Chiltern MK5s Starting 2026 (non speculative updates thread)

Jacob Porrett · 16 Oct 2025

XCTurbostar said:
The livery is growing on me, depending on whether Chiltern decide to run the lighter blue on both ends, this will help its appeal, IMO.

I've recieved a few messages recently about what the normal diagrams are for the Mk3s/68s. The below are the planned diagrams;

Mondays and Fridays

Set 1 Stourbridge Depot > 5R17 > 1H17 > 1R21 > 1H45 > 1J49 > 5J49 > Stourbridge Depot
Set 2 Stourbridge Depot > 5J14 > 1H14 > 1R17 > 1H41 > 5E37 > Wembley LMD
Set 3 Wembley LMD > 5O60 > 1J53 > 5J53 > Stourbridge Depot

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays

Set 1 Stourbridge Depot > 5R17 > 1H17 > 1R21 > 1H45 > 1J49 > 5J49 > Stourbridge Depot
Set 2 Stourbridge Depot > 5J14 > 1H14 > 1R17 > 1H41 > 5E37 > Wembley LMD > 5O55 > 1P51 > 5H68 > 5E60 > Wembley LMD
Set 3 Wembley LMD > 5P05 > 1H10 > 5Y14 > Wembley LMD
Set 4 Wembley LMD > 5P08 > 1H12 > 5E16 > Wembley LMD > 5O62 > 1J53 > 5J53 > Stourbridge Depot

Note: Princes Risborough services are currently unreliable as it relies on using 4/4 Mk3 sets.

Saturdays

Set 1 Stourbridge Depot > 5J27 > 1H27 > 1R29 > 1H54 > 1J53 > 5J53 > Stourbridge Depot
Set 2 Stourbridge Depot > 5R17 > 1H17 > 5E20 > Wembley LMD > 5O66 > 1J59 > 5J59 > Stourbridge Depot

Sundays

Set 1 Stourbridge Depot > 5J31 > 1H31 > 5Y30 > Wembley LMD > 5O64 > 1J55 > 5J55 > Stourbridge Depot
Set 2 Stourbridge Depot > 5J35 > 1H35 > London Marylebone (4 Hours) > 1J52 > 5J52 > Stourbridge Depot

I was on a Princess Risborough diagram the other week when they swapped 014 for 012. I was disappointed when that happened. Is 014 still with DRS at the moment?

RailUK Forums

XCTurbostar · 16 Oct 2025

Correct, it is on an exam.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Oct 2025 ==

Friday 17th October
Mk5s Movements
68031 - Loughborough > 0V94 (LE) > Long Marston then ~~5Q86~~ STP 5Q86 to Eastleigh with CH06
68019? - Longsight > 0B42 (LE) > Crewe Gresty Bridge

68032 and CH13 - Wembley LMD > 3U21 > Banbury Depot
68022 and CH12 - Banbury Depot > 3H24 > 3E25 > Wembley LMD

Passenger Mk3s
68015 and AL03 - Stourbridge Depot > 5R17 > 1H17 > 1R21 > 1H45 > 1J49 > 5J49 > Stourbridge Depot
68010 and AL01 - Stourbridge Depot > 5J14 > 1H14 > 1R17 > 1H41 > 5E37 > Wembley LMD > 5O60 > 1J53 > 5J53 > Stourbridge Depot

Class 68s

Loco	Pool	Use with fleet	Status/Location	Notes
68008	XHCS	MK3s only	DRS use	DRS Branded
68009	XHCS	MK3s only	In Traffic	DRS Branded
68010	XHCE	MK3s only	In Traffic
68011	XHCE	MK3s only	DRS use
68012	XHCE	MK3s only	Wembley LMD
68013	XHCE	MK3s only	In Traffic
68014	XHCE	MK3s only	DRS use
68015	XHCE	MK3s only	In Traffic
68019	XHTP	MK5s only	Longsight Depot
68020	MBDL	MK5s only	Stourbridge Depot	Light Blue on Number 2 End
68021	XHTP	MK5s only	Carlisle Kingmoor
68022	MBDL	MK5s only	Wembley LMD	Light Blue on Number 1 End
68023	XHTP	MK5s only	Longsight Depot
68024	XHTP	MK5s only	Motherwell
68025	XHTP	MK5s only	Carlisle Kingmoor
68026	MBDL	MK5s only	Eastleigh
68027	MBDL	MK5s only	Loughborough Brush
68028	MBDL	MK5s only	Banbury Depot
68029	MBDL	MK5s only	Eastleigh
68030	MBDL	MK5s only	Eastleigh
68031	MBDL	MK5s only	Eastleigh	Recently repaired at Loughborough
68032	MBDL	MK5s only	Banbury Depot	Light Blue on Number 2 End

