Chiltern MK5s Starting 2026 (non speculative updates thread)

[MerlinRail 804]

There’s a few changes to the 68 diagrams coming this December. It’s a bit weird working out the diagrams as the platform plan seems a bit contradictory at times, but here are the changes:

• 1H17 0715 BMO - MYB 0913 is now not 68 hauled
• 1R17 0902 MYB - BMO 1105 is still down as 68 hauled but seems to form from what is currently an 8 coach pair of 168s and then seems to later form another 168 service (1G39 1436), so I’m gonna guess that’s a 168
• 1H25 0815 BMO - MYB 1022 is now 68 hauled
• 1R25 1102 MYB - BMO 1305 is now 68 hauled
• 1H48 1345 BMO - MYB is now 68 hauled
• 1J49 1707 to SBJ is now 1J47 @ 1637
• 1J53 1807 to SBJ is now 1J55 @ 1837

 

[Yorkshire09876]

Aren't the Mk 3 leases expiring in March 2026, hence why initially just a like for like replacement with Mk 5 and the full Mk 5 fleet in by December 2026?

That's when they are due a major exam, isn't it?

The Mk3 sets belong to Arriva, so contract end dates aren't really going to apply.

 

[CR165022]

There’s a few changes to the 68 diagrams coming this December. It’s a bit weird working out the diagrams as the platform plan seems a bit contradictory at times, but here are the changes:

It appears that 1R14/1H33 will be a 68 instead of 1R17/1H41, which does appear to be a 168 instead despite what it's pathed as.

 

[43096]

The Mk3 sets belong to Arriva, so contract end dates aren't really going to apply.

That's not the case. Contract end dates absolutely do apply. Just because it is an internal Arriva transaction, there is still an end date - don't forget this is ultimately controlled by DfT.

 

[Chilternblue]

I am up to date with the class 68 and mark 5a moves up until post 193, can anyone please help with the following movements.
Monday 18/8 5Q69 0943 Eastleigh TMD to Banbury Depot.
Monday 18/8 5Q86 1608 Banbury Depot to Eastleigh TMD.
Tuesday 19/8 5Q69 0943 Eastleigh
TMD to Banbury Depot.
and finally if/when it runs
Tuesday 19/8 5Q86 1608 Banbury
Depot to Eastleigh TMD.

Sorry for the lengthy list, as always
many thanks in advance.

 

[ls2270]

I am up to date with the class 68 and mark 5a moves up until post 193, can anyone please help with the following movements.
Monday 18/8 5Q69 0943 Eastleigh TMD to Banbury Depot.
Monday 18/8 5Q86 1608 Banbury Depot to Eastleigh TMD.
Tuesday 19/8 5Q69 0943 Eastleigh
TMD to Banbury Depot.
and finally if/when it runs
Tuesday 19/8 5Q86 1608 Banbury
Depot to Eastleigh TMD.

Sorry for the lengthy list, as always
many thanks in advance.

68032 and set CH13 on all of the above!

 

[Chilternblue]

Thank you very much.

 

[nigelsporne]

Does anyone know where, of the remaining Mk5 sets, which sets are where? I assume they are either at Longsight or Long Marston.
Will Banbury become the focal point for the units or is this just a temporary stopgap until the MK3s have gone?

 

[PLY2AYS]

The video states that Chiltern will be taking all 13 units from TPE. Does this include the spare DVT?

Just a thought; it may be used for locos to go to Aylebury depot for tyre turning, unless there’s an alternative location for that to happen.

 

[43096]

Just a thought; it may be used for locos to go to Aylebury depot for tyre turning, unless there’s an alternative location for that to happen.

Why would a spare driving trailer be of any use for that? Just send the locos light engine!

You can't couple the spare DTS to a loco anyway as the DTS has bar couplers (or whatever is used within a Mark 5 set) - buffers only at the outer end of the set.

 

[PLY2AYS]

Why would a spare driving trailer be of any use for that? Just send the locos light engine!

You can't couple the spare DTS to a loco anyway as the DTS has bar couplers (or whatever is used within a Mark 5 set) - buffers only at the outer end of the set.

Very good point; I hadn’t really thought it through. Just knew that the 68s at present, always go to tyre turning with a DVT end attached.

 

[warwickshire]

Does anyone know where, of the remaining Mk5 sets, which sets are where? I assume they are either at Longsight or Long Marston.
Will Banbury become the focal point for the units or is this just a temporary stopgap until the MK3s have gone?

