Chiltern Railways

Chiltern Railways operates two routes from London's Marylebone terminus, both of which carve through the Chilterns - hence the company's name.

Services & routes

On the first route, trains depart every 30 minutes for Birmingham (both Moor Street and Snow Hill stations) via Banbury, Leamington Spa, Warwick and Solihull; some of these continue in peak hours to Stourbridge and Kidderminster. Local services to Beaconsfield, High Wycombe and Princes Risborough also run along this route.

The second route runs every 30 minutes to Aylesbury via Chorleywood, Rickmansworth and Amersham. A shuttle service also links Aylesbury with Princes Risborough.

The longer distance services to Birmingham include a trolley service serving snacks and hot and cold drinks for at least some of the journey.

Chiltern Railways is unusual in being the only train operator serving London to not offer First Class accommodation aboard its trains - all its services are Standard Class only.

With the longest rail franchise (running until 2022) Chiltern Railways has been able to invest heavily in services, stations and infrastructure. It has opened a new station at Warwick Parkway, and has recently upgraded the Chiltern Mainline to reduce journey times between London Marylebone and Birmingham to 92 minutes from May 2011 (compared with 82 minutes with Virgin Trains on present schedules). Chiltern Railways is also building a new line to Oxford, due to open in 2013.

Facilities onboard Chiltern Railways trains

Onboard facilities on Chiltern Railways trains include:

• Tables and power sockets at every seat on many trains

• 'Quiet zone' on many trains - you can now select the 'quiet coach' option when you are buying train tickets and selecting seat reservations

• Catering  - available Monday to Friday between Birmingham New Street and Banbury, but not available between Banbury to London. From Birmingham to Banbury, catering is available on trains between 05:46 and 12:09 and from Banbury to Birmingham between 08:05 to 13:49

• WiFi - free WiFi will be available on all Chiltern Mainline services from 5th September 2011 (services between London and Birmingham)

Carrying bicycles on trains

Bicylces are permitted (except tandems) on any Chiltern Railways train on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays and most weekday trains.

Please note however that bicycles are not permitted on busy mid-week peak trains:

    - Arriving London Marylebone or Birmingham Snow Hill from 0745 to 1000

    - Leaving London Marylebone or Birmingham Snow Hill from 1630 to 1930

Folding bicycles are permitted on all trains, as long as they do not get in the way of other passengers or staff.