Regarding stations on 'the wobble' and service to London.
These stations were promised a single change at Stafford, onto a LNR service, which would be no slower than that previously available on the direct Trent Valley service. This was potentially possible due to the timings of the trains at that time and the waiting time at Stafford on the old service.
A change to Virgin may be quicker overall (it probably was previously) but it is rather more expensive.
The failure of the industry to deliver this franchise commitment is the reason for the linking of the Crewe - Birmingham service to a Birmingham - London service. A disguised mistruth that the idiots fell for because they didn't read between the lines! "Stations will still have a direct London service" - and it's true, they all have. The fact that it now takes 3.5 hours, compared to the previous 2.5 hours, and the 1.5 hours offered by Virgin shows the contempt in which passengers outside the big cities are held. Stoke-on-Trent / North Staffs / East Cheshire is of peripheral interest to decision makers in Birmingham for the West Midlands and Manchester for the northern powerlesshouse.
I'll quote myself in order to correct myself!
Having checked a journey planner, it does generally offer a 'same as previous' journey time from N Staffs to London with a single change at Stafford. Whether that connection is reliable, especially northbound is another matter.
The through train takes 40 minutes longer rather than the hour I had in my head from somewhere. 20 minutes extra for the Birmingham wobble, and the other 20 minutes for the Northampton wobble.
If LNR are looking to name their routes, moving on from the historic name of 'The Cobbler', the Crewe to Euston service could be named 'The Wobbler'!
Some good prices too. Advances from £8 mid-day. And that is precisely why this service should not be rolled into any future WCML franchise with 'moderation of competition' ie 'fleece the punter' rules.
Can't get JP's to offer itineraries for Stone to Rugeley though!