XHCS (DRS Chiltern Railways Support)
XHCE (DRS Chiltern Railways Standard)
MBDL (Chiltern Railways Holding Pool)
XHTP (DRS TransPennine Express)

Key

Grey	indicates 'Silver Set' livery
Red	indicates re-vinyled 'Blue Stripes' livery
Blue	indicates DRS blue unbranded or Compass blue livery
Green	indicates 68014's 'Greener Future' livery

Correct as of 17/10/2025

Current coaching formations

MK3s 'Silver Sets' sets

Set	DVT	RFM	TSO	TSO	TSO	TSO	TSO
AL01	82304	10272	12609	12606	12610	12621	12602
AL02	82301	10273	12613	12605	12608	12615	12616
AL03	82305	10274	12625	12604	12617	12620
AL04	82309	10271	12607	12614	12603	12619	12618

DVT - Driving Van Trailer
RFM - Restaurant First Modular
TSO - Trailer Standard Open

Correct as of 13/10/2025

MK5s 'Blue Stripe' sets

Set	DT	TOS	TOS	TOS	TOF	Location	Notes
CH01	12801	12703	12702	12701	11501	Wolverton Works
CH02	12814	12706	12705	12704	11502	Eastleigh
CH03	12803	12709	12708	12707	11503	Longsight Depot
CH04	12804	12712	12711	12710	11504	Eastleigh
CH05	12805	12715	12714	12713	11505	Stourbridge Depot
CH06	12806	12718	12717	12716	11506	Eastleigh	Recently transferred from Long Marston
CH07	12807	12721	12720	12719	11507	Eastleigh
CH08	12808	12724	12723	12722	11508	Longsight Depot
CH09	12809	12727	12726	12725	11509	Long Marston
CH10	12810	12730	12729	12728	11510	Eastleigh
CH11	12811	12733	12732	12731	11511	Longsight Depot
CH12	12812	12736	12735	12734	11512	Wembley LMD
CH13	12813	12739	12738	12737	11513	Banbury Depot
Spare	12802					Long Marston

DT - Driving Trailer (Standard)
TOF - Trailer Open First
TOS - Trailer Open Standard

Key

Red	indicates re-vinyled 'Blue Stripes' sets
Black	indicates Grey unbranded sets

Correct as of 13/10/2025

Revinyl Order
CH05 - Released from Eastleigh with 68020 - 25/09/2025
CH13 - Released from Eastleigh with 68032 - 29/09/2025
CH10 - Released from Eastleigh with 68030 - 06/10/2025
CH12 - Released from Eastleigh with 68022 - 13/10/2025

PLY2AYS · 17 Oct 2025

Jacob Porrett said:
I was on a Princess Risborough diagram the other week when they swapped 014 for 012. I was disappointed when that happened. Is 014 still with DRS at the moment?

Is that the one you have to take up empties?

XCTurbostar said:
Other details to be added..

One of the 68s (I think it’s 012 the same mentioned above; named after Amy Owen) is sat at Wembley with a chunk taken out of the front facia. Guessing it’s damage from a collision with something…
Asked about in Marylebone mess room and no one seemed to know this afternoon, hoping someone might know on here instead!

Jacob Porrett · 17 Oct 2025

PLY2AYS said:
Is that the one you have to take up empties?

One of the 68s (I think it’s 012 the same mentioned above; named after Amy Owen) is sat at Wembley with a chunk taken out of the front facia. Guessing it’s damage from a collision with something…
Asked about in Marylebone mess room and no one seemed to know this afternoon, hoping someone might know on here instead!

It came from Wembley depot then did one service up to Princess Risborough then empty back to Marylebone then empty to Wembley depot.

PLY2AYS · 17 Oct 2025

Jacob Porrett said:
It came from Wembley depot then did one service up to Princess Risborough then empty back to Marylebone then empty to Wembley depot.

