Chiltern MK5s Starting 2026 (non speculative updates thread)

[150219]

That means driver cab right?

They have so many carriages with no air-con. It makes it unbearable to travel.

Not sure of the linkage between the two. It refers to 68019 rescuing a freight loco (66507).

 

[172007]

That means driver cab right?

They have so many carriages with no air-con. It makes it unbearable to travel.

Driving cab of an intermodal (container) train. 68019 took it to Eastleigh as it was going there and jad working A/C jn tje cab. Actially there are a few cintainers in intermodals that do have A/C for chilled frozen goods, although i dont know the failure rate.

On the subject if A/C most train carriages have more than one A/C module per carriage. If you are to warm and you can please move through the train until you are comfortable. Too many sit with sweat on there brows when the other end of the same carriage or next one has people wearing jumpers and coats who are complaining its to cold.

 

[47286Dan]

Thursday afternoon movement

68026 MBDL WEMBLYLMD 635Q862O06 V * EGHT RSMD N
Coaches
11506 12716 12717 12718 12806

Dan

 

[sammyg901]

From the Chiltern application to run more London-Birmingham services thread





The Birmingham Moor Street departures at 09:45 and 10:15 on a weekday are the first and second for which super-off-peak tickets are valid as the restriction is arrival in London Marylebone after 11:30. Looking at Realtime Trains for Friday 17 July 2025, when there were no planned timetable changes, 7 (4+3) car and 5 (3+2) car 168 formations ran. Looking at Friday 15th January 2027 both show First & Standard class seating so potentially changed to Mk5 sets and hence reduced capacity, a potential issue on numerous posts in this thread. From experience albeit in summer not January both of these services can be 100% capacity if not standing from Leamington Spa then standing from Banbury onwards.

I think something is wonky in the data at the moment re: services that will have First Class. As you say, these are very busy services and they haven't removed any stops or added a Banbury starter relief service in the Dec timetable so highly unlikely candidates for Mk5 operation, if anything I'd expect these to be longer than 4 cars M-Th as that train is always full and standing by Bicester North.

Though there is a new limited stop Bicester Village starter at 1032 I'd probably take that if travelling around that time after December.

Services do show as unit or 68 hauled in RTT and that seems to be accurate e.g. 1145 ex BMO

 

[47286Dan]

Today’s movement

68019 MBDL EGHT RSMD 865Y861O21 V * EGHT RSMD N
Coaches
11510, 12728, 12729, 12730, 12810

Dan

 

[47286Dan]

Bank Holiday movement

68026 MBDL EGHT RSMD 865Y861N31 V * EGHT RSMD N
Coaches
11510 12728 12729 12730 12810

Dan

 

[172007]

Looks like 68019 and set CH03 failed at Moor Street today and was taken back to Wembly by 68029.

Which set now has GBR livery?

 

[XCTurbostar]

Copied from HERE
According to Richard Clinnick of Modern Railways, there is now a Chiltern Mk5A set in GBR colours.

 

[XCTurbostar]

The below images show the GBR Chiltern Class 68 loco reveal

 

[Harlequinuk]

And the the other end

 

[MerlinRail 804]

The below images show the GBR Chiltern Class 68 loco reveal

not sure I like the sizing of the numbers there, especially the one on the front

 

[sabanda]

Bicycle space/seat number sticker looks utterly horrendous. The loco itself looks good but could do with a logo on the front!

 

[CR165022]

That whole set is disgusting to look at, and an insult.

In other news, 68028 has lost its yellow front and is now blue like the others.

 

[XCTurbostar]

In other news, 68028 has lost its yellow front and is now blue like the others.

It was only really a matter of time, is that at Eastleigh now?

 

[CR165022]

It was only really a matter of time, is that at Eastleigh now?

Nope, still at Loughborough, was moving 37501

 

[Wolfie]

The below images show the GBR Chiltern Class 68 loco reveal

The more l see of this tacky Temu livery the more l hate and detest it. Utter crass crap.

Even my 9 year old daughter thinks it is dire!

 

[100andthirty]

The new livery adds to the Darth Vader likeness

 

[Harpo]

The more l see of this tacky Temu livery the more l hate and detest it. Utter crass crap.

So disrespectful to the nursery school that designed the livery.

 

[CL395]

So is the Chiltern Explorer brand already redundant and being phased out?

 

[MerlinRail 804]

So is the Chiltern Explorer brand already redundant and being phased out?

if it’s GBR Chiltern then surely it would be a “GBR Chiltern Explorer”?

 

[Wolfie]

So disrespectful to the nursery school that designed the livery.

Hahaha

 

[800002]

So is the Chiltern Explorer brand already redundant and being phased out?

You couldn't very well run them around with TPE in the mean time, could you?

It won't be applied to all of them, not immediately. As has been seen with the other operators.

Im sure it will still be displayed as "Chiltern Explorer".
Have the operators' had their announcements amended to sound "GBR (Brand) Service"?

 

[sabanda]

Surely if everything becomes GBR, announcing it would be futile anyway?