Chiltern MK5s Starting 2026 (non speculative updates thread)

[CR165022]

Something went from Stourbridge Depot to Tyseley Depot today, and is currently on it's way to Banbury Depot. Its pathed as a 168 but I assume its a 68/MK5? And what would it have needed to go there for?

 

[172007]

Something went from Stourbridge Depot to Tyseley Depot today, and is currently on it's way to Banbury Depot. Its pathed as a 168 but I assume its a 68/MK5? And what would it have needed to go there for?

Does Eastleigh or Aylesbury have a wheel lathe that can handle a 5 coach train; i imagine splitting the formations is a pita.

 

[dooton]

Something went from Stourbridge Depot to Tyseley Depot today, and is currently on it's way to Banbury Depot. Its pathed as a 168 but I assume its a 68/MK5? And what would it have needed to go there for?

Went for Tyre turning. Aylesbury can only fit a 4 car.

 

[btdrawer]

Saw one of these pulling into Marylebone last night, and another heading to High Wycombe just now

 

[CR165022]

CH01 finally left Wolverton today, headed to Longsight between 2 93s.

 

[warwickshire]

7Q32 1057 Wolverton Center Sidings to Longsight T.m.d
was 930008 hauling under its own electrical power at Northampton, was hauling Set TPO1, attached to the DT12801, and the rest of Set TPO1, with just one brake van at the rear, and 930010, trailling locomotive,

Good to see a Mk5a set being hauled under 25kv, just goes to show if Chiltern electricfication goes ahead, the potential for the sets, lasting well into the future, plus a potential for even a more enviromentally freindly locomotive to be used from 2030 onwards , maybe as a class 68 successor,
Maybe worth creating another thread to discuss the possiblities.

However good to see a mk5a set ex Transpennie, probably being hauled electrically for the first time as well.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Dec 2025 ==

Also a op poster on You Tube: has posted a You tube video on his channel, on Thursday 04th December 2025 of another stock move featuring:
1. 5Q67 1003 Eastleigh Arlington to Long Marston with 68026 taking branded set CH08, into storage at Long Marston.

 

[43096]

CH01 finally left Wolverton today, headed to Longsight between 2 93s.

It is still TP01 and still on lease to TPE. Presumably going to Longsight for handback repairs/exam.

 

[warwickshire]

It is still TP01 and still on lease to TPE. Presumably going to Longsight for handback repairs/exam.

Yes, after a very long spell at Wolvertom.

 

[tfw756rider]

I was on 1H27 0819 Stourbridge Junction to London Marylebone on Sat 6/12/25 (from Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone) which was full-and-standing with a 6-car Mk3 set - granted that was obviously one of the busiest services (or even the busiest), but the Mk5A sets will only be 5-car? Surely they'll have to be lengthened at some point, even if it means reducing the number of sets?

 

[PLY2AYS]

…but the Mk5A sets will only be 5-car? Surely they'll have to be lengthened at some point, even if it means reducing the number of sets?

As I understand it, they’re fixed formation and extending/reforming sets is unreliable/problematic, time consuming and expensive.

But given service frequency will be upped to half hourly, I’d imagine that should combat some of the potential over-crowdedness

 

[tfw756rider]

As I understand it, they’re fixed formation and extending/reforming sets is unreliable/problematic, time consuming and expensive.

Ah I see, yeah.

But given service frequency will be upped to half hourly, I’d imagine that should combat some of the potential over-crowdedness

Ah that's good then and makes sense, thanks.

 

[LittleRedTrain]

From my understanding, the master plan is to replace the current busy peak Mk3 diagrams with double/triple 168s and put the Mk5s on diagrams currently worked by 168s, so generally an overall per-train capacity increase.

The regulars (like me) who enjoyed Mk3s on our peak trains to/from London will not appreciate the downgrade to a unit however.
Nor will the villagers of Kings Sutton, whose morning peak train to London can no longer call due to the platforms being too short.

I also fully expect there to be times when stock unavailability results in a single 2/3 car 168 on one of the busy peak trains that is currently a 6 coach Mk3 set!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I also fully expect there to be times when stock unavailability results in a single 2/3 car 168 on one of the busy peak trains that is currently a 6 coach Mk3 set!

That can of course happen now.

 

[The_Train]

That can of course happen now.

And does happen quite a lot. The other Saturday when England Women played at Wembley, the final Mk3 set off Marylebone was replaced by a single 168 and had an additional call at Wembley added to its schedule - I can't imagine that was pretty!

 

[PLY2AYS]

From my understanding, the master plan is to replace the current busy peak Mk3 diagrams with double/triple 168s and put the Mk5s on diagrams currently worked by 168s, so generally an overall per-train capacity increase.

Have you got a copy of the diagrams already?
I’ve not received any links to them yet.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Dec 2025 ==

And does happen quite a lot. The other Saturday when England Women played at Wembley, the final Mk3 set off Marylebone was replaced by a single 168 and had an additional call at Wembley added to its schedule - I can't imagine that was pretty!

I was in awe of the amount of people getting off of sets on Saturday.

The famous comedy sketch of how many clowns can you get out of a very small car sprang to mind.

 

[The exile]

Ah that's good then and makes sense, thanks.

Unfortunately it smacks of the naive optimism that scuppered Operation Princess. Doubling frequency will attract new custom to both the added train and the additional one. It might encourage some people to shift their travel to the new train, but in the short term most people (especially commuters) won’t change because their habits / work patterns etc are built around the existing timings.

