Chiltern MK5s Starting 2026 (non speculative updates thread)

[Snow1964]

Looks like they're not quite ready for us:

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When I follow your link, or click "More Trains, Newer Trains" from the Chiltern Home Page.

I get that too now, looks like Chiltern have taken page down, so maybe it was supposed to be embargoed until certain date/time when launch is happening

 

[jus363]

Is there any plans to transfer the nameplates from the old Chiltern 68s to the new Chiltern 68s ?

 

[Johnhayworth21]

Just the one.

Will this be the diagram starting with 5R25/1H25 off BMO? Thanks

 

[Jgleeson071]

MK5s Enter Service Monday , Diagram AS812

 

[MerlinRail 804]

According to Chiltern on insta, first train on 26th, customer launch 27th

 

[DMUfan]

MK5s Enter Service Monday , Diagram AS812

Which services are on that diagram please?

 

[Covshire1]

Which services are on that diagram please?

1H25 0815 Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone
1R25 1102 London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street
1H48 1345 Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone
1J47 1637 London Marylebone to Stourbridge Junction

 

[Jacob Porrett]

1H25 0815 Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone
1R25 1102 London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street
1H48 1345 Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone
1J47 1637 London Marylebone to Stourbridge Junction

Is it just the normal booked MK3 diagrams for the Mk5s all week next week?

 

[Liam L]

Is it just the normal booked MK3 diagrams for the Mk5s all week next week?

Just the one diagram next week.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Is it just the normal booked MK3 diagrams for the Mk5s all week next week?

If I remember correctly Chiltern are replacing one whole Mk3 diagram at a time with Mk5s. So the above is the first to switch over and the other Mk3 diagrams will switch over to Mk5s one at a time over a period of time. Then the extra Mk5 rakes will take over other diagrams operated by 168s afaikt.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

If I remember correctly Chiltern are replacing one whole Mk3 diagram at a time with Mk5s. So the above is the first to switch over and the other Mk3 diagrams will switch over to Mk5s one at a time over a period of time. Then the extra Mk5 rakes will take over other diagrams operated by 168s afaikt.

Ag right I see. Thank you.

 

[CR165022]

Is one of the MK3 sets going for storage next week? There's a Hanson & Hall path from Wembley to Burton Yard on the 25th, with a light loco run for the return. The MK5s get moved on Q headcodes from what I've seen, and this run is 5D03.

Realtime Trains | 5D03 1344 Wembley Lmd to Burton West Yard | 25/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 5D03 1344 departure from Wembley Lmd to Burton West Yard on 25/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[CyrusWuff]

Is one of the MK3 sets going for storage next week? There's a Hanson & Hall path from Wembley to Burton Yard on the 25th, with a light loco run for the return. The MK5s get moved on Q headcodes from what I've seen, and this run is 5D03.

Chiltern don't have enough stabling capacity for the Mk3s and the Mk5As, so it's highly likely that will be the first Mk3 rake leaving Chiltern.

 

[Snow1964]

Chiltern don't have enough stabling capacity for the Mk3s and the Mk5As, so it's highly likely that will be the first Mk3 rake leaving Chiltern.

A number of mk5a sets are still off their patch, at Eastleigh etc

So if they are that short of siding space, where are they going to stable them when they have all 13 sets (there are 66 vehicles + locos)

Whilst the mk3 will be going, do they really need to get a mk3 set towed away before a second set can enter service. There are only 31 mk3 vehicles,

Surely if Chiltern are expanding their fleet, they would have made sure they had at least an extra 850m of stabling sidings.

 

[156444]

A number of mk5a sets are still off their patch, at Eastleigh etc

So if they are that short of siding space, where are they going to stable them when they have all 13 sets (there are 66 vehicles + locos)

Whilst the mk3 will be going, do they really need to get a mk3 set towed away before a second set can enter service. There are only 31 mk3 vehicles,

Surely if Chiltern are expanding their fleet, they would have made sure they had at least an extra 850m of stabling sidings.

I believe it was reported they will be stabled at Wembley, Banbury and Stourbridge Junction.

 

[CR165022]

Having thought about it, it might be just 82303 being towed away, given how long it's not been used for, would make sense rather than a full rake just yet.

 

[43 302]

Having thought about it, it might be just 82303 being towed away, given how long it's not been used for, would make sense rather than a full rake just yet.

It will be AL03, and should be back up to load 6.

 

[Benjwri]

A mk5 rake just passed me at Didcot on 5Q86, Banbury to Eastleigh. A 68 at either end, avoiding line is too far for me to get numbers.

