Chiltern MK5s Starting 2026 (non speculative updates thread)

[Kite159]

I guess they have, which makes sense at this stage of the replacement.

I know it’s probably been asked, however I really haven’t been following this thread for long. So I must ask (and feel free to link the post mentioning it if necessary):

Which 68s are permitted to work with Chiltern?

Isn't it going to be 68019 to 68032, the ones modified for Mk5 operation with TPE?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

I guess they have, which makes sense at this stage of the replacement.

I know it’s probably been asked, however I really haven’t been following this thread for long. So I must ask (and feel free to link the post mentioning it if necessary):

Which 68s are permitted to work with Chiltern?

68008 - 68015 can work with mk3s
68019 - 68032 can work with mk5s

 

[37052 xb mr]

So I presume the two 'all day' diagrams have now switched to the Mk5s leaving the Mk3s for the peak hour only services? (The ones which sit at Wembley during the day)

Due to Oxford engineering works
This week, there are 4 diagrams
planned 3 x Mk3s 1 x Mk5.

68015 Set 1 failed yesterday rescued by 68032,
Others out were 010 set 4, 013 set 2,
And 68029 set 13.

Today
010 set 4, 5 trips
013 set 2, 3 trips
022 set 2, 2 trips
029 set 13, 4 trips

 

[TrainTrackJack]

So I presume the two 'all day' diagrams have now switched to the Mk5s leaving the Mk3s for the peak hour only services? (The ones which sit at Wembley during the day)

68029 + CH13 only came out to cover for 68010 which had a wiper fault. There should only be one MK5 in traffic, and one MK3 diagram remains at Stourbridge for a few more weeks (till around the end of this month). Then both Stourbridge start diagrams will become MK5As, after which the MK3(s) left become Wembley based for the Princes Risborough commuter turns.

 

[dooton]

2nd MK5a only out today to cover for failures. 2nd diagram goes full time towards the end of the month.

 

[172007]

68008 - 68015 can work with mk3s
68019 - 68032 can work with mk5s

For the avoidance of doubt the above is correct in that those loco's can operate their respective carriage types with the DVT / DT and operate door release etc in passenger service

However, all 68's can haul both mk3's and Mk5's if required to clear a failed train or work a ecs just like any other class of loco could. The loco would have to runaround and attach to the DT or DVT if leading from that end.

This issue has caused confusion as one of the ex TPE loco's (68032 i think) took some MK3's to Aylesbury in January.

Chiltern also has 68018 which currently will not be modified to work Mk5's and is for thunderbird duties only.

 

[PLY2AYS]

This issue has caused confusion as one of the ex TPE loco's (68032 i think) took some MK3's to Aylesbury in January.

68022 also took some in November!

 

[37052 xb mr]

68018 is still currently being used by DRS

 

[Techniquest]

Thanks everyone, that’s really appreciated That means potentially I will soon have up to 7 68s available to score I’ll still have a handful left to get beyond those, however I’m loving that there’s going to be stuff to chase on Chiltern again and make it more interesting to head that way

 

[xotGD]

Chiltern also has 68018 which currently will not be modified to work Mk5's and is for thunderbird duties only.

Bashers requiring it for haulage will be desperate for a loco failure every time they travel on Chiltern!

 

[giblets]

Is the aim to get the 168s on the Birmingham route all up to 4 carriage and/or upgrade to 5 as a minimum, or is cascading to Oxford etc seen as higher priority?

 

[Kite159]

I would imagine if you asked the passengers of Oxford Parkway/Bicester Village if they would prefer longer trains or faster (but shorter) trains they will probably go for the faster but shorter trains, like they enjoyed pre Covid with an hourly service nonstop London to Bicester Village, rather than a stopping service those services have now.

 

[tfw756rider]

I had my first ride on a 68+Mk5A set (at all, rather than just with Chiltern) on Thu 5/2/26, from Birmingham Moor Street to Leamington Spa on CH02 with 68022 (Standard Class).

I actually think that they're nice trains, but then again I'm one of those "positive" people* and a modern train liker. I do actually think that they have nice looking interiors, with the blue colours and the dark wood-effect wall panels, and I don't find the lighting too bright, even with the extra centre-mounted spot lights (which I actually like the design of as well).

*However, I'm not going to pretend they don't have ride quality issues (though apparently, some of that is due to the track), and I did do a bit of "what is he doing looks" on the seats to try and feel the bar, and unfortunately, yes, I could tell that they may well develop the issue at some point.

There was a CAF tech rider on board, presumably just due to these trains being resurrected, to make sure that everything goes well (and to get put right any things that do go wrong?) Another enthusiast and I were talking about First Class being by the 68 and how that kind-of doesn't make sense.

Also, with the trains having wheelchair space only in First Class, that means that the only accessible toilet / big toilet is in First Class. It is however the physically closest thing to Standard Class, so does that mean that Standard Class passengers are allowed to use it, or not? There are some people, including myself, who aren't wheelchair users but still prefer to use the big toilet rather than a small toilet (of course, I'd let someone else use it if they needed it). I did quickly take some photos of it (for context, I did so as part of many interior photos that I took!) but didn't use it.