 

[PLY2AYS]

Doubling frequency will attract new custom to both the added train and the additional one. It might encourage some people to shift their travel to the new train, but in the short term most people (especially commuters) won’t change because their habits / work patterns etc are built around the existing timings.

I think that’s a really important point.

It is an optimistic aspiration. But in reality, what other option did Chiltern have?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Unfortunately it smacks of the naive optimism that scuppered Operation Princess.

It's not the same at all. Princess delivered on some routes a reduction in capacity despite a significant upgrade in frequency and modernity making the service far more attractive than it was. It was never going to work.

This is a bit different - it will increase overall capacity, only up frequency in a few hours where trains are missing, and those who presently choose Mk3s might be happy with 168s because they are more comfortable than Mk5s.

 

[LittleRedTrain]

Have you got a copy of the diagrams already?
I’ve not received any links to them yet.

I haven't seen the definite diagrams yet, but RTT is showing what services are pathed as which stock post timetable change.

E.g. 0614 Stourbridge Jn - Marylebone and 0715 Moor St - Marylebone are pathed as 168s, currently 68-hauled.
0815 Moor St - Marylebone is pathed as 68-hauled (currently a 3 or 4 car 168).

Similar swaps on the evening peak trains out of Marylebone.

EDIT: New diagrams for the 68s are here: http://www.class68.co.uk/diagrams.html

 

[Kite159]

..

I haven't seen the definite diagrams yet, but RTT is showing what services are pathed as which stock post timetable change.

E.g. 0614 Stourbridge Jn - Marylebone and 0715 Moor St - Marylebone are pathed as 168s, currently 68-hauled.
0815 Moor St - Marylebone is pathed as 68-hauled (currently a 3 or 4 car 168).

Similar swaps on the evening peak trains out of Marylebone.

EDIT: New diagrams for the 68s are here: http://www.class68.co.uk/diagrams.html

That's a big drop in use of the loco hauled sets on Saturdays & Sundays, one service each way!

 

[XCTurbostar]

The Saturday one is confusing since this will require an extra 168 at Stourbridge overnight. The Sunday omission makes sense, currently the diagram sits at London Marylebone for 4 hours(!) in the daytime.

 

[CR165022]

The Saturday one is confusing since this will require an extra 168 at Stourbridge overnight. The Sunday omission makes sense, currently the diagram sits at London Marylebone for 4 hours(!) in the daytime.

The current Stourbridge 168 doesn't come out over the weekend as far as I'm aware, is this changing with the next timetable?

 

[Mogz]

Does anyone know if the sets can work in multiple to form 10 coach trains if necessary?

Someone has already answered the question of whether you could sandwich a Class 68 between two sets of coaches with a DT at either end (you can’t), but does anyone know if any of the following would work:

Two sets coupled together one after the other (ie Class 68, coaches and DT then Class 68, coaches and DT)?

Or

Two sets coupled loco to loco with the DTs at either end?

Or

Two sets coupled DT to DT (ie top and tailed)?

 

[AndrewE]

Does anyone know if the sets can work in multiple to form 10 coach trains if necessary?

Someone has already answered the question of whether you could sandwich a Class 68 between two sets of coaches with a DT at either end (you can’t), but does anyone know if any of the following would work:

Two sets coupled together one after the other (ie Class 68, coaches and DT then Class 68, coaches and DT)? Or
Two sets coupled loco to loco with the DTs at either end? Or
Two sets coupled DT to DT (ie top and tailed)?

Are any of the stations they might serve able to accommodate a double set?

 

[Mogz]

Are any of the stations they might serve able to accommodate a double set?

I would imagine so if they have selective door opening…

Certainly the likes of Leamington and Banbury would accommodate 10 coach sets- they already see XC Voyagers doubled up to that extent.

 

[JonathanH]

I would imagine so if they have selective door opening…

I think it would be a problem at Marylebone if the formation needed to include two class 68s.

 

[trundlewagon]

Don't think they would fit anywhere - including Marylebone, Moor Street or Snow Hill - other than Banbury or Leamington platform 2 once you factor in a loco...

 

[AndrewE]

Don't think they would fit anywhere - including Marylebone, Moor Street or Snow Hill - other than Banbury or Leamington platform 2 once you factor in a loco...

... let alone 2!

 

[PLY2AYS]

Does anyone know if the sets can work in multiple to form 10 coach trains if necessary?

Someone has already answered the question of whether you could sandwich a Class 68 between two sets of coaches with a DT at either end (you can’t), but does anyone know if any of the following would work:

Two sets coupled together one after the other (ie Class 68, coaches and DT then Class 68, coaches and DT)?

Or

Two sets coupled loco to loco with the DTs at either end?

Or

Two sets coupled DT to DT (ie top and tailed)?

Not only would this not work, but 12 coaches wouldn’t fit anywhere, irrespective of the combination/formation.

More than 1 Mk5 set with more than 1 68 just wouldn’t work both with software and hardware.

 

[156444]

Does anyone know if the sets can work in multiple to form 10 coach trains if necessary?

Someone has already answered the question of whether you could sandwich a Class 68 between two sets of coaches with a DT at either end (you can’t), but does anyone know if any of the following would work:

Two sets coupled together one after the other (ie Class 68, coaches and DT then Class 68, coaches and DT)?

Or

Two sets coupled loco to loco with the DTs at either end?

Or

Two sets coupled DT to DT (ie top and tailed)?

It did happen when two sets came down from Long Marston: https://www.flickr.com/photos/154351395@N07/54717937283. Obviously doing it in passenger service is a rather different thing...