 

[68032]

A mk5 rake just passed me at Didcot on 5Q86, Banbury to Eastleigh. A 68 at either end, avoiding line is too far for me to get numbers.

68028 and 68030

 

[800002]

I believe it was reported they will be stabled at Wembley, Banbury and Stourbridge Junction.

This is most likely correct, along with Moor Street (ultimately) I suspect when all 13 are in service.

So if they are that short of siding space, where are they going to stable them when they have all 13 sets (there are 66 vehicles + locos)

Whilst the mk3 will be going, do they really need to get a mk3 set towed away before a second set can enter service. There are only 31 mk3 vehicles.

I imagine there  is enough space for all 13 sets.
Come the time when all 13 are in use, the stock and stabling plan will be vastly different to that of the current timetable which uses only 4 loco sets.
It's probably finely balanced as the fleet plan will utilise the available space throughout the timetable period.

It's like tetris... you've got the space for the required blocks coming at you, but you can't get them into it because the gap is in the wrong place / you can't access it with everything that is currently in play.

 

[TrainTrackJack]

Chiltern have named the sets "Chiltern Explorers" on their website tonight, with other information such as the upgrade to the first class coach being a £20 flat fare also being announced.

New Trains | Chiltern Railways

www.chilternrailways.co.uk

 

[Kite159]

Considering a public rate super off-peak return "Via High Wycombe" between London & Birmingham is £40 (the Off-peak return being £63.30), a flat £20 each way for a slightly nicer seat is a tad expensive. No doubt they will deploy extra revenue staff to pounce on anybody daring to enter the first class area when the sets are first introduced.

 

[Adam Williams]

Considering a public rate super off-peak return "Via High Wycombe" between London & Birmingham is £40 (the Off-peak return being £63.30), a flat £20 each way for a slightly nicer seat is a tad expensive. No doubt they will deploy extra revenue staff to pounce on anybody daring to enter the first class area when the sets are first introduced.

The peak rate fares are significantly more, though. I would happily pay it to be able to get some work done in the morning peak

 

[Kite159]

The peak rate fares are significantly more, though. I would happily pay it to be able to get some work done in the morning peak

Which considering the Mk5 sets are not meant to being used during the high peak due to only having 4 standard class coaches won't be a blessing.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Considering a public rate super off-peak return "Via High Wycombe" between London & Birmingham is £40 (the Off-peak return being £63.30), a flat £20 each way for a slightly nicer seat is a tad expensive. No doubt they will deploy extra revenue staff to pounce on anybody daring to enter the first class area when the sets are first introduced.

Immediately pre-pandemic, Business Zone upgrades on the Mk3s were £30 Peak and £15 Off-Peak.

As of the January 2020 fare change, the Super Off-Peak Return was £32.30, the Off-Peak Return was £51.50 and the Anytime Return was £120.00.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

Which considering the Mk5 sets are not meant to being used during the high peak due to only having 4 standard class coaches won't be a blessing.

If you had released 4 car 168s on Oxfords or something, you could put some explorers/Mk5s on the oxfords at peak times and then couple a couple 168s to get some 6/7/8 car 168s. I’ve been casually designing a timetable for a while now that does exactly this

 

[PLY2AYS]

If you had released 4 car 168s on Oxfords or something, you could put some explorers/Mk5s on the oxfords at peak times and then couple a couple 168s to get some 6/7/8 car 168s. I’ve been casually designing a timetable for a while now that does exactly this

Problem with 8 car formations is they’re much less flexible with stopping patterns, and of course would need a dispatch at stations with look back…

 

[CyrusWuff]

If you had released 4 car 168s on Oxfords or something, you could put some explorers/Mk5s on the oxfords at peak times and then couple a couple 168s to get some 6/7/8 car 168s. I’ve been casually designing a timetable for a while now that does exactly this

The Mk5s won't be running to Oxford. Even though they've got one less carriage than the Mk3s, they likely still wouldn't fit in the bay platforms at Oxford so would need to shunt out of the way to avoid occupying one of the through platforms during their turnaround.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

The Mk5s won't be running to Oxford. Even though they've got one less carriage than the Mk3s, they likely still wouldn't fit in the bay platforms at Oxford so would need to shunt out of the way to avoid occupying one of the through platforms during their turnaround.

The bay platforms are just under 160m, and 68+5/Mk5 is 135m

 

[43 302]

Whilst they would definitely fit in the bay platforms at Oxford, it is my understanding that they won't be used on those trains.