I do realise I’m distracting away from the topic; but I’ve always wondered what loco link diagrams look like! Never bothered to ask… the intrusive thought of changing depots to MYB does occur occasionally! Especially now with the Mk5s

Pippy1505 · 17 Oct 2025

XCTurbostar said:
Correct, it is on an exam.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Oct 2025 ==

Friday 17th October
Mk5s Movements
68027 or 68031 - Loughborough > 0V94 (LE) > Long Marston then 5Q86 to Eastleigh with CH06 and or CH09

68019 or 68023 - Longsight > 0B42 (LE) > Crewe Gresty Bridge

Other details to be added..

68031 on 0V94

XCTurbostar · 17 Oct 2025

PLY2AYS said:
Is that the one you have to take up empties?

One of the 68s (I think it’s 012 the same mentioned above; named after Amy Owen) is sat at Wembley with a chunk taken out of the front facia. Guessing it’s damage from a collision with something…
Asked about in Marylebone mess room and no one seemed to know this afternoon, hoping someone might know on here instead!

I assume its in relation to an incident at Gerrards Cross - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:G02001/2025-10-16/detailed#allox_id=2

1Z99 was dispatched from Wembley LMD yesterday to assist.

dooton · 17 Oct 2025

XCTurbostar said:
I assume its in relation to an incident at Gerrards Cross - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:G02001/2025-10-16/detailed#allox_id=2

1Z99 was dispatched from Wembley LMD yesterday to assist.

68009 failed at GER with an engine fault. Not related to 68012.

XCTurbostar · 17 Oct 2025

dooton said:
68009 failed at GER with an engine fault. Not related to 68012.

Many thanks for the clarification. It looks like 68012 was the rescue loco (according to RTT)

CR165022 · 18 Oct 2025

168002 vice 68 set on 1J59 tonight.

PLY2AYS · 20 Oct 2025

Whichever set is at Wembley has the light blue end of the loco leading (hard to get a unit number when speeding past at 75, will try and keep an eye out on my return leg, but I imagine it’ll be out already by then!)

*EDIT: confirmed to be unit 022

MerlinRail 804 · 20 Oct 2025

Are they doing all the regular maintenance at Eastleigh or just the more hefty stuff?

XCTurbostar · 21 Oct 2025

Tuesday 21st October
Driver Training Mk5s
68022 and CH12 - Wembley LMD > 3U20 > 3H22 > 3N26 > 3H27 > 3E28 > Wembley LMD
37608 and CH09 - Long Marston > 5Q86 > Eastleigh

Passenger Mk3s
68010 and AL01 - Stourbridge Depot > 5R17 > 1H17 > 1R21 > 1H45 > 1J49 > 5J49 > Stourbridge Depot
68015 and AL03 - Stourbridge Depot > 5J14 > 1H14 > 1R17 > 1H41 > 5E37 > Wembley LMD
68013 and AL04 - Wembley LMD > 5P05 > 1H10 > 5Y14 > Wembley LMD > 5O55 > 1P51 > 5H68 > 5E60 > Wembley LMD
68014 and AL02 - Wembley LMD > 5P08 > 1H12 > 5E16 > Wembley LMD > 5O62 > 1J53 > 5J53 > Stourbridge Depot

Class 68s

Loco	Pool	Use with fleet	Status/Location	Notes
68008	XHCS	MK3s only	DRS use	DRS Branded
68009	XHCS	MK3s only	DRS use	DRS Branded
68010	XHCE	MK3s only	In Traffic
68011	XHCE	MK3s only	DRS use
68012	XHCE	MK3s only	DRS use
68013	XHCE	MK3s only	In Traffic
68014	XHCE	MK3s only	In Traffic
68015	XHCE	MK3s only	In Traffic
68018	XHVE	None	Carlisle Kingmoor	DRS Branded - Thunderbird
68019	XHTP	MK5s only	Crewe Gresty Bridge
68020	MBDL	MK5s only	Stourbridge Depot	Light Blue on Number 2 End
68021	XHTP	MK5s only	Carlisle Kingmoor
68022	MBDL	MK5s only	Wembley LMD	Light Blue on Number 1 End
68023	XHTP	MK5s only	Longsight Depot
68024	XHTP	MK5s only	Motherwell
68025	XHTP	MK5s only	Carlisle Kingmoor
68026	MBDL	MK5s only	Eastleigh
68027	MBDL	MK5s only	Loughborough Brush
68028	MBDL	MK5s only	Banbury Depot
68029	MBDL	MK5s only	Eastleigh
68030	MBDL	MK5s only	Eastleigh
68031	MBDL	MK5s only	Eastleigh
68032	MBDL	MK5s only	Banbury Depot	Light Blue on Number 2 End

