Chiltern MK5s Starting 2026 (non speculative updates thread)

[sufian123]

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

Monday to Fridays for now.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

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!

Still loud, but I think it did seem a tad less deafening. I guess I’ll find out soon if I can hear them from my house like with the original 68s!

Edit: I could just about hear the loco idling from the second carriage closest (coach D) when I went on it yesterday

 

[BanburyBlue]

Still loud, but I think it did seem a tad less deafening. I guess I’ll find out soon if I can hear them from my house like with the original 68s!

Edit: I could just about hear the loco idling from the second carriage closest (coach D) when I went on it yesterday

From my office overlooking Birmingham Snow Hill, it's the only time I notice/hear a train going through is when it's a class 68.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

From my office overlooking Birmingham Snow Hill, it's the only time I notice/hear a train going through is when it's a class 68.

Yes, same from both house and school for me, both at least a mile or two away from the line

 

[LUYMun]

68022 has been swapped for 68032 with its new set due to issues with 022, either fuel related or something else, judging by conversations I overhead other staff. 022 is going back to Stourbridge as I write.

 

[Peter Sarf]

68022 has been swapped for 68032 with its new set due to issues with 022, either fuel related or something else, judging by conversations I overhead other staff. 022 is going back to Stourbridge as I write.

Do you know which set is out with 68032 ?.

 

[800002]

Do you know which set is out with 68032 ?.

032 / CH13

Realtime Trains | 1J47 1637 London Marylebone to Stourbridge Junction | 27/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 1J47 1637 departure from London Marylebone to Stourbridge Junction on 27/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Sheldonian]

Southbound working today at 13.45 from Moor Street was 68032.
Mark 5 service lunch day with Saxaphone player on the platform and goodie bags being given away.

 

[100andthirty]

I made the journey today on the 11:02 from London to Birmingham. It was my first experience on a Mk5a standard class and I was pleasently surprised at the seat comfort.
There was a 4 piece jazz band playing at the entrance to the platform at Marylebone and staff distributed goody bags too.

 

[Harlequinuk]

Day 1 video from Green Signals of the new `Chiltern Explorer` in traffic

 

[Eurostarosaur]

The Green Signals channel just published an interview with Chiltern MD covering the launch which was very good. He mentioned that all trains will be introduced by December, resulting in a 10 percent increase in seats across the network due to the new trains + cascades. Does anyone know where this extra capacity is coming from / being deployed?

 

[43 302]

The Green Signals channel just published an interview with Chiltern MD covering the launch which was very good. He mentioned that all trains will be introduced by December, resulting in a 10 percent increase in seats across the network due to the new trains + cascades. Does anyone know where this extra capacity is coming from / being deployed?

Its coming from the fleet of Mk5A trains, and it will be deployed on the Chiltern route with 2tph between Birmingham & London.... really not sure what else you're asking here.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

The Green Signals channel just published an interview with Chiltern MD covering the launch which was very good. He mentioned that all trains will be introduced by December, resulting in a 10 percent increase in seats across the network due to the new trains + cascades. Does anyone know where this extra capacity is coming from / being deployed?

Here’s the video for anyone interested:

 

[LUYMun]

68022 has been swapped for 68032 with its new set due to issues with 022, either fuel related or something else, judging by conversations I overhead other staff. 022 is going back to Stourbridge as I write.

I should also mention that, during the return 13:45 service, the passcom was activated upon arrival at Leamington Spa for unknown reasons, resulting in the slight delay thereafter.

 

[Kite159]

...

The Green Signals channel just published an interview with Chiltern MD covering the launch which was very good. He mentioned that all trains will be introduced by December, resulting in a 10 percent increase in seats across the network due to the new trains + cascades. Does anyone know where this extra capacity is coming from / being deployed?

Basically other routes will be gaining more seats with 168s freed up for the likes of London - Oxford, maybe even some of the 2/3 coach units run on High Wycombe services will be extended to be longer, or even bringing back the Banbury stopping service all day to allow the Birmingham trains to get sped up. Which would be useful as they only have 4 standard class coaches and won't cope with commuter loadings

 

[Eurostarosaur]

OK thanks guys, looking forward to hearing more details about how the increase in seats works out in future timetable updates.

 

[JonnyH2]

Will the 168s specifically go to the Oxford line?

Seem to remember hearing the 168s will go to Oxford and 165s to Aylesbury..

Is that right?

 

[PLY2AYS]

Will the 168s specifically go to the Oxford line?

Seem to remember hearing the 168s will go to Oxford and 165s to Aylesbury..

Is that right?

That’s the rough understanding staff have, but obviously 168s and 165s both have Tripcock, so are both fine on the Met.
Would be silly to waste traction that can do over 75mph on a line that only goes to 75mph though.
Makes much more operational sense to keep the 168s on the Western to Oxford.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

There’s a very big part of me that wants to see a 2tph West Ruislip stopper introduced, which would only need 3x 165s.

 

[Carlisle]

He mentioned that all trains will be introduced by December, resulting in a 10 percent increase in seats across the network.

