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Chiltern Railways

Chiltern Railways links Birmingham, Banbury and London, among other places. Let's take a look at their routes, what their trains are like and their best fares.

Who are Chiltern Railways?

Chiltern Railways runs services out of London Marylebone Station towards Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Banbury and Birmingham. They have a fleet of 69 trains which serve 66 stations, of which 32 are operated by Chiltern.

Your best bet for a cheaper fare on the Chiltern Railways network is between Birmingham and London. This is because they compete with Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway. They aren’t the fastest operator, but here’s what fares look like on the Birmingham to London route around four weeks in advance:

Yes, that’s £6.40 single without a Railcard. If you’d like to know more about travelling on this route, we’ve travelled on all three operators to find out which is the best train from London to Birmingham.

On board services

Luggage

Overhead luggage racks are available on all trains. Turbostar trains, which operate most services between Birmingham and London, also have a number of larger luggage stacks.

Food & Drink

There isn’t any on-board catering. Be sure to visit a shop or pack something before you travel.

WIFI

Free WiFi is available on all services.

Bikes

Bikes are accepted with no need for a reservation. Restrictions apply at peak times travelling to and from London Marylebone, Oxford or Birmingham Moor Street. Folding bikes are accepted on all trains. There’s more information in our dedicated guide to travelling with bikes.

Special Assistance

You can find out more about Passenger Assist on our dedicated page.

Standard Class

Chiltern Railways runs a number of different types of train. On their route from Birmingham to London, you’ll mostly find Turbostar trains, also known as ‘Clubman‘. They have two, three or four carriages.

All window seats on these trains have access to a power socket, and all seats are in a 2+2 layout. On the right-hand side is a Turbo train. These trains run on shorter-distance routes and have two or three carriages. They don’t have any power sockets, and seating is in a 3+2 layout in the middle of the carriage, and 2+2 at the carriage ends.

Is there First Class?

Chiltern Railways no longer offers First Class on their services. On certain Birmingham to London trains, you’ll find a carriage with seats in a 2+1 layout. This was previously known as the ‘Business Zone’, but you can now sit in it with a Standard Class ticket.

You’ll find a declassified ‘Business Zone’ on these trains (correct to the end of May 2024):

Weekdays

  • 06:14 Stourbridge Junction – London Marylebone
  • 07:15, 11:45, 12:45 Birmingham Moor St – London Marylebone
  • 07:46 Princes Risborough – London Marylebone
  • 09:02, 10:02 London Marylebone – Birmingham Moor St
  • 17:07, 18:02 London Marylebone – Stourbridge Junction.

Saturdays

  • 07:14, 14:43 Birmingham Moor St – London Marylebone
  • 08:19 Stourbridge Junction – London Marylebone
  • 12:02 London Marylebone – Birmingham Moor St
  • 18:02, 19:32 London Marylebone – Stourbridge Junction.

Sundays 

  • 09:38, 10:42 Stourbridge Junction – London Marylebone
  • 17:37, 18:37 London Marylebone – Stourbridge Junction.

Information about routes

  • Birmingham Moor Street/Snow Hill to London Marylebone
  • Oxford to London Marylebone
  • High Wycombe to London Marylebone
  • Aylesbury Vale Parkway to London Marylebone (via Amersham)
  • Aylesbury to Princes Risborough
  • Leamington Spa to Birmingham Moor Street
  • Leamington Spa to Stratford-upon-Avon.