XHCS (DRS Chiltern Railways Support)
XHCE (DRS Chiltern Railways Standard)
XHVE (DRS Crewe Gresty Bridge Depot)
MBDL (Chiltern Railways Holding Pool)
XHTP (DRS TransPennine Express)

Key

Grey	indicates 'Silver Set' livery
Red	indicates re-vinyled 'Blue Stripes' livery
Blue	indicates DRS blue unbranded or Compass blue livery
Green	indicates 68014's 'Greener Future' livery

Correct as of 21/10/2025

Current coaching formations

MK3s 'Silver Sets' sets

Set	DVT	RFM	TSO	TSO	TSO	TSO	TSO
AL01	82304	10272	12609	12606	12610	12621	12602
AL02	82301	10273	12613	12605	12608	12615	12616
AL03	82305	10274	12625	12604	12617	12620
AL04	82309	10271	12607	12614	12603	12619	12618

DVT - Driving Van Trailer
RFM - Restaurant First Modular
TSO - Trailer Standard Open

Correct as of 13/10/2025

MK5s 'Blue Stripe' sets

Set	DT	TOS	TOS	TOS	TOF	Location	Notes
CH01	12801	12703	12702	12701	11501	Wolverton Works
CH02	12814	12706	12705	12704	11502	Eastleigh
CH03	12803	12709	12708	12707	11503	Longsight Depot
CH04	12804	12712	12711	12710	11504	Eastleigh
CH05	12805	12715	12714	12713	11505	Stourbridge Depot
CH06	12806	12718	12717	12716	11506	Eastleigh
CH07	12807	12721	12720	12719	11507	Eastleigh
CH08	12808	12724	12723	12722	11508	Longsight Depot
CH09	12809	12727	12726	12725	11509	Eastleigh
CH10	12810	12730	12729	12728	11510	Eastleigh
CH11	12811	12733	12732	12731	11511	Longsight Depot
CH12	12812	12736	12735	12734	11512	Banbury Depot
CH13	12813	12739	12738	12737	11513	Wembley LMD
Spare	12802					Long Marston

DT - Driving Trailer (Standard)
TOF - Trailer Open First
TOS - Trailer Open Standard

Key

Red	indicates re-vinyled 'Blue Stripes' sets
Black	indicates Grey unbranded sets

Correct as of 13/10/2025

Revinyl Order
CH05 - Released from Eastleigh with 68020 - 25/09/2025
CH13 - Released from Eastleigh with 68032 - 29/09/2025
CH10 - Released from Eastleigh with 68030 - 06/10/2025
CH12 - Released from Eastleigh with 68022 - 13/10/2025

Mogz · 21 Oct 2025

Kite159 said:
For the DfT civil servants from High Wycombe who demanded the return of first class, the rest of the time it will carry fresh air whilst standard class passengers are crammed into a mere 4 standard class coaches.

I would hope that, as the Chiltern First-Class offering is to be an on-train upgrade, paid to the guard, it will be “priced to sell”.

I would be inclined to pay an extra £10 or £20 if I had a lot of work to do and needed a seat/table for the 1hr+ journey, but if the price is silly money like an Avanti or LNER peak time walk-up fare, then you may be right.

I wonder if they will be available on Seat Frog?

Given the Standard Class seats are fairly ubiquitous across the network, I imagine that once it’s all GBR again, they could be retro-fitted with standard seats if First Class proved a dead duck?

Perhaps as an “all-airline style” coach to mitigate the abundance of tables for whose who don’t like them, rather like how Avanti introduced an (almost) all-tables coach on the Voyagers which made up for the shortage of tables in the sets as delivered?

FrontSideBus · 21 Oct 2025

I think many people who are used to the IC70's on the Mk3's will be willing to upgrade to first when they sample the new standard seats on their new trains!

XCTurbostar · 21 Oct 2025

Chiltern steps up work on new Class 68 fleet ready for 2026 entry

https://www.railmagazine.com/news/chiltern-steps-up-work-on-new-class-68s-fleet-ready-for-2026-entry

Chiltern Railways has expanded on its plans for Class 68s over the next few months.
The operator is replacing its ageing Mk 3s with Mk 5A stock on the Marylebone-Birmingham Moor Street/Stourbridge Junction route during 2026.
The 14 Beacon Rail locomotives that had been modified for use with the CAF coaches (68019-032) are currently being transferred. So far, 68020/022/032 have been re-vinyled (by Aura Graphics at Eastleigh) in the new Chiltern two-tone blue livery.
Of the rest of the fleet, 68019/023/026/028-030 have also been actively involved in crew training, 68027/031 are being worked on at the UK Rail Leasing site at Loughborough to allow them to return to use, while 68021/024/025 are still at Direct Rail Services depots - Carlisle Kingmoor, Motherwell and Crewe Coal Yard respectively.

