Chiltern introduces improved services to London
COMMUTERS in Birmingham and Warwickshire benefit from improved rail services to London today following the launch of a revamped timetable by Chiltern Railways.
The company has invested around half of its £250m improvement programme in upgrading the service between Moor Street and Marylebone.
The new timetable is in preparation for the introduction of new, faster trains which will begin operating the Chiltern route from May.
The company has invested £25m improving Moor Street Station, the concourse harking back to its Edwardian origins. Of this, £14m has been spent reopening platforms 3 and 4 to accomodate more trains.
Adrian Shooter, chairman of Chiltern Railways, said: “The completion of the regeneration of Moor Street and the opening of the new platforms is a major milestone towards the launch of Chiltern Mainline.
“We believe the launch of Mainline will transform travel along our route, meeting the needs of both existing and new customers across the West Midlands.”
When the new timetable is introduced in May, journey times between Moor Street and Marylebone will vary between 90-100 minutes, bringing the company’s service into line with the Virgin service on the West Coast Mainline, which operates between New Street and Euston.
Chiltern has made no secret it wants to compete with the Virgin route and offer commuters in Birmingham a viable alternative.
The rail company will also be targeting the city’s business community, hoping to lure passengers onto its trains. This is especially true in the Birmingham suburban areas of Solihull and Dorridge, where Chiltern is taking over the branch stations.
