Chiltern MK5s Starting 2026 (non speculative updates thread)

[CR165022]

I know it obviously won't happen and it's just allocated like that because of disruption, but it's kind of funny to see that CH07 is currently allocated to do a few MET line services to/from Aylesbury today

 

[Bletchleyite]

I know it obviously won't happen and it's just allocated like that because of disruption, but it's kind of funny to see that CH07 is currently allocated to do a few MET line services to/from Aylesbury today

You do sometimes get oddities on the Met e.g. long 168 formations at quiet times to get them back to Aylesbury depot. This one indeed isn't possible though due to the absence of tripcocks on the 68s and DVTs.

 

[Peter Sarf]

You do sometimes get oddities on the Met e.g. long 168 formations at quiet times to get them back to Aylesbury depot. This one indeed isn't possible though due to the absence of tripcocks on the 68s and DVTs.

It wouldn't surprise me if one day someone (has) tried). My guess is lack of tripcocks would mean the use of the route is not allowed BUT that the absence of tripcocks would not actually force the unsuitable train to stop.

Or is there some other fail safe to stop a non-tripcock fitted train straying along the Metropolitan Line ?.
(I mean apart from human common sense).

Talking with friends the subject of the spare 12802 came up.
Is 12802 still visible at Long Marston (probably a situation liable to change) ?.
Any more information of the likely use of 12802 (I suspect not) ?.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Apr 2026 ==

There is a 5Q86 from Long Marston to Eastleigh today.
From Urgent TOPS request thread is 68025 plus Mk5s.

Realtime Trains | 5Q86 1344 Long Marston to Eastleigh Trsmd | 15/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q86 1344 departure from Long Marston to Eastleigh Trsmd on 15/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Bletchleyite]

Managed to squash in a quick ride on these yesterday.

I note Chiltern have removed the window blinds in Standard, I guess to save cleaning costs.

Anyone know what the boxed-in luggage rack at the end of coach B is for? It is luggage rack shaped but enclosed using wood panelling. Is it some Chiltern-specific electronics if so what?

Otherwise I think these will do the job and give a better impression than tatty Mk3s.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Apr 2026 ==

It wouldn't surprise me if one day someone (has) tried). My guess is lack of tripcocks would mean the use of the route is not allowed BUT that the absence of tripcocks would not actually force the unsuitable train to stop.

Physically no (the wrong Tube trains have been sent the wrong way on the Heathrow branch before) but I doubt it.

Chiltern often don't sort allocations until very late, so it might not get swapped on the system until nearer 1427 when it's alleged to be (but won't be) going to AYS.

Theoretically I think they could go to AYS via Risborough though, but I doubt they would as they aren't maintained there. Most of the time a unit other than a 165 going to/from AYS is just so it can get to/from the depot without needing an ECS path and extra driver.

 

[800002]

Anyone know what the boxed-in luggage rack at the end of coach B is for? It is luggage rack shaped but enclosed using wood panelling. Is it some Chiltern-specific electronics if so what?

Standard class at seat trolley storage.
Currently empty.

 

[CR165022]

Does anyone know what loco is on CH07 currently?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Does anyone know what loco is on CH07 currently?

68 031

Unless it's been swapped overnight. I had it for haulage yesterday from Haddenham to Bicester North on the 17.07 ex-Marylebone.




...and a question from me: Do we know roughly when CH01 will move from Long Marston to Eastleigh for its re-livery and preparation? It's the only rake I now need for haulage ( plus of course the elusive 12802 as well ).

 

[LordFlashheart]

You do sometimes get oddities on the Met e.g. long 168 formations at quiet times to get them back to Aylesbury depot. This one indeed isn't possible though due to the absence of tripcocks on the 68s and DVTs.

there are tripcock 'detectors / testers' for want of a better word at Amersham S/B and Harrow N/B. Signal clears when tripcock runs over a treadle. Its the reason for the very slow pass through Harrow for non-stop trains, which causes no end of confusion for passengers who think the train is about to stop

 

[800002]

You do sometimes get oddities on the Met e.g. long 168 formations at quiet times to get them back to Aylesbury depot. This one indeed isn't possible though due to the absence of tripcocks on the 68s and DVTs.

That and the high chance that the booked driver doesn't sign the traction and the 100% chance that there is no Train Manager diagrammed to it.

Long (over length, more than 6) formations are very few and far between and i can't think of the last occasion in recent memory it occurred.

But indeed, no tripcock = No go signal at the aforementioned locations.

(They're also just 'DTs' now, but knew what you meant in reference to previous loco services).

 

[Bletchleyite]

By long I just meant "not 2-3 car", there are a couple in the evening when the peak time services are mostly 2 car!

 

[Peter Sarf]

(from the Urgent TOPS thread)

The consist of 5q86 will become visible quite soon
(My understanding of 12802’s status is that it is damaged in some way and needs more than just a re-livery)
Apologies to mods for drift

Thanks for that. Makes it a lot less than a hot spare.

there are tripcock 'detectors / testers' for want of a better word at Amersham S/B and Harrow N/B. Signal clears when tripcock runs over a treadle. Its the reason for the very slow pass through Harrow for non-stop trains, which causes no end of confusion for passengers who think the train is about to stop

Thankyou for the explanation. So infact the signalling system does know if a train without tripcocks is heading onto the Harrow to Amersham section that requires tripcocks.

 

[800002]

By long I just meant "not 2-3 car", there are a couple in the evening when the peak time services are mostly 2 car!