We have, as of Tuesday 19th August 2025,

Wolverton CHO1 since October 2023, undergoing repairs,
Banbury CH12
Eastleigh set CH13, CH05, CH02
Longsight set CH10,
Long Marston CH03,CH04,CH06, CH07,CH09, CH11. DT12802,
Crewe South Yard CH08,
Nb CH08, was meant to have gone back to Long Marston, but didn't, probably CH08, will be Eastleigh bound, maybe due to last minute changes, over which sets should go to Eastleigh, first, rather than last,

Probably Eastleigh, Stourbridge, Banbury, Wembley, will be the main focal points, as units will need stabling, in the main, for staff training and above all to rotate the units around properly in public service, staff training and mileage acculmation runs, as they build up to full introduction for December 2026, so are fault free as possible, unlike with Transpennine, when between running duties they went into store for long periods and Transpennine, wondered why, they always failed.

 

[172007]

Eastleigh to Banbury move today setup this morning.

Realtime Trains | 5Q69 0943 Eastleigh Trsmd to Banbury Depot | 20/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q69 0943 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Banbury Depot on 20/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There is a move tomorrow for Banbury to Doncaster and what appears to be it returning straight back.

Realtime Trains | 5Q23 0809 Banbury Depot to Doncaster Works Wagn Shops | 21/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q23 0809 departure from Banbury Depot to Doncaster Works Wagn Shops on 21/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q69 1247 Doncaster Works Wagn Shops to Banbury Depot | 21/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q69 1247 departure from Doncaster Works Wagn Shops to Banbury Depot on 21/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[CR165022]

Eastleigh to Banbury move today setup this morning.

Realtime Trains | 5Q69 0943 Eastleigh Trsmd to Banbury Depot | 20/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q69 0943 departure from Eastleigh Trsmd to Banbury Depot on 20/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There is a move tomorrow for Banbury to Doncaster and what appears to be it returning straight back.

Realtime Trains | 5Q23 0809 Banbury Depot to Doncaster Works Wagn Shops | 21/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q23 0809 departure from Banbury Depot to Doncaster Works Wagn Shops on 21/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q69 1247 Doncaster Works Wagn Shops to Banbury Depot | 21/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q69 1247 departure from Doncaster Works Wagn Shops to Banbury Depot on 21/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Those Doncaster moves will be 165s, one of them is going and 165038 will be coming back.

 

[nigelsporne]

Thank you all.

 

[Covshire1]

We have, as of Tuesday 19th August 2025,

Wolverton CHO1 since October 2023, undergoing repairs,
Banbury CH12
Eastleigh set CH13, CH05, CH02
Longsight set CH10,
Long Marston CH03,CH04,CH06, CH07,CH09, CH11. DT12802,
Crewe South Yard CH08,
Nb CH08, was meant to have gone back to Long Marston, but didn't, probably CH08, will be Eastleigh bound, maybe due to last minute changes, over which sets should go to Eastleigh, first, rather than last,

Probably Eastleigh, Stourbridge, Banbury, Wembley, will be the main focal points, as units will need stabling, in the main, for staff training and above all to rotate the units around properly in public service, staff training and mileage acculmation runs, as they build up to full introduction for December 2026, so are fault free as possible, unlike with Transpennine, when between running duties they went into store for long periods and Transpennine, wondered why, they always failed.

It was reported that both CH08 + CH11 moved to Crewe South Yard on 24/07/25 behind 68023 as 5Q42 0857 Longsight T.M.D. (D) to Crewe South Yard. Wasn't that actually the case?

 

[warwickshire]

It was reported that both CH08 + CH11 moved to Crewe South Yard on 24/07/25 behind 68023 as 5Q42 0857 Longsight T.M.D. (D) to Crewe South Yard. Wasn't that actually the case?

If CH11, was involved, than apologies, I know CHO8 most certainly went,

However Wednesday 20th August 2025, saw Mainline testing begin and driver Training runs on Chiltern Mainline between Birmingham Moor Street and Bicester North, means that CH12 and 68022 the recent Banbury set, will also be involved with overnight stays at Stourbridge junction depot as well, timings of test runs, at least for the rest of this week are in website old rail record and the realtime trains websites,
to keep a eye on, as mk5 testing moves progress forward to the full December 2026 timetable change to catch the full sets in action

 

[D6700]

From passing on a Manchester to Cardiff train early this afternoon, I could see a 2 Mk5A sets and an ex TPE 68 in Crewe South Yard.

