Chiltern 'Silver Train' - 1807 Marylebone to Birmingham

You should be able to get a seat, however being a Friday heading Northbound I'd expect it to be busy. The inbound train is scheduled into Marylebone at 17:45 so if you get there for about that time and beat some of the crowd and I can't see an issue with getting seats together.

 

It gets pretty busy, pretty much everything out of Marylebone is busy at that time of day during the week. It will be somewhat quieter on a Friday than the rest of the week (there tends to be less business in London on a Friday so the train tends to have less people who are in London for meetings on board) but the usual tips for boarding busy trains at London terminals apply here. Try and meet the inward stock if you can, its a parping great class 67 with mark 3 coaches, it stands out like a sore thumb amongst all the 165s and 168s that normally populate the station. It usually comes in on platform 3 though.
People tend to be lazy and get on the first set of doors they see too, the coach nearest the barriers is always far busier than coach furthest from them. Walk up to the front of the train, if you are going to Moor Street then you will be closer to the barriers at that end when you arrive anyway. Dunno about the business zone, guards tell me that it is doing well if it is half full at the moment so you should be guaranteed a seat.

 

Business Zone upgrades are only available from stations up to 23:59 the day before travel. After that, they can only be bought on board.

If you get one at a station, you get a (free) seat reservation for a specific seat in Coach A.

HTH,

Barry

 

With regards to the 'Business Zone' I thought I'd give this a go on the 08:37 from Marylebone to Solihull a few weeks ago. This service is one of two trains (the other being the 15:55 from Moor Street) where you can upgrade for just £10.

For that you get an at seat service and free tea/coffee. There's also power sockets for laptops/mobiles (though I think these are available in standard as well). Either way if your doing either of these trains well worth doing in my opinion.

 

The 0837 off ME had zero Business class passengers the other week - the quality of the standard class is excellent , with no crowding and an at seat service from the buffet.

 

I thought they were using the ex-WSMR stock?

 

Yes, all the trains intended for the London to Birmingham loco hauled services are silver trains, as Chiltern are using the former Wrexham & Shropshire stock, as WillPS says, which was refurbished by W&S.

The only set that isn't former W&S silver stock is the rake of six TSOs that is used on the Banbury-Marylebone commuter diagram, which is half and half ex-Virgin and BR blue & grey livery stock. This set has made it onto the Birmingham services occasionally as well though.

 

When I was onboard I ordered a tea and a bacon roll. Was only charged for the food!

 

Which is only a five coach set at the moment, since Virgin liveried 12094 was withdrawn from the set at the weekend.

Last night the 172s were in trouble, with only a four-car set available for traffic on the 18:16 Bicester, instead of six. A High Wycombe stop was put into the 18:13 Banbury (normally first stop is Princes Risborough) and passengers for Wycombe were diverted from the 18:16. With one coach short, the Banbury train (which normally loads to standing, even as a six coach set) was horrendously packed as far as Wycombe.

 

This is rather peripherally related to the OP but its about the Chiltern Silver "Business Zone"

I have a PRIV pass entitling me to first class travel, does this entitle me to "Business Zone" travel or do I need some supplement for this. ie. is it regarded to be First Class by ATOC.

 

First Class tickets and passes are valid for travel in the Business Zone without payment of the supplement providing they're otherwise valid for the journey being made.

HTH,

Barry

 

Was advised by conductor the other day that staff free travel (1st class) - is NOT valid in Business class. Travelled standard accordingly.

 

Not even Chiltern staff with the full pass can travel in Business Zone without paying the £20 upgrade so a priv will be most likely charged £20 extra however I belive 1st class tickets as quoted above are permitted without the upgrade.

 

Interesting...My reading of the rules was that First Class passes were treated in exactly the same way as "normal" First Class tickets, and those with Standard had to pay the supplement. I'll double check.

UPDATE: Having asked the man in the know, I can confirm that staff travel facilities are NOT valid in the Business Zone, except on payment of the appropriate supplement. Sorry folks!

Cheers,

Barry

 

Does the 10:55 brum to london have catering even though the business Zone is declassified.