That would be completely different to being 'overlength'. Misread / interpreted your post there.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Apr 2026 ==

Theoretically I think they could go to AYS via Risborough though, but I doubt they would as they aren't maintained there. Most of the time a unit other than a 165 going to/from AYS is just so it can get to/from the depot without needing an ECS path and extra driver.

Only ever in ECS, but not any more.

They would only now be able to access the sidings (little point) as the depot / maintenence/ lathe road(s) aren't long enough.

The Mk5a sets can't be split down / reformed like the older Mk3s were to get the wheels turned at Aylesbury.

 

[Bletchleyite]

165035 is doing the honours on the 1427 up the Met. As often happens the allocation was changed at the last minute. So no Mk5s getting to Harrow and getting stopped

 

[warwickshire]

It wouldn't surprise me if one day someone (has) tried). My guess is lack of tripcocks would mean the use of the route is not allowed BUT that the absence of tripcocks would not actually force the unsuitable train to stop.

Or is there some other fail safe to stop a non-tripcock fitted train straying along the Metropolitan Line ?.
(I mean apart from human common sense).

Talking with friends the subject of the spare 12802 came up.
Is 12802 still visible at Long Marston (probably a situation liable to change) ?.
Any more information of the likely use of 12802 (I suspect not) ?.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Apr 2026 ==

There is a 5Q86 from Long Marston to Eastleigh today.
From Urgent TOPS request thread is 68025 plus Mk5s.

Realtime Trains | 5Q86 1344 Long Marston to Eastleigh Trsmd | 15/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q86 1344 departure from Long Marston to Eastleigh Trsmd on 15/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Confirmed and sighted at Lapworth Warwickshire with set CH09.

 

[Covshire1]

68025 with CH09 on todays 5Q86...

 

[warwickshire]

68025 with CH09 on todays 5Q86...

Both branded.

 

[Kite159]

I note Chiltern have removed the window blinds in Standard, I guess to save cleaning costs.

Did they ever have window blinds fitted in standard class when on TPE?

 

[superalbs]

Did they ever have window blinds fitted in standard class when on TPE?

Nope.

 

[CR165022]

Not sure why, but 68025 has now followed 020 & 032 in having the vinyls applied the wrong way round...

 

[Bletchleyite]

Did they ever have window blinds fitted in standard class when on TPE?

Nope.

Ah, my memory is wrong then, I thought they did.

 

[Covshire1]

Pairings out and about today:
68020 + CH05
68031 + CH07
68024 + CH03
68022 + CH12
68030 + CH10
68032 + CH13

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Not sure why, but 68025 has now followed 020 & 032 in having the vinyls applied the wrong way round...

Why do they do that?

 

[800002]

Why do they do that?

Likely a general misunderstanding in how they are ti be applied. After all, there is a correct and incorrect orientation of the fleet / loco.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Likely a general misunderstanding in how they are ti be applied. After all, there is a correct and incorrect orientation of the fleet / loco.

Just seems odd to put everything the wrong way around.

 

[XCTurbostar]

I've conducted a short investigation into this, it appears that most are in the 'Light blue at the Number 1 end' livery. Here is the detail:

	Livery	Light blue on
68018​	DRS Base Blue	N/A
68019​	DRS Base Blue	N/A
68020​	Chiltern Waves	Number 2 End
68021​	DRS Base Blue	N/A
68022​	Chiltern Waves	Number 1 End
68023​	DRS Base Blue	N/A
68024​	Chiltern Waves	Number 1 End
68025​	Chiltern Waves	Number 2 End
68026​	Chiltern Waves	Number 1 End
68027​	Chiltern Waves	Number 1 End
68028​	Chiltern Waves with Yellow front	Number 1 End
68029​	Chiltern Waves	Number 1 End
68030​	Chiltern Waves	Number 1 End
68031​	Chiltern Waves	Number 1 End
68032​	Chiltern Waves	Number 2 End

For reference; the Number 2 cab is exhaust end

 

[800002]

And by that, then, there are three locos now showing incorrectly.
Believe that the light blue is indeed meant to be on the #1 end, similar to hire the silver sets were arranged.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Have the 68s that have been re-liveried the wrong way round turned up at Eastleigh on their sets facing the wrong way ?.

 

[XCTurbostar]

Have the 68s that have been re-liveried the wrong way round turned up at Eastleigh on their sets facing the wrong way ?.

Thats a fair question, as far as I can tell, it doesnt seem to make any difference since the 68s are separated from their sets for the re-livery.

As an example; 68020 was the second re-liveried, it arrived on August 15th 2025 with set CH02 and left on September 25th 2025 with set CH05. During this, the loco swapped ends (it arrived leading and left leading but the loco was not turned).

Since there is a turning loop at Eastleigh via the station, I would be amazed if this made any difference!

 

[47286Dan]

Wednesday morning update

68025 MBDL EGHT RSMD 865Q691F22 V * BANBURY N
Stock
CH08 11508 12722 12723 12724 12808

Dan

 

[MidlandRailfan]

I was under the impression that the Mark number was just a way of displaying difference between passenger carrying stock in a similar sort of way you would with a Mk1 and Mk2 Golf (for example)
It should also be noted that not all Mark 1s were built by BREL either.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Apr 2026 ==

Hi - does anyone know the whereabouts of 12814?
Is it part of a fixed rake presently, or designated as a spare?
Any help welcomed - many thanks.