As anyone with any interest in rail travel will know by now, the Wrexham & Shropshire trains ceased operating yesterday: the final service being the 1830 departure from Marylebone.
I wasn't able to be on this service but I was fortunate to be able to travel on the 1830 on Thursday. Although biased (see my many other postings on the W&SMR services) and 'misty-eyed', I can report that the service did not let down the well-deserved reputation of the Company as Britain's best.
It started with the late arrival of the incoming service from Wrexham, due - as was announced with a certain amount of relish - to problems with a Chiltern train... The staff had literally 10 minutes before the train was off again, not suprisingly rather busy.
As ever the crew were friendly and the atmosphere in First Class very convival. Souvenir hunters had stripped the First Class of menu cards, and, of course, stock was low in preparation for the end but that didn't prevent a choice of Shepherd's Pie, Bangers & Mash, or Macaroni Cheese being offered, followed by Caramel & Apple pie or Raspberry Frangapini. All served on proper plates with proper cutlery...
My choice of Bangers & Mash followed by Caramel & Apple pie was hot and delicious.
At Banbury, we were joined by the passengers off the 1630 departure whose Class 67 had failed (seems to have been a trend in this last week). Uniformly, they said the W & S staff has been wonderful though they weren't so complimentary about Banbury station...
Arrival was 22 munites late at Tame Bridge Parkway where I and my daughter were the only passengers from two train loads to get off. So therein lies the rub. Everyone loved the W & S BUT, and I am as guilty as anyone on this, the speed and convenience of the rival TOCs so often won out on day to day travel. It reminds me so much of the outcry over Beeching's reshaping... we all say we want rail companies to provide comfort, helpful staff, and low fares when in fact what our actions prove is that we will choose otherwise.
Sorry to all the hard working staff who provided such a magnificent service - you will be missed.
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