Chiltern MK5s Starting 2026 (non speculative updates thread)

[Techniquest]

Well hello there everyone I went out and got a trip on this today, only from Birmingham to Dorridge but that was a nice journey. I’d hoped to bump into a Mark 3 set somewhere too, however the leap on the 1345 Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone was most pleasant. I love the new livery too

Hopefully all 6 photos are viewable, there’s no thumbnail for some of them.

 

[LowLevel]

Well hello there everyone I went out and got a trip on this today, only from Birmingham to Dorridge but that was a nice journey. I’d hoped to bump into a Mark 3 set somewhere too, however the leap on the 1345 Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone was most pleasant. I love the new livery too

Hopefully all 6 photos are viewable, there’s no thumbnail for some of them.

Hello old friend! Pleasing to see the entry to traffic of these sets coincides with your re-entry to traffic here

 

[Techniquest]

Hello old friend! Pleasing to see the entry to traffic of these sets coincides with your re-entry to traffic here

It didn’t take long for someone to comment on that eh? I’ve been lurking for a long time, however the occasion of (effectively) new trains on Chiltern warranted breaking my own embargo on posting. It was going to happen a while back, indeed I was going to post nearly 3 hours ago but changed my mind. Clearly, I changed it back

I’m a bit surprised how little anyone posted about these today, I honestly expected much more!

Also, thanks

 

[Liam L]

Well hello there everyone I went out and got a trip on this today, only from Birmingham to Dorridge but that was a nice journey. I’d hoped to bump into a Mark 3 set somewhere too, however the leap on the 1345 Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone was most pleasant. I love the new livery too

Hopefully all 6 photos are viewable, there’s no thumbnail for some of them.

The current MK3 diagrams, Diagram 2 is now covered by a MK5.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

The current MK3 diagrams, Diagram 2 is now covered by a MK5.

View attachment 196719

Is it staying on diagram 2 or will it cycle between them?

 

[tfw756rider]

Well hello there everyone I went out and got a trip on this today, only from Birmingham to Dorridge but that was a nice journey. I’d hoped to bump into a Mark 3 set somewhere too, however the leap on the 1345 Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone was most pleasant. I love the new livery too

Hopefully all 6 photos are viewable, there’s no thumbnail for some of them.

All 6 photos do work, thanks for sharing! I particularly like IMG_1403.jpeg, as the Driving Trailer front view at Moor Street really does show how "new" these trains are.

I’m a bit surprised how little anyone posted about these today, I honestly expected much more!

Same, but at least you have, which again is appreciated I plan on having my own ride on the Chiltern CAFs (well, actually the first of two such varieties!) soon, having recently got in rides on the Mark 3 sets.

 

[800002]

Is it staying on diagram 2 or will it cycle between them?

Forever more.
(Well, until they change it again).
*Usual caveat of on the day substitutions still possible

 

[tfw756rider]

So Mark 5A service is just Monday-Friday for now? I'm free from Sat 31/1/26, but I suppose I'll have to wait until Mon 2/2/26? (not the end of the world, I know!)

 

[Techniquest]

The current MK3 diagrams, Diagram 2 is now covered by a MK5.

View attachment 196719

Many thanks Wow that’s a fair bit of a change from what I’m used to!

Those midweek-only services with MK3s sound intriguing, I might have to see where they actually call and include them in a potential trip to London Mind you, it’s more likely that I’ll be more focused on the MK5s now, they’ve got a good cycle space in coach B which needs trying out

Attached are some photos of the cycle space, far more passenger-friendly than trying to get into/out of a DVT and actually marked properly. Unlike TfW!

 

[tfw756rider]

Attached are some photos of the cycle space, far more passenger-friendly than trying to get into/out of a DVT and actually marked properly. Unlike TfW!

Thanks for the extra photos, and nice time on the screen

 

[purple-Azumas]

Just come off the 18:00 from Leamington to Stourbridge Jn. I admit I never rode these sets whilst they were with TPE but for new-ish trains I'm not particularly impressed.

The livery on the outside certainly looked very smart, the carriages themselves are very light and airy and they seemed to ride well but I think that's where my praise of these ones end. As plenty of others have said, the seats in standard felt rock hard and it seems a bit naff that windows and tables don't line up very well - especially so in carriages where there aren't as many tables as others. Interior felt very plastic: it's little things like the armrests being two blocks of plastic stuck together rather than having soft cushion on top like Avanti's 805/807s which make it feel quite cheap. They were also pretty dirty despite having only done four trips all day and I struggled to hear the guard over the tannoy which was frustrating. The loos were also tiny!