DRS will be relinquishing its lease on 68018, and it will return to Beacon Rail and be directly leased by CR and reliveried. However, it will only be deployed as a thunderbird locomotive as it will not be modified to work with the rolling stock.
The CR ‘68s’, which will also all run on HVO (hydro-treated vegetable oil), are also undergoing some modifications.
As well as featuring stop-start technology which shuts down the engine after a prolonged period of idling, they also have noise insulation and baffles for when they are idling.
To overcome the noise issues that Scarborough residents experienced when ‘68s’ were in use with TransPennine Express, a new shore supply is being installed at Stourbridge Junction, in readiness for the December 2026 timetable when three sets will stable there overnight. This will allow the ‘68s’ to be shut down immediately on arrival.
CR may also take on a fourth siding here, to enable an additional set to stable. Up to four sets will stable at Banbury, and another four at Wembley.

Ten sets a day will be in use, with one spare and two undergoing maintenance. Maintenance on the fleet is currently managed by Beacon and contracted out to Arriva Traincare until December 2026.
Four sets are needed for March 2026 when Mk 3s go off lease, but CR could have up to six ready by then.
It is likely Mk 5As could be introduced in late January or early February, providing sufficient crews are trained on their operation.

Update from Rail Magazine. Confirmation that 68018 will also be joining the fleet as a thunderbird only.

LowLevel · 21 Oct 2025

FrontSideBus said:
I think many people who are used to the IC70's on the Mk3's will be willing to upgrade to first when they sample the new standard seats on their new trains!

Not so sure about that - IC70 have always been marmite seats, generally due to the fixed arm rests. The modern interior will I suspect eclipse any concern about the seats on relatively short journeys.

A60stock · 21 Oct 2025

Why are the Class 68 locos being replaced with..................class 68 locos?

CyrusWuff · 21 Oct 2025

A60stock said:
Why are the Class 68 locos being replaced with..................class 68 locos?

Because the current 68s are setup to work with the Chiltern Mk3s and DVTs, which were modified to use AAR (Association of American Railroads) multiple working for use with the 67s in Wrexham & Shropshire days. I think they can still work with traditional TDM (time division multiplex) fitted locos though.

Meanwhile, the ex-TPE 68s are fitted with extra kit to work with the Mk5As and DTs, including door controls in the cab.

LowLevel · 21 Oct 2025

A60stock said:
Why are the Class 68 locos being replaced with..................class 68 locos?

The ones that work with the Mk5a coaches have different equipment to allow them to work with those coaches.

XCTurbostar · 21 Oct 2025

It’s also worth noting that all the Mk3s are owned by Arriva. The current silver 68s are subleased from DRS but owned by Beacon Rail.
The new 68s will be leased from Beacon Rail and the Mk5s are all owned by Beacon Rail.
DRS effectively ceases to have any involvement in Chiltern.

FrontSideBus · 21 Oct 2025

LowLevel said:
Not so sure about that - IC70 have always been marmite seats, generally due to the fixed arm rests. The modern interior will I suspect eclipse any concern about the seats on relatively short journeys.

I dunno, I think moveable armrests will be the last thing on your mind when you are going from a well padded seat with plenty of recline which allows you to sit back and enjoy the ride to a seat which is very firm and with a seatback that forces you to sit bolt upright. What compounds the problem is going from the smooth riding Mk3 to the bone shaking Mk5a!
They got the ride quality so right back in the seventies... how come few manage to equal it today?

I like how on some press releases, they make the point of saying that Chiltern has got rid of their old diesel engines and replaced them with new ones that burn cleaner HVO.....

wickham · 21 Oct 2025

There is a 5Q86 1115 Long Marston to Eastleigh Arlington running today (21.10.25): Anyone know what is being conveyed ?
By the look of the table in the post above, CH09 seems to be the only set at Long Marston, but where has the loco come from and what is it.

alanc · 21 Oct 2025

37608 0n 5Q86 Long Marston to Eastleigh with Mark 5 set - assumed to be CH09 ??
Happy to be corrected - passed at line speed...
Alan

warwickshire · 21 Oct 2025

alanc said:
37608 0n 5Q86 Long Marston to Eastleigh with Mark 5 set - assumed to be CH09 ??
Happy to be corrected - passed at line speed...
Alan

Confirmed at Lapworth Warwickshire at 1445 hours it was 37608 with set CH09 unbranded.

