because it was the New St drivers Christmas party...
SS4
Established Member
87015
Established Member
New St station staff who have to deal with the fallout, take it or leave it.
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