If I were given the choice of this or a 168, I'd definitely take the latter. Yes, it's a bit of a lottery as to how long it'll end up being, but from my experience it's a lot more comfortable and those trains are obviously well bedded into the route.

First Class certainly looked the part from the outside but didn't fancy the £20 upgrade for what's essentially a local journey for me. Transport for West Midlands are quite good at keeping the prices (First and Standard) down the WCML between Coventry and Wolverhampton so it's interesting they've not forced a lower upgrade price for Dorridge - Birmingham - Stourbridge yet, though I'm sure that will come in time. It also seems odd they've put it at the loco (country) end rather than the London end as with the Mark 3's though appreciate that if they want to avoid locos at the buffers idling at Marylebone they didn't have a choice there.

Once they bed in, I've no doubt I'll get used to these sets but I think they're on my 'avoid' list for now whilst nicer trains are still running up and down the route. Ultimately for my local West Mids journey they served their purpose fairly well but they certainly don't compete with Avanti's rolling stock in terms of comfort and experience, even if that's not strictly the name of th
e game.

 

[tfw756rider]

Transport for West Midlands are quite good at keeping the prices (First and Standard) down the WCML between Coventry and Wolverhampton so it's interesting they've not forced a lower upgrade price for Dorridge - Birmingham - Stourbridge yet, though I'm sure that will come in time.

Ah yes, "lower price" in relation to Dorridge

 

[purple-Azumas]

Ah yes, "lower price" in relation to Dorridge

If you don't ask, you don't get!

 

[CyrusWuff]

First Class certainly looked the part from the outside but didn't fancy the £20 upgrade for what's essentially a local journey for me. Transport for West Midlands are quite good at keeping the prices (First and Standard) down the WCML between Coventry and Wolverhampton so it's interesting they've not forced a lower upgrade price for Dorridge - Birmingham - Stourbridge yet, though I'm sure that will come in time.

Unsurprisingly, the upgrade pricing policy looks to be in line with the Business Zone on the Mk3s, namely a flat rate regardless of journey length. It's cheaper than the peak time Business Zone upgrade as well (£20 vs £30.)

 

[Parthia]

68022 + CH02

Do we know why the Loco was not showing on RTT? The set was showing CH02

 

[SynthD]

Attached are some photos of the cycle space

Geoff Marshall’s video showed bars to hold the bikes in place, missing in these photos. Are they due to be added or removed to match?

5:42

 

[Techniquest]

Thanks for the extra photos, and nice time on the screen

I never noticed that, admittedly I’m perhaps not of the right mindset to fully understand the whole ‘1337’ thing!

@SynthD there are some bars that more closely resemble drain grids out of view in those photos. They are at floor level next to the panels where the carriage layout diagrams are. If that makes sense. They should hold the average road bike wheel easily, maybe my touring bike wheel but certainly not a mountain bike tyre. If I remember, and that’s a big if as my memory is getting worse quicker than I’d like, I’ll take photos when I take my bike on board.

It *might* even feature as part of a special trip report! No promises, that thread may stay locked and abandoned. I’m not sure on that, I’ve gone back and forth on the topic a lot. We’ll see, after all I am very much the king of impulse!

 

[50018_Reso]

Just come off the 18:00 from Leamington to Stourbridge Jn. I admit I never rode these sets whilst they were with TPE but for new-ish trains I'm not particularly impressed.

The livery on the outside certainly looked very smart, the carriages themselves are very light and airy and they seemed to ride well but I think that's where my praise of these ones end. As plenty of others have said, the seats in standard felt rock hard and it seems a bit naff that windows and tables don't line up very well - especially so in carriages where there aren't as many tables as others. Interior felt very plastic: it's little things like the armrests being two blocks of plastic stuck together rather than having soft cushion on top like Avanti's 805/807s which make it feel quite cheap. They were also pretty dirty despite having only done four trips all day and I struggled to hear the guard over the tannoy which was frustrating. The loos were also tiny!

If I were given the choice of this or a 168, I'd definitely take the latter. Yes, it's a bit of a lottery as to how long it'll end up being, but from my experience it's a lot more comfortable and those trains are obviously well bedded into the route.