Peter Sarf · 21 Oct 2025

alanc said:
37608 0n 5Q86 Long Marston to Eastleigh with Mark 5 set - assumed to be CH09 ??
Happy to be corrected - passed at line speed...
Alan

That would just leave the "spare" Driving Trailer 12802 at Long Marston I believe ?.

alanc · 21 Oct 2025

wickham said:
There is a 5Q86 1115 Long Marston to Eastleigh Arlington running today (21.10.25): Anyone know what is being conveyed ?
By the look of the table in the post above, CH09 seems to be the only set at Long Marston, but where has the loco come from and what is it.

37608 - came from Derby earlier

warwickshire · 21 Oct 2025

Peter Sarf said:
That would just leave the "spare" Driving Trailer 12802 at Long Marston I believe ?.

Yes, at the moment.

ScottGallagher · 21 Oct 2025

I'm guessing the TPE interior stays the same just with a steam clean?

XCTurbostar · 21 Oct 2025

warwickshire said:
Confirmed at Lapworth Warwickshire at 1445 hours it was 37608 with set CH09 unbranded.

Thanks, I’ve updated my post for historical reference.

Peter Sarf said:
That would just leave the "spare" Driving Trailer 12802 at Long Marston I believe ?.

Correct.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Oct 2025 ==

Thursday 23rd October
Driver Training Mk5s
68020 and CH05 - Stourbridge Depot > 3N01 > 3T04 > Stourbridge Depot

Appears to be an allocation error as all 4 sets are used - 3N07

Passenger Mk3s
68015 and AL03 - Stourbridge Depot > 5R17 > 1H17 > 1R21 > 1H45 > 1J49 > 5J49 > Stourbridge Depot
68014 and AL02 - Stourbridge Depot > 5J14 > 1H14 > 1R17 > 1H41 > 5E37 > Wembley LMD
68010 and AL01 - Wembley LMD > 5P05 > 1H10 > 5Y14 > Wembley LMD > 5O55 > 1P51 > 5H68 > 5E60 > Wembley LMD
68013 and AL04 - Wembley LMD > 5P08 > 1H12 > 5E16 > Wembley LMD > 5O62 > 1J53 > 5J53 > Stourbridge Depot

Class 68s

Loco	Pool	Use with fleet	Status/Location	Notes
68008	XHCS	MK3s only	DRS use	DRS Branded
68009	XHCS	MK3s only	DRS use	DRS Branded
68010	XHCE	MK3s only	In Traffic
68011	XHCE	MK3s only	DRS use
68012	XHCE	MK3s only	DRS use
68013	XHCE	MK3s only	In Traffic
68014	XHCE	MK3s only	In Traffic
68015	XHCE	MK3s only	In Traffic
68018	XHVE	None	Carlisle Kingmoor	DRS Branded - Thunderbird
68019	XHTP	MK5s only	Crewe Gresty Bridge
68020	MBDL	MK5s only	In Traffic	Light Blue on Number 2 End
68021	XHTP	MK5s only	Carlisle Kingmoor
68022	MBDL	MK5s only	Wembley LMD	Light Blue on Number 1 End
68023	XHTP	MK5s only	Longsight Depot
68024	XHTP	MK5s only	Motherwell
68025	XHTP	MK5s only	Carlisle Kingmoor
68026	MBDL	MK5s only	Eastleigh
68027	MBDL	MK5s only	Loughborough Brush
68028	MBDL	MK5s only	Banbury Depot
68029	MBDL	MK5s only	Eastleigh
68030	MBDL	MK5s only	Eastleigh
68031	MBDL	MK5s only	Eastleigh
68032	MBDL	MK5s only	Banbury Depot	Light Blue on Number 2 End

XHCS (DRS Chiltern Railways Support)
XHCE (DRS Chiltern Railways Standard)
XHVE (DRS Crewe Gresty Bridge Depot)
MBDL (Chiltern Railways Holding Pool)
XHTP (DRS TransPennine Express)

Key

Grey	indicates 'Silver Set' livery
Red	indicates re-vinyled 'Blue Stripes' livery
Blue	indicates DRS blue unbranded or Compass blue livery
Green	indicates 68014's 'Greener Future' livery