 

[sjpowermac]

From passing on a Manchester to Cardiff train early this afternoon, I could see a 2 Mk5A sets and an ex TPE 68 in Crewe South Yard.

68025 is at Crewe South Yard

 

[Ju135]

Very good point; I hadn’t really thought it through. Just knew that the 68s at present, always go to tyre turning with a DVT end attached.

Only the Mk3 carriages and DVTs go for tyre turning at Aylesbury. DRS deals directly with the 68s.

 

[FrontSideBus]

Test runs already? They certainly are not hanging about!

 

[nigelsporne]

With the imminent arrival of the additional stock will Chiltern have enough siding space to accommodate it all?

 

[Harpo]

With the imminent arrival of the additional stock will Chiltern have enough siding space to accommodate it all?

Once all mk5s are in use, I’d not assume Chiltern will have more rolling stock than now.

 

[Goldfish62]

Once all mk5s are in use, I’d not assume Chiltern will have more rolling stock than now.

With doubling of the Marylebone - Birmingham frequency and strengthening of the Oxford line formations I don't see how there couldn't be more stock, unless of course you're counting the one less coach in the Mk5 formations compared to the Mk3 formations.

 

[Wyrleybart]

With doubling of the Marylebone - Birmingham frequency and strengthening of the Oxford line formations I don't see how there couldn't be more stock, unless of course you're counting the one less coach in the Mk5 formations compared to the Mk3 formations.

Maths alone, 13 x 5 car Mk5 sets replaces 4 x 6 car Mk3 as well as their 4 DVTs.

 

[Harpo]

Maths alone, 13 x 5 car Mk5 sets replaces 4 x 6 car Mk3 as well as their 4 DVTs.

On LHS yes, it’s an increase. What has yet to be said is how many DMU vehicles Chiltern will lose.

DfT isn’t exactly renowned for any sense of greater good.

 

[150219]

On LHS yes, it’s an increase. What has yet to be said is how many DMU vehicles Chiltern will lose.

DfT isn’t exactly renowned for any sense of greater good.

Why would you be expecting that?

 

[matt]

Just a reminder that this thread is to discuss the Mark 5 fleet, not to speculate on the rest of the Chiltern fleet.

 

[Mogz]

One criticism that has been levelled at the Mark 5A stock (as opposed to the Mark 5 stock used by the Caledonian Sleepers) is the lack of flexibility.

Unlike the Caledonian Mark 5s, the 5As are a fixed formation- basically an unpowered unit onto which can be coupled an electric or diesel loco.

I’m informed that one cannot produce a ten car set by sandwiching a loco between two sets of coaches with DVTs at both ends, but I do wonder whether would it be possible to create a ten car train in some other way with these when needed, perhaps coupled DVT to DVT and with the locos top and tailed?

Or alternatively coupling two sets together one after the other (ie “68 - trailers - DVT - 68 - trailers - DVT” or vice versa)?

Does anyone know for sure?

Seems a tad inflexible if not, given the 168 units with their 2, 3 and 4 car formations can be coupled together in multiple in more or less any permutation from 2-10 cars!

 

[67018]

One criticism that has been levelled at the Mark 5A stock (as opposed to the Mark 5 stock used by the Caledonian Sleepers) is the lack of flexibility.

Unlike the Caledonian Mark 5s, the 5As are a fixed formation- basically an unpowered unit onto which can be coupled an electric or diesel loco.

I’m informed that one cannot produce a ten car set by sandwiching a loco between two sets of coaches with DVTs at both ends, but I do wonder whether would it be possible to create a ten car train in some other way with these when needed, perhaps coupled DVT to DVT and with the locos top and tailed?

Or alternatively coupling two sets together one after the other (ie “68 - trailers - DVT - 68 - trailers - DVT” or vice versa)?

Does anyone know for sure?

Seems a tad inflexible if not, given the 168 units with their 2, 3 and 4 car formations can be coupled together in multiple in more or less any permutation from 2-10 cars!

I'd have thought that a more significant constraint would be whether a 10-car set would fit on the platforms. There was a programme to extend some of the platforms to accommodate 9 a few years ago although in practice I don't think I've ever seen more than 8. 10 seems like overkill, I'll just be happy if they can eliminate 2-car services!