Now for something that applies to both 68+Mk5A (all their blue locos) and 68+Mk3 (at least 68014), and I don't recall seeing anyone mention this, but being around the HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil)-fuelled 68s, they do actually smell of cooking oil! I noticed at Birmingham Moor Street, that when I stood further from the 68, the smell changed from "just smells like cooking oil" to more of a "stood outside some kind of burger restaurant"-type smell - does anyone else in here know what I'm on about?

And yes, the Mk3 sets will be missed (I, and a few other enthusiasts, had one on the return ride from Leamington Spa to Birmingham Moor Street), but, almost entirely table bays, really? And with the seats in those being low-down, and with fixed "arm rests" that dug into me, so I had to sit in an even lower-down position.

Finally, back to the Mk5A sets, I'm looking forward to doing the end-to-end journey between Birmingham Moor Street and London Marylebone sometime (some other people aren't, but I am!)

 

[Tester]

<snip>
Also, with the trains having wheelchair space only in First Class, that means that the only accessible toilet / big toilet is in First Class. It is however the physically closest thing to Standard Class, so does that mean that Standard Class passengers are allowed to use it, or not? There are some people, including myself, who aren't wheelchair users but still prefer to use the big toilet rather than a small toilet (of course, I'd let someone else use it if they needed it). I did quickly take some photos of it (for context, I did so as part of many interior photos that I took!) but didn't use it.
<snip>

There is no reason why you shouldn't use the accessible toilet - just use common sense and you will be fine.

 

[yhy17]

I had my first ride on a 68+Mk5A set (at all, rather than just with Chiltern) on Thu 5/2/26, from Birmingham Moor Street to Leamington Spa on CH02 with 68022 (Standard Class).

I actually think that they're nice trains, but then again I'm one of those "positive" people* and a modern train liker. I do actually think that they have nice looking interiors, with the blue colours and the dark wood-effect wall panels, and I don't find the lighting too bright, even with the extra centre-mounted spot lights (which I actually like the design of as well).

*However, I'm not going to pretend they don't have ride quality issues (though apparently, some of that is due to the track), and I did do a bit of "what is he doing looks" on the seats to try and feel the bar, and unfortunately, yes, I could tell that they may well develop the issue at some point.

There was a CAF tech rider on board, presumably just due to these trains being resurrected, to make sure that everything goes well (and to get put right any things that do go wrong?) Another enthusiast and I were talking about First Class being by the 68 and how that kind-of doesn't make sense.

Also, with the trains having wheelchair space only in First Class, that means that the only accessible toilet / big toilet is in First Class. It is however the physically closest thing to Standard Class, so does that mean that Standard Class passengers are allowed to use it, or not? There are some people, including myself, who aren't wheelchair users but still prefer to use the big toilet rather than a small toilet (of course, I'd let someone else use it if they needed it). I did quickly take some photos of it (for context, I did so as part of many interior photos that I took!) but didn't use it.

Now for something that applies to both 68+Mk5A (all their blue locos) and 68+Mk3 (at least 68014), and I don't recall seeing anyone mention this, but being around the HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil)-fuelled 68s, they do actually smell of cooking oil! I noticed at Birmingham Moor Street, that when I stood further from the 68, the smell changed from "just smells like cooking oil" to more of a "stood outside some kind of burger restaurant"-type smell - does anyone else in here know what I'm on about?

And yes, the Mk3 sets will be missed (I, and a few other enthusiasts, had one on the return ride from Leamington Spa to Birmingham Moor Street), but, almost entirely table bays, really? And with the seats in those being low-down, and with fixed "arm rests" that dug into me, so I had to sit in an even lower-down position.

Finally, back to the Mk5A sets, I'm looking forward to doing the end-to-end journey between Birmingham Moor Street and London Marylebone sometime (some other people aren't, but I am!)

The accessible toilet is in perfect place compared to Class 185s on which you have to walk through the entirety of First Class to access it

 

[50018_Reso]

Is there a post/location with the current MK5a set numbers (CHxx) and formations please? MTIA.

 

[800002]

Is there a post/location with the current MK5a set numbers (CHxx) and formations please? MTIA.

I believe they have not been reformed / juggled from their TPE days.
As such, TPxx = CHxx with exception of CH02 as noted previously has the 'spare' DT 12814 instead of 12802.

TP01: 11501, 12701, 12702, 12703, 12801
TP02: 11502, 12704, 12705, 12706, 12802
TP03: 11503, 12707, 12708, 12709, 12803
TP04: 11504, 12710, 12711, 12712, 12804
TP05: 11505, 12713, 12714, 12715, 12805
TP06: 11506, 12716, 12717, 12718, 12806
TP07: 11507, 12719, 12720, 12721, 12807
TP08: 11508, 12722, 12723, 12724, 12808
TP09: 11509, 12725, 12726, 12727, 12809
TP10: 11510, 12728, 12729, 12730, 12810
TP11: 11511, 12731, 12732, 12733, 12811
TP12: 11512, 12734, 12735, 12736, 12812
TP13: 11513, 12737, 12738, 12739, 12813

Copied above from another online space via search engine.
The formations I've seen so far appear as above.

