'Not all aspirations met' for new timetable, Chiltern Railways admits

10:40am Saturday 3rd September 2011 in Risborough By Clare Conway

'Not all aspirations met' for new timetable, rail firm admits 'Not all aspirations met' for new timetable, rail firm admits

AS months of disruption and engineering work comes to an end on the Chiltern Railway line, some passengers are questioning whether a much-trumpeted new timetable was worth it.

They are angry that no High Wycombe to London trains will meet the headline 23-minute journey time, while the 7.55am to Marylebone is the only peak morning service taking less than 30 minutes.

Bosses at Chiltern Railways this week admitted that “not all our aspirations have been met”, but pointed out that some trains coming back from London in the evening do meet the 23-minute time.

Passengers have endured about 18 months of disruption during the £250m rail upgrade, with weekend train users often having to use a bus replacement service via Amersham to get into the capital.

Commuter Alex Hawes, 24, said: “After putting up with weekend disruptions for ages and now the weekday replacement service I’m really disappointed....

“Yes, the 7.55 is fast but I need to be in the office for 8.30am so it’s no help to me.”

Another Beaconsfield commuter said she was left disappointed by the changes following the company's pledges to “transform” the line and “make significant journey time reductions to London”.

Publicity material produced over the past year has suggested that average journey times would be slashed by 20 per cent or more, but bosses conceded the peak journeys from High Wycombe will only be nine per cent quicker.

The new timetable is set to be introduced on September 4, following a final two weeks of engineering works and bus replacements.

A spokesman for Chiltern Railways said the new timetable represents a significant improvment, saying the 29-minute peak morning train will get into Marylebone at 8.24am, which is within the most popular arrival times for commuters. Currently the fastest train leaves High Wycombe at 6.24am.

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She added: “The average PM peak reduction is 17% and the fastest train in the PM peak will be 27% faster than today’s fastest journey. We will also have six non-stop trains home in the evening peak compared to two today.

“When the initial announcement was made there was still a lot of planning to do around the timetable and infrastructure work.

“Not all our aspirations have been met in the morning peak, but we have done better than we expected in the evening peak – including a train taking just 22 minutes.”

“It is not possible to have all fast trains in the morning peak from every station as we only have one track which needs to carry a mixture of fast and stopping trains from over 30 stations.”

The company said it was committed to capping fares until March 2012, despite news of a potential nationwide fare increase on rail lines of up to eight per cent.

Click link below to see the full timetable.

Comments (10)

9:41pm Sat 3 Sep 11

ivor says...

The journey times may not be as promised but they managed to get the newer part of the Grade II listed goods shed at Wycombe demolished in time!
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.
The journey times may not be as promised but they managed to get the newer part of the Grade II listed goods shed at Wycombe demolished in time! ~ Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page. ivor

8:39am Sun 4 Sep 11

Leopardo says...

Chiltern Railways are such a disappointment generally ! They are not helping matters in the recession when people need to get to London and all points East as quickly - and cheaply - as possible. It was too much to hope that they would get their act together and provide a service suited to the needs of their customers and not themselves. Overcrowded, slow trains are not the answer in the 21st century !
Chiltern Railways are such a disappointment generally ! They are not helping matters in the recession when people need to get to London and all points East as quickly - and cheaply - as possible. It was too much to hope that they would get their act together and provide a service suited to the needs of their customers and not themselves. Overcrowded, slow trains are not the answer in the 21st century ! Leopardo

10:12am Sun 4 Sep 11

miccles says...

Some people are never satisfied. Just be grateful you have a better service than some commuters in the south east.

Oh and if the trains are not getting you into the capital fast enough, its been ok for you before the upgrade started?
i thought it was common knowledge the main reason was for faster trains from Birmingham to London.

If you want to get into the capital at a specific time, catch an earlier train (simples).
Some people are never satisfied. Just be grateful you have a better service than some commuters in the south east. Oh and if the trains are not getting you into the capital fast enough, its been ok for you before the upgrade started? i thought it was common knowledge the main reason was for faster trains from Birmingham to London. If you want to get into the capital at a specific time, catch an earlier train (simples). miccles

12:37pm Sun 4 Sep 11

brachyura says...

I'm happy as it looks as though my journey into work will be shorter and I'll get home earlier.

I agree with miccles Chiltern are better then some other companies (they got me to work during the snow too).

Quite like the improvements to the new station as well.
I'm happy as it looks as though my journey into work will be shorter and I'll get home earlier. I agree with miccles Chiltern are better then some other companies (they got me to work during the snow too). Quite like the improvements to the new station as well. brachyura

2:36pm Mon 5 Sep 11

ianstrange says...

I agree we are fortunate to travel with Chiltern railways - compared with other services in the South East, eg in/out of Waterloo. I have travelled from High Wycombe to Marylebone for 20 years and have rarely not had a seat. The HW and Marylebone station improvements are fine too.
But this morning's "new and faster service with more seats" was anything but. The 0755 from HW with only one stop (Beaconsfield) was already nearly full at HW and most had to stand - and when it got into Marylebone it was too long for the platform so we were delayed in getting off! The last timetable had two trains starting from HW at 0745 and 0750 - that's 10 empty coaches; now there's only one train starting from HW around that time, at 0742 - so they've halved the number of seats at that peak time.
And when we head home this evening in the rush hour, but just miss the 1750, we have to wait 26 minutes until the next train at 1816 - a longer wait than at most other times of the day.
Not what I'd call a better service. Please revert to the oild timetable - I'd more trains and more seats even if it means not getting in 5 to 10 minutes faster.
I agree we are fortunate to travel with Chiltern railways - compared with other services in the South East, eg in/out of Waterloo. I have travelled from High Wycombe to Marylebone for 20 years and have rarely not had a seat. The HW and Marylebone station improvements are fine too. But this morning's "new and faster service with more seats" was anything but. The 0755 from HW with only one stop (Beaconsfield) was already nearly full at HW and most had to stand - and when it got into Marylebone it was too long for the platform so we were delayed in getting off! The last timetable had two trains starting from HW at 0745 and 0750 - that's 10 empty coaches; now there's only one train starting from HW around that time, at 0742 - so they've halved the number of seats at that peak time. And when we head home this evening in the rush hour, but just miss the 1750, we have to wait 26 minutes until the next train at 1816 - a longer wait than at most other times of the day. Not what I'd call a better service. Please revert to the oild timetable - I'd more trains and more seats even if it means not getting in 5 to 10 minutes faster. ianstrange

