FEATURE: BUSINESS TRAVEL
Mainline delivers record growth for rail operator
By Sally Gillespie Senior Communications Manager
A year on from the launch, Chiltern Railways has announced record growth for Chiltern Mainline, the train operator’s fast service between Birmingham and London. Since the launch of Mainline,
the train operator’s total Birmingham to London market has rocketed by 45.8 per cent. Chiltern Railways has also seen passenger journeys from Warwick Parkway soar by 34.5 per cent, and increase by 56.1 per cent from Solihull. To celebrate 12 months of
Mainline, Chiltern Railways gave away croissants to morning commuters at Birmingham Moor Street. It also commissioned a birthday cake designed to look like the popular silver trains, which passengers were able to sample.
Mainline was the result of a £250 million investment to upgrade infrastructure, resulting in faster journey times, from just 90 minutes, between the two cities. Its success is down to the fact that it fulfils a much needed gap in the market – a reliable and value for money service to the capital, which allows business people to travel and work in comfort. All of its trains have free
Wi-Fi, plug points and tables at most seats, making it the perfect place to work on the move. Chiltern Railways has structured its fares so that businesses can send their people to London or Birmingham from only £27.50 return without having to book in advance. The premium economy style
Business Zone has also been incredibly popular with business travellers, and provides all the valued business benefits of first class, but excludes the non- essentials for considerably less. Finally, there is a travel option
that gives business travellers what they want – a flexible, fast and reliable service that doesn’t break the bank and where they can work in comfort.
36 CHAMBERLINK OCTOBER 2012
SPONSORED BY: CHILTERN RAILWAYS REVIEW:HONDA CIVIC EX 5 DOOR MANUAL
Car of many colours A
BY SUE COOKE
n independent study reveals that it takes on average just 27 minutes for children to get bored on long
car journeys. The research by sat nav firm TomTom suggests that the average half term holiday trip lasts around five hours, so children will start to misbehave long before the first service-station stop. And drivers are just as
likely to become bored if all they are looking at is the black dashboard and car in front. Unless that is, they are drivers of the new Honda Civic. Because then they will be looking at the most innovative and colourful lighting display that I’ve ever seen in any car. The wrap-around cockpit style dash has rays of
blue, red and green lights emanating from the main instrument binnacle, which are particularly noticeable when driving at night. The digital speedometer flashes white immediately behind the steering wheel, so there is no excuse for speeding. The car I road tested had optional blue
FACTS AT A GLANCE
Model: Honda Civic EX 5 door manual Price: From £16,955 Engine: 1.8 i-VTEC
Performance: 0-62mph in 9.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 134 mph
CO2 emissions: 143g/km Fuel consumption: 47.1mpg
ambient lighting which glowed in the footwell and highlighted the Civic branding on the footplate. There is a green eco button which the driver can disengage to prevent auto stop-start kicking in, the hazard lights are operated from a usefully large red button and the intelligent multi information display glows blue. This car of many colours is a design inspiration. The road test car had optional red leather seats with a white exterior pearlescent coat and 18” Krypton wheels. So plenty to look at and the entertainment continues, with the excellent performance and handling of this ninth generation Civic. There are three engines to choose from, a 1.4 and 1.8 litre petrol and 2.2 litre diesel. I was disappointed in the
torque of the 1.8 litre petrol engine, particularly on driving up steep hills. Luckily there is the bonus of Hill Start Assist. I would opt for the 2.2 litre diesel which has much better combined mpg figures and CO2 emissions of just 110g/km and reaches 62mph in just 8.5 seconds. Honda says visibility has improved over the
Civic’s predecessor and has lowered the rear window bar, fitted a wiper and a heated lower rear screen, but rear vision is still slightly compromised. Ride comfort with a new suspension design is
comfortable but firm. One of the great interior features is the rear parking camera. The screen shows very defined and clear full colour features when reverse is engaged. With its contemporary design, luxury interior
features and fun to drive performance and handling, the colourful Honda Civic is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of driver and passengers, no matter how long the journey!
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