 

[50018_Reso]

I believe they have not been reformed / juggled from their TPE days.
As such, TPxx = CHxx with exception of CH02 as noted previously has the 'spare' DT 12814 instead of 12802.

Copied above from another online space via search engine.
The formations I've seen so far appear as above.

That's great, many thanks. I can concur from my observations that set CH07 was in use yesterday. Useful for when RTT is not showing the allocation.

 

[CR165022]

I believe they have not been reformed / juggled from their TPE days.
As such, TPxx = CHxx with exception of CH02 as noted previously has the 'spare' DT 12814 instead of 12802.

The other exception is that 12802 is in CH06 now and 12806 is sitting spare.

 

[800002]

The other exception is that 12802 is in CH06 now and 12806 is sitting spare.

Ahh, thank you.
Some rotating is occurring (as one would expect).

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The other exception is that 12802 is in CH06 now and 12806 is sitting spare.

Is that confirmed? Someone sent me a recent photo showing 12802 back at Long Marston on its own in Chiltern livery, suggesting the attachment to CH06 might have just been an easy way to get it down for a repaint and they've been swapped back again?

Has anyone had a visual sighting of 12802 in CH06 in the past week or so?

 

[Peter Sarf]

I believe they have not been reformed / juggled from their TPE days.
As such, TPxx = CHxx with exception of CH02 as noted previously has the 'spare' DT 12814 instead of 12802.

Copied above from another online space via search engine.
The formations I've seen so far appear as above.

Even CH02 is unchanged from its TPE days as it was very early on in TPE days that 12802 was taken out of TP02 and replaced by 12814. I think 12802 became "spare" before TP02 even entered service with TPE.

 

[CR165022]

Is that confirmed? Someone sent me a recent photo showing 12802 back at Long Marston on its own in Chiltern livery, suggesting the attachment to CH06 might have just been an easy way to get it down for a repaint and they've been swapped back again?

Has anyone had a visual sighting of 12802 in CH06 in the past week or so?

That's what I'm going off, I saw photos of 12802 in white attached to CH06 & 12806 in Chiltern on it's own. Not sure what's happened since then but it does suggest it was just a way to get it to Eastleigh.

 

[Peter Sarf]

That's what I'm going off, I saw photos of 12802 in white attached to CH06 & 12806 in Chiltern on it's own. Not sure what's happened since then but it does suggest it was just a way to get it to Eastleigh.

Has CH06 been to and from Eastleigh recently ?.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

From Chiltern on instagram (My bold to add the headcodes/train IDs):

Chiltern Railways on Instagram: "Weekend plans just levelled up. ✨ The Chiltern Explorer is now running on Saturdays and Sundays - perfect for leisure trips, city breaks and countryside escapes. Upgrade to First Class for just £20 and turn your tri

9 likes, 0 comments - chilternrailway on February 19, 2026: "Weekend plans just levelled up. ✨ The Chiltern Explorer is now running on Saturdays and Sundays - perfect for leisure trips, city breaks and countryside escapes. Upgrade to First Class for just £20 and turn your trip into part of the...

www.instagram.com

Weekend plans just levelled up.

The Chiltern Explorer is now running on Saturdays and Sundays - perfect for leisure trips, city breaks and countryside escapes.

Upgrade to First Class for just £20 and turn your trip into part of the experience.

From 22 Feb: 1J55 18:38 London Marylebone station to Sturbridge Junction railway station (21:02)

From 28 Feb: 1H17 06:44 Sturbridge → Marylebone (09:17) |
1J59 19:32 Marylebone → Stourbridge (22:05)

From 1 Mar: 1H35 10:42 Stourbridge to Marylebone (13:10) |
1J55 18:38 Marylebone to Stourbridge (21:02)

Book your weekend getaway via the link in our bio

 

[pokemonsuper9]

How many trains do they need to add before Marylebone locals start complaining?

 

[PLY2AYS]

How many trains do they need to add before Marylebone locals start complaining?

Hopefully more than they aim to run daily…

(Imagine buying a budget flat next to the railway and complaining about noise)

 

[Kite159]

I did notice they are heavily advertising the £20 upgrade to the slightly nicer seats in 1st class at stations along the route.

 

[The_Train]

I did notice they are heavily advertising the £20 upgrade to the slightly nicer seats in 1st class at stations along the route.

They are indeed. But every time I have seen a set in service, 1st has been lightly loaded so doesn't appear to be much take up on that at the moment. Gives me hope that they will bin it off at some point and de-classify it like they did with the Business Zone on the Mk3s

 

[vuzzeho]

(Imagine buying a budget flat next to the railway and complaining about noise)

The concept of a budget flat in Marylebone... I would love that.