3:20pm Mon 5 Sep 11

miccles says...

ianstrange wrote:
I agree we are fortunate to travel with Chiltern railways - compared with other services in the South East, eg in/out of Waterloo. I have travelled from High Wycombe to Marylebone for 20 years and have rarely not had a seat. The HW and Marylebone station improvements are fine too. But this morning's "new and faster service with more seats" was anything but. The 0755 from HW with only one stop (Beaconsfield) was already nearly full at HW and most had to stand - and when it got into Marylebone it was too long for the platform so we were delayed in getting off! The last timetable had two trains starting from HW at 0745 and 0750 - that's 10 empty coaches; now there's only one train starting from HW around that time, at 0742 - so they've halved the number of seats at that peak time. And when we head home this evening in the rush hour, but just miss the 1750, we have to wait 26 minutes until the next train at 1816 - a longer wait than at most other times of the day. Not what I'd call a better service. Please revert to the oild timetable - I'd more trains and more seats even if it means not getting in 5 to 10 minutes faster.
Would this be due to the fact that more people wanted to try the service out of curiousosity?? maybe at Marylebone there was a train in front preventing this train going all the way?
[quote][p][bold]ianstrange[/bold] wrote: I agree we are fortunate to travel with Chiltern railways - compared with other services in the South East, eg in/out of Waterloo. I have travelled from High Wycombe to Marylebone for 20 years and have rarely not had a seat. The HW and Marylebone station improvements are fine too. But this morning's "new and faster service with more seats" was anything but. The 0755 from HW with only one stop (Beaconsfield) was already nearly full at HW and most had to stand - and when it got into Marylebone it was too long for the platform so we were delayed in getting off! The last timetable had two trains starting from HW at 0745 and 0750 - that's 10 empty coaches; now there's only one train starting from HW around that time, at 0742 - so they've halved the number of seats at that peak time. And when we head home this evening in the rush hour, but just miss the 1750, we have to wait 26 minutes until the next train at 1816 - a longer wait than at most other times of the day. Not what I'd call a better service. Please revert to the oild timetable - I'd more trains and more seats even if it means not getting in 5 to 10 minutes faster.[/p][/quote]Would this be due to the fact that more people wanted to try the service out of curiousosity?? maybe at Marylebone there was a train in front preventing this train going all the way? miccles

4:41pm Mon 5 Sep 11

brachyura says...

Miccles you are right it looked as though there was another train already on the platform (we were one carriage too long).

It's only the first day, think it is worth giving it a bit of time to see how it settles down.
Miccles you are right it looked as though there was another train already on the platform (we were one carriage too long). It's only the first day, think it is worth giving it a bit of time to see how it settles down. brachyura

11:00pm Tue 6 Sep 11

BarryLyndon says...

Like everything in this country Chiltern Railways are not doing renovations to make your life better but to make more money. Next year when the line is connected to Oxford then I anticipate a huge influx of people using the line especially in rush hours. However the elephant in the room is the how the tube is going to cope.. expect regular overcrowding closures at Marylebone Underground soon.
Like everything in this country Chiltern Railways are not doing renovations to make your life better but to make more money. Next year when the line is connected to Oxford then I anticipate a huge influx of people using the line especially in rush hours. However the elephant in the room is the how the tube is going to cope.. expect regular overcrowding closures at Marylebone Underground soon. BarryLyndon

11:28am Thu 8 Sep 11

Bookermum says...

My husband was really looking forward to the faster trains, and new timetable, but has been left annoyed at the lack of service everyone was promised!!
The fast train does not run when my husband travels to & from London! And because they have changed the timetable there is now some gaps, so if there are delays on the underground he may have a 25/30 min wait for the next train home!!
Very disappointing so far! Let's hope the people in charge see all the problems and rectify soon!
My husband was really looking forward to the faster trains, and new timetable, but has been left annoyed at the lack of service everyone was promised!! The fast train does not run when my husband travels to & from London! And because they have changed the timetable there is now some gaps, so if there are delays on the underground he may have a 25/30 min wait for the next train home!! Very disappointing so far! Let's hope the people in charge see all the problems and rectify soon! Bookermum

10:15pm Wed 14 Sep 11

SamLowry says...

My evening train is no faster to Beaconsfield and now if I miss it due to the tube being delayed (which is often) I will have to wait longer than ever for the next one. When I do catch it on time the train is jammed packed. I'm sure some people's journey has been improved but I have met any.
My evening train is no faster to Beaconsfield and now if I miss it due to the tube being delayed (which is often) I will have to wait longer than ever for the next one. When I do catch it on time the train is jammed packed. I'm sure some people's journey has been improved but I have met any. SamLowry

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