Chiltern Railways Update

Another journey on Chiltern Railways. The latest timetable has some interesting revisions with fewer stops on the trains that start further away from London Marylebone. The 6:44 a.m. from Warwick Parkway now only stops at Leamington Spa and Banbury. It's a shorter train so the seats are just as full (but no standing!) Also all the long distance trains (i.e. those that go further north than Banbury) are now Clubman trains, offering a slightly better seating arrangement than the Turbos that are used for the London commuter services.

Both journeys were on time. The 9:00 p.m. from London was less than half full.

Ticket prices have risen than the Retail Price Index that is supposed to measure inflation (except that lots of highly inflationary goods and services are not included in the RPI calculation, making it a meaningless standard). So, although the service is slightly improved the cost has gone up yet again, no doubt forcing more people to consider the alternatives. But this was on the day the London Congestion Charge area was doubled. Alternatives? Not really.