Took the chance to use the 1203 from Marylebone to Tame Bridge today. It arrived a little late and very fully loaded from Wrexham proving that when you run a train thru and don't bustitute it then you can achieve high loadings. The enthusiasts on board said it had gone fast line all the way on WCML so don't know where it got delayed. It was interesting to see the whole arriving on train crew rushing around very speedily and efficiently to ready the train for it's trip back north in under 15 minutes and yet they still took the time to man each door to help with alighting and also posed for photos and assisted pax with onward info. Very impressive and in stark contrast with EMT at St Pancras for example. I love the new refurb and the Dyson dryers add a bit of class to the toilets! My only complaint was that the tables have an annoying lip underneath them so that when you get up from the window seat and manouvre over the seat arm it catches your leg rather painfully. A slow run then ensued around London which was intesting before a slow line run to the Northampton Junction. However they did hold the slow LM train at Willesden to give us a clear run all the way. We finally got on the fast line at Rugby and caught up the 1303 Virgin train by Coventry. Arrival was a couple of minutes late in Tame Bridge and at the same time as the connecting Brum service. After a sprint over the very long bridge we made it just but the guard refused to wait for a slightly slower runner from our train despite me asking. I was curtly informed that they don't wait for anyone. I know thats normal for all companies but what a difference between LM and the pure friendliness and outstanding WSMR customer service.
Other things of note were, as mentioned before, the high quality and very cheap on train food and my travel partner was astounded at the arrival of our food on a real plate with real cutlery and the fact the food was delivered to the table and the table cleaned after we finished and all in stadard class for no extra. Also there were numerous photographers in fields and on stations along the route and the driver sounded his horn to acknowledge each of them which made it feel like he was really proud of his train and also the staff just make you feel like they are proud of their train and that as a passenger I was truly valued. It does all make a difference and it does make you want to travel WSMR again and my travel partner was very very impressed with everything.
Other things of note were, as mentioned before, the high quality and very cheap on train food and my travel partner was astounded at the arrival of our food on a real plate with real cutlery and the fact the food was delivered to the table and the table cleaned after we finished and all in stadard class for no extra. Also there were numerous photographers in fields and on stations along the route and the driver sounded his horn to acknowledge each of them which made it feel like he was really proud of his train and also the staff just make you feel like they are proud of their train and that as a passenger I was truly valued. It does all make a difference and it does make you want to travel WSMR again and my travel partner was very very impressed with everything.
