07.09.12
Chiltern Mainline passenger growth during first year of operation
Chiltern Railways says it has been an “incredible first year” for its Mainline service between Birmingham and London.
The operator was celebrating the service’s ‘first birthday’ this week with cake and croissants for passengers at Brimingham Moor Street.
It said passenger numbers on its Birmingham to London services are up 45.8%, and said overall there had been a 33.6% increase in journeys between the West Midlands and London.
It said the faster journey times, around 90 minutes, were thanks to the £250m infrastructure upgrade in phase one of Evergreen 3.
Rob Brighouse, managing director at Chiltern Railways said: “It’s been an incredible first year for our Birmingham to London Mainline service. Passengers are not only voting with their feet and switching to Mainline but they are also telling us what they like about our service. Free wi-fi, power points, comfortable seats and affordable fares are consistently mentioned. West Midlanders now have a flexible, fast and reliable travel option to London where they can work in comfort without breaking the bank.”
The company makes a big play of its ‘simple and flexible fares’ on Chiltern Mainline, offering a £95 return on any train, any day; a £50 return for all trains except those arriving in London before 10am Mondays to Fridays; and a £27.50 return with tighter peak-time restrictions.
The TOC noted too that this year the parking facilities at Solihull have been extended while at Warwick Parkway, work is underway to increase the car parking capacity to over 900 spaces.
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