Correct as of 21/10/2025

Current coaching formations

MK3s 'Silver Sets' sets

Set	DVT	RFM	TSO	TSO	TSO	TSO	TSO
AL01	82304	10272	12609	12606	12610	12621	12602
AL02	82301	10273	12613	12605	12608	12615	12616
AL03	82305	10274	12625	12604	12617	12620
AL04	82309	10271	12607	12614	12603	12619	12618

DVT - Driving Van Trailer
RFM - Restaurant First Modular
TSO - Trailer Standard Open

Correct as of 13/10/2025

MK5s 'Blue Stripe' sets

Set	DT	TOS	TOS	TOS	TOF	Location	Notes
CH01	12801	12703	12702	12701	11501	Wolverton Works
CH02	12814	12706	12705	12704	11502	Eastleigh
CH03	12803	12709	12708	12707	11503	Longsight Depot
CH04	12804	12712	12711	12710	11504	Eastleigh
CH05	12805	12715	12714	12713	11505	Stourbridge Depot
CH06	12806	12718	12717	12716	11506	Eastleigh
CH07	12807	12721	12720	12719	11507	Eastleigh
CH08	12808	12724	12723	12722	11508	Longsight Depot
CH09	12809	12727	12726	12725	11509	Eastleigh
CH10	12810	12730	12729	12728	11510	Eastleigh
CH11	12811	12733	12732	12731	11511	Longsight Depot
CH12	12812	12736	12735	12734	11512	Banbury Depot
CH13	12813	12739	12738	12737	11513	Wembley LMD
Spare	12802					Long Marston

DT - Driving Trailer (Standard)
TOF - Trailer Open First
TOS - Trailer Open Standard

Key

Red	indicates re-vinyled 'Blue Stripes' sets
Black	indicates Grey unbranded sets

Correct as of 13/10/2025

Revinyl Order
CH05 - Released from Eastleigh with 68020 - 25/09/2025
CH13 - Released from Eastleigh with 68032 - 29/09/2025
CH10 - Released from Eastleigh with 68030 - 06/10/2025
CH12 - Released from Eastleigh with 68022 - 13/10/2025

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Oct 2025 ==

Friday 24th October
Mk5s Movements
68020 and CH05 - Stourbridge Depot > 3N01 > 3U02 > Banbury Depot > 5Q86 > Eastleigh
68022 and CH13 - Wembley LMD > 3U20 > 3H22 > 3E23 > Wembley LMD
68029 and CH02 - Eastleigh > 5Q69 > Banbury Reception > 3R05 > 3N06 > 3T08 > Stourbridge Depot
68032 and CH12 - Banbury Depot > 3H24 > 3E25 > Wembley LMD

Passenger Mk3s
68013 and AL04 - Stourbridge Depot > 5R17 > 1H17 > 1R21 > 1H45
168106 - 1J49 > 5J49 > Stourbridge Depot
68015 and AL03 - Stourbridge Depot > 5J14 > 1H14 > 1R17 > 1H41 > 5E37 > Wembley LMD
68010 and AL01 - Wembley LMD > 5O60 > 1J53 > 5J53 > Stourbridge Depot

Class 68s

Loco	Pool	Use with fleet	Status/Location	Notes
68008	XHCS	MK3s only	DRS use	DRS Branded
68009	XHCS	MK3s only	DRS use	DRS Branded
68010	XHCE	MK3s only	Wembley LMD
68011	XHCE	MK3s only	DRS use
68012	XHCE	MK3s only	DRS use
68013	XHCE	MK3s only	In Traffic
68014	XHCE	MK3s only	Wembley LMD
68015	XHCE	MK3s only	In Traffic
68018	XHVE	None	Carlisle Kingmoor	DRS Branded - Thunderbird
68019	XHTP	MK5s only	Crewe Gresty Bridge
68020	MBDL	MK5s only	In Traffic	Light Blue on Number 2 End
68021	XHTP	MK5s only	Carlisle Kingmoor
68022	MBDL	MK5s only	In Traffic	Light Blue on Number 1 End
68023	XHTP	MK5s only	Longsight Depot
68024	XHTP	MK5s only	Motherwell
68025	XHTP	MK5s only	Carlisle Kingmoor
68026	MBDL	MK5s only	Eastleigh
68027	MBDL	MK5s only	Loughborough Brush
68028	MBDL	MK5s only	Banbury Depot
68029	MBDL	MK5s only	Eastleigh
68030	MBDL	MK5s only	Eastleigh
68031	MBDL	MK5s only	Eastleigh
68032	MBDL	MK5s only	In Traffic	Light Blue on Number 2 End