First Class certainly looked the part from the outside but didn't fancy the £20 upgrade for what's essentially a local journey for me. Transport for West Midlands are quite good at keeping the prices (First and Standard) down the WCML between Coventry and Wolverhampton so it's interesting they've not forced a lower upgrade price for Dorridge - Birmingham - Stourbridge yet, though I'm sure that will come in time. It also seems odd they've put it at the loco (country) end rather than the London end as with the Mark 3's though appreciate that if they want to avoid locos at the buffers idling at Marylebone they didn't have a choice there.

Once they bed in, I've no doubt I'll get used to these sets but I think they're on my 'avoid' list for now whilst nicer trains are still running up and down the route. Ultimately for my local West Mids journey they served their purpose fairly well but they certainly don't compete with Avanti's rolling stock in terms of comfort and experience, even if that's not strictly the name of th
e game.

Sorry, can't agree. The ride quality is more appalling than a Slope, you just crash over points. My shoulder which is knackered will take at least a day to recover from the jolts.
The seats are just as appalling, the only one forgiven thing is you couldn't hear the announcements and that was the only blessing in disguise not to have to put up with the most jobsworth anti rail enthusiast "Train Manger" on Chiltern Railways.

 

[PLY2AYS]

Sorry, can't agree. The ride quality is more appalling than a Slope, you just crash over points. My shoulder which is knackered will take at least a day to recover from the jolts.

Surprising considering the distances between carriages is smaller so they snatch less.

the only one forgiven thing is you couldn't hear the announcements and that was the only blessing in disguise not to have to put up with the most jobsworth anti rail enthusiast "Train Manger" on Chiltern Railways.

I’m confused… Were they a jobsworth or anti-rail or an enthusiast? I’m sorry if they were anti-enthusiast.

 

[50018_Reso]

Surprising considering the distances between carriages is smaller so they snatch less.

I’m confused… Were they a jobsworth or anti-rail or an enthusiast? I’m sorry if they were anti-enthusiast.

Bogies are rubbish. Don't matter if they snatch less or not. The jobsworth is definitely anti-railway enthusiast cus she deliberately stands in front of the 68 when she could quite easily despatch the train from elsewhere.

 

[LowLevel]

Bogies are rubbish. Don't matter if they snatch less or not. The jobsworth is definitely anti-railway enthusiast cus she deliberately stands in front of the 68 when she could quite easily despatch the train from elsewhere.

Ah yes, someone should vary their work practices to satisfy the whims of a railway enthusiast

 

[Liam L]

Bogies are rubbish. Don't matter if they snatch less or not. The jobsworth is definitely anti-railway enthusiast cus she deliberately stands in front of the 68 when she could quite easily despatch the train from elsewhere.

How dare they do their job and get in the way of people taking photos!! Shocking!!

 

[FrontSideBus]

Not surprised people don't like the ride and seats. I was not impressed when I used to use them when they were with TPE. I used to think a 156 was more comfortable, never mind a proper Mk3 with IC70's!
They do look good and modern inside though!

 

[Mogz]

I suppose the launch of a new(ish) train that’s loco hauled, has decent leg-room and plenty of tables is a novelty these days, which is why so much of the publicity seems to be on the positive side.

Those who remember the seat comfort of the Mark 1s will be disappointed.

Those with sciatica might actually prefer these, though as the seats are ergonomic (unless they end up with the same seat collapse issues as the GWR 80x’s, of course!)

 

[dodecahedron67]

The jobsworth is definitely anti-railway enthusiast cus she deliberately stands in front of the 68 when she could quite easily despatch the train from elsewhere.

You mean she dispatched from the staff only door specifically designated as the TMs office & main dispatch location when the DVT is leading?

Some people…

 

[Bletchleyite]

Those with sciatica might actually prefer these, though as the seats are ergonomic (unless they end up with the same seat collapse issues as the GWR 80x’s, of course!)

They're the exact same seats, so yes, they will. Just give it a couple of months.

 

[Goldfish62]

Those with sciatica might actually prefer these, though as the seats are ergonomic (unless they end up with the same seat collapse issues as the GWR 80x’s, of course!)

Nothing ergonomic about a rock-hard seat that forces you to sit in an unnaturally bolt-upright position.

 

[class387]

Does anyone know whether this weekend's diagrams will be Mk3 or Mk5?

 

[FrontSideBus]

Nothing ergonomic about a rock-hard seat that forces you to sit in an unnaturally bolt-upright position.

Indeed!

 

[dorsetdesiro]

Are they still very noisy? Can't wish this on anyone in the Midlands & Bucks after the suffering of Yorkshire people where they lived near the Scarborough line!