London to Birmingham on a budget.

[Joseph T]

Which of the two is best for a trip from London to Birmingham: LNWR or Chiltern?

 

[hexagon789]

Which of the two is best for a trip from London to Birmingham: LNWR or Chiltern?

Define 'best'.

Are you looking for comfort, cost or journey time?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Define 'best'.

Are you looking for comfort, cost or journey time?

"On a budget" would suggest cost, and for that I would say it's pretty evenly split. I've had advances from less than £10 on both TOCs, so I'd recommend looking on both's websites for the cheapest fare.

LNR will tend to have longer trains, usually 8 (but could be 4 or 12) carriages, and they run on electricity, whereas Chiltern use diesel units with underfloor engines or sometimes very loud locomotives. However, there is a risk of getting a 350/2 with 3+2 seating, no tables and no plugs - but if you do (and there's only a 20%ish chance of getting an eight car unit with BOTH portions 350/2) the declassified first section has these.

 

[birchesgreen]

Chiltern is usually cheaper and often faster, comfort can vary depending on what you travel on Chiltern, LNWR is always a Desiro (which are fine enough trains).

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Which of the two is best for a trip from London to Birmingham: LNWR or Chiltern?

Cheapest walk up, semi-flexible, fare (no railcard) likely to be the £36-40 Super Off Peak return (route via High Wycombe) with Chiltern. £23-95 with railcard discount.

 

[hexagon789]

"On a budget" would suggest cost, and for that I would say it's pretty evenly split. I've had advances from less than £10 on both TOCs, so I'd recommend looking on both's websites for the cheapest fare.

LNR will tend to have longer trains, usually 8 (but could be 4 or 12) carriages, and they run on electricity, whereas Chiltern use diesel units with underfloor engines or sometimes very loud locomotives. However, there is a risk of getting a 350/2 with 3+2 seating, no tables and no plugs - but if you do (and there's only a 20%ish chance of getting an eight car unit with BOTH portions 350/2) the declassified first section has these.

Exactly, which is why I asked the OP to clarify their definition of 'best'. The Chiltern Mk3s seem to be well-rated on comfort, but of course, the limited times these run won't necessarily suit. Though also, certain varieties of 350, not the 3+2 ones outside ex-First Class anyway!

Cost as you say, is about even in theory.

Journey time is I think no longer in Chiltern's favour since they amended the stopping patterns?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The Chiltern Mk3s seem to be well-rated on comfort

It all depends.

The MK3 I ended up on (coincidence, not planned) last month didn't lead to a very comfortable journey, as an enthusiast who had deliberately sought out a MK3 set decided to sit opposite me and decided to chew my ear off about what great trains they are, and how Chiltern might get rid of them, and did I know the tall seats by the saloon doors are new, while I was trying to reply to an important email from the BBC.

He was quite clearly on the spectrum so I smiled and nodded politely, but I'd have had a far more comfortable (and productive) journey on a 168 in those circumstances! This has happened before and was often a factor in choosing a GW/XC HST over an IET/221 out of Cardiff or Bristol, especially when the former became endangered.