Wrexham Shropshire Railways ~ London Train Review

I love trains. Not in the notepad, rucksack, end-of-platformclicking-camera sort of way, but the concept of the golden age of trains – Brief Encounter style, with well-maintained stations and attentive, smart, uniformed, platform staff helping with luggage and directing confused travellers towards trains which arrive, and leave, on time.

Some of my most memorable travels have involved trains… the efficiencies of the French TGV; the early days and wonders of Eurostar; inter-railing as a student; the Bullet of Taiwan and my all-time favourites in Sri Lanka, and Thailand. So, how does the Wrexham to Marylebone service compare to my world travel experiences, and slightly romantic, and admittedly unrealistic visions of British train travel of years gone by?

Walking through the Victorian streets of Shrewsbury heading for the gargoyled station frontage, I must admit I felt a twinge of excitement. Purchasing the ticket was easy enough, none of the complications of off-peak/day, return/single, no-luggage, over thirties, Friday specials. Just a ticket for £40. Return! The train was not quite full, so I was offered a First Class upgrade for an extra £45 which is available any day – providing the space is available. I took the offer and waited on the platform which was undergoing a low key rewire. It would certainly benefit from a much needed cleaning of the glass roof and a general brush-up as part of this maintenance.

The train arrived spot on time, 12.04pm for a 12.07pm departure – not the ex-1970s BR rolling stock I was expecting, but a gleaming silver locomotive, carrying the Wrexham & Shropshire Railways logo. Off we set, smoothly, and quietly. The single First Class carriage is well-appointed, and traditionally set in front of the restaurant car, followed by three more carriages for economy, which on inspection also looked impressive. With free wi-fi and charges at every seat for your laptop and phone, I could live on here.

The menu offers ‘First Breakfast’ with a good choice of cereals, and Full Welsh Breakfast or a Wrexham and Shropshire kipper, which I am informed is supplied from the region, if not produced here; or scrambled eggs and salmon, likewise Being lunchtime I chose a selection from the daytime menu – although they had not receive their ‘full quota’ of meals, I was offered a starter choice of soups, chicken liver pate, or a salad. I chose the cold beef salad, soup is never a good idea on train journeys unless you want to leave with a re-designed shirt and trousers.

For mains I chose stuffed chicken with spinach, leek and sun blushed tomatoes with potato wedges and seasonal veg. The salad was fresh, though a little lacking in creativity or dressing, but to be fair, it was an additional request as the other dishes contained the forbidden wheat-flour that many of us now have to avoid due to high gluten wheat imports from Canada.

Service was very pleasant, informed, and attentive to all the passengers and the team certainly had a clear pride in their job, and the trains themselves. The main course arrived very soon after the starter was cleared. It was a succulent, well-cooked chicken breast, perfectly seasoned with a good use of fresh herbs. The leek and tomatoes had retained their texture and flavour, and were accompanied by a good stock sauce accompanied by a quarter bottle of Chilean red. Desserts are an additional £3.95, but I went for the herb tea, with a good range, including mint which had been ‘dropped off’ in Banbury – freshly picked by the local peasants from the mountains perhaps!

I chatted to Alan, one of the team who was beside himself at the sighting of the new rolling stock now on line after a long wait and fitted with wi-fi, individual power plugs, and even stone basins in the automated washrooms – described by my fellow passenger, a certain Mr Michael Palin, (fresh from his Darwin talk at Shrewsbury School) as “almost like a night-club”. So, if you missed out on your long weekend Shopping on the Eurostar this year, why not book a return to London, and enjoy what our own Capital has to offer, transported by our own regional train company?

James Day runs the Shropshire-based gourmetlife dining club. Members can enjoy exclusive travel packages, including discount in London hotels and restaurants. For more details visit www.gourmetlife.co.uk

Article taken from James’ regular reviews in Shropshire Life Magazine.

For more info on Shropshire to London Train  Travel visit their website HERE

Journey Taken November 2009. Extract from Shropshire Life Magazine December issue