That’s a great time to promote the benefits of nationalisation

 

[VT118]

So these new trains will actually reduce capacity in the short term then? Seeing as they insist on operating first class carriages, despite their paying customers being crammed in like cattle for the last 5 years.

Surely it would make sense to hold off the sale of first class tickets until the full fleet of new trains is operational?

I believe these new trains are only 5 carriages. With one of them being first class that leaves only 4. If you consider that for the last year, even 6 carriage services don't have the capacity. I fear that things are going to get a lot worse in the short term before they get better.

 

[PLY2AYS]

So these new trains will actually reduce capacity in the short term then? Seeing as they insist on operating first class carriages, despite their paying customers being crammed in like cattle for the last 5 years.

Surely it would make sense to hold off the sale of first class tickets until the full fleet of new trains is operational?

I believe these new trains are only 5 carriages. With one of them being first class that leaves only 4. If you consider that for the last year, even 6 carriage services don't have the capacity. I fear that things are going to get a lot worse in the short term before they get better.

Except the service frequency is increasing to half hourly… so overall increases seating. And by cascading rolling stock also bolsters other services which are also currently full and standing.

 

[JamesT]

So these new trains will actually reduce capacity in the short term then? Seeing as they insist on operating first class carriages, despite their paying customers being crammed in like cattle for the last 5 years.

Surely it would make sense to hold off the sale of first class tickets until the full fleet of new trains is operational?

I believe these new trains are only 5 carriages. With one of them being first class that leaves only 4. If you consider that for the last year, even 6 carriage services don't have the capacity. I fear that things are going to get a lot worse in the short term before they get better.

How often are the current services more than 4 carriages? I've had a quick flick through RTT for this afternoon, and most of the Birmingham to Marylebone seems to be 4-car 168s. And do these never get substituted by a 2-car or 3-car?

 

[BlythPower]

How often are the current services more than 4 carriages? I've had a quick flick through RTT for this afternoon, and most of the Birmingham to Marylebone seems to be 4-car 168s. And do these never get substituted by a 2-car or 3-car?

From personal experience, they can occasionally be substituted with a three car 168 or even a 165. Fair play to the 165 I sampled from Leamington to London, it kept to time.

 

[Sparks807Evo]

How often are the current services more than 4 carriages? I've had a quick flick through RTT for this afternoon, and most of the Birmingham to Marylebone seems to be 4-car 168s. And do these never get substituted by a 2-car or 3-car?

Exactly - most services are 3 or 4 car Class 168s. Aside from London bound morning peaks having some formations of up to 7 or 8, and the weekends seeing some strengthening, it’s less common to get multiple working during the day. The increase to every 30 mins with a rework will help massively and there will still be some Class 168 workings for busier services.

So these new trains will actually reduce capacity in the short term then? Seeing as they insist on operating first class carriages, despite their paying customers being crammed in like cattle for the last 5 years.

Surely it would make sense to hold off the sale of first class tickets until the full fleet of new trains is operational?

I believe these new trains are only 5 carriages. With one of them being first class that leaves only 4. If you consider that for the last year, even 6 carriage services don't have the capacity. I fear that things are going to get a lot worse in the short term before they get better.

It’s not ideal with the First Class situation but given the cost of removing it etc. and giving a rival to the Standard Premium offering on Avanti, it will be a good option to have. Hopefully we get catering at some point!

 

[MerlinRail 804]

Exactly - most services are 3 or 4 car Class 168s. Aside from London bound morning peaks having some formations of up to 7 or 8, and the weekends seeing some strengthening, it’s less common to get multiple working during the day. The increase to every 30 mins with a rework will help massively and there will still be some Class 168 workings for busier services.

Weekends do tend to see more 5-8 car pairs/threes, though overall less services in total. Any service that stops at Kings Sutton is also limited to a 5 car

 

[thegirlchlo]

With the MK5s only being mon-fri for now, will the 0644 SBJ-MYB and 1932 MYB-SBJ still be mk3 on saturday?

 

[BanburyBlue]

Will these new trains fit into Platform 4 at Banbury? My understanding was Platform 4 allows for a 5 carriage train - so would an 'overhanging' engine be allowed?

 

[PLY2AYS]

Will these new trains fit into Platform 4 at Banbury? My understanding was Platform 4 allows for a 5 carriage train - so would an 'overhanging' engine be allowed?

I don’t sign 68s but the signal is a fair way down, so there’s space for a Loco to overhang if the set was reversed.
(But since Banbury is a relief point, getting to/from the Loco would not be possible)
Given that Mk5s have to have a guard. I imagine that they can go from P4, but presumably would have to have a Loco stop board.
Signal sighting might be an issue for dispatch though…

I think in the right orientation though, the overhang would be too great.

 

[JamesT]

Will these new trains fit into Platform 4 at Banbury? My understanding was Platform 4 allows for a 5 carriage train - so would an 'overhanging' engine be allowed?

Why would they need to? The Mk5s are intended for the Birmingham services so would just use the through platforms.