XHCS (DRS Chiltern Railways Support)
XHCE (DRS Chiltern Railways Standard)
XHVE (DRS Crewe Gresty Bridge Depot)
MBDL (Chiltern Railways Holding Pool)
XHTP (DRS TransPennine Express)

Key

Grey	indicates 'Silver Set' livery
Red	indicates re-vinyled 'Blue Stripes' livery
Blue	indicates DRS blue unbranded or Compass blue livery
Green	indicates 68014's 'Greener Future' livery

Correct as of 21/10/2025

Current coaching formations

MK3s 'Silver Sets' sets

Set	DVT	RFM	TSO	TSO	TSO	TSO	TSO
AL01	82304	10272	12609	12606	12610	12621	12602
AL02	82301	10273	12613	12605	12608	12615	12616
AL03	82305	10274	12625	12604	12617	12620
AL04	82309	10271	12607	12614	12603	12619	12618

DVT - Driving Van Trailer
RFM - Restaurant First Modular
TSO - Trailer Standard Open

Correct as of 13/10/2025

MK5s 'Blue Stripe' sets

Set	DT	TOS	TOS	TOS	TOF	Location	Notes
CH01	12801	12703	12702	12701	11501	Wolverton Works
CH02	12814	12706	12705	12704	11502	Eastleigh
CH03	12803	12709	12708	12707	11503	Longsight Depot
CH04	12804	12712	12711	12710	11504	Eastleigh
CH05	12805	12715	12714	12713	11505	Stourbridge Depot
CH06	12806	12718	12717	12716	11506	Eastleigh
CH07	12807	12721	12720	12719	11507	Eastleigh
CH08	12808	12724	12723	12722	11508	Longsight Depot
CH09	12809	12727	12726	12725	11509	Eastleigh
CH10	12810	12730	12729	12728	11510	Eastleigh
CH11	12811	12733	12732	12731	11511	Longsight Depot
CH12	12812	12736	12735	12734	11512	Banbury Depot
CH13	12813	12739	12738	12737	11513	Wembley LMD
Spare	12802					Long Marston

DT - Driving Trailer (Standard)
TOF - Trailer Open First
TOS - Trailer Open Standard

Key

Red	indicates re-vinyled 'Blue Stripes' sets
Black	indicates Grey unbranded sets

Correct as of 24/10/2025

Revinyl Order
CH05 - Released from Eastleigh with 68020 - 25/09/2025
CH13 - Released from Eastleigh with 68032 - 29/09/2025
CH10 - Released from Eastleigh with 68030 - 06/10/2025
CH12 - Released from Eastleigh with 68022 - 13/10/2025
CH02 - Released from Eastleigh with 68029 - 24/10/2025

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Oct 2025 ==

Set 5 has been released - 68029 and CH02 has been delivered to Banbury Depot.

68029 has the same livery as 68022 with blue on the Number 1 End. - Image from Railcam

Set 1	Stourbridge Depot > 5R17 > 1H17 > 1R21 > 1H45 > 1J49 > 5J49 > Stourbridge Depot
Set 2	Stourbridge Depot > 5J14 > 1H14 > 1R17 > 1H41 > 5E37 > Wembley LMD
Set 3	Wembley LMD > 5O60 > 1J53 > 5J53 > Stourbridge Depot

Set 1	Stourbridge Depot > 5J27 > 1H27 > 1R29 > 1H54 > 1J53 > 5J53 > Stourbridge Depot
Set 2	Stourbridge Depot > 5R17 > 1H17 > 5E20 > Wembley LMD > 5O66 > 1J59 > 5J59 > Stourbridge Depot

Set 1	Stourbridge Depot > 5J31 > 1H31 > 5Y30 > Wembley LMD > 5O64 > 1J55 > 5J55 > Stourbridge Depot
Set 2	Stourbridge Depot > 5J35 > 1H35 > London Marylebone (4 Hours) > 1J52 > 5J52 > Stourbridge Depot

Chiltern MK5s Starting 2026 (non speculative updates thread)

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Chiltern steps up work on new Class 68 fleet ready for 2026 entry​

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Chiltern steps up work on new Class 68 fleet ready for 2026 entry