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Chiltern unit at Milton Keynes 28/07/2026

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Gathursty

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On my way back from London to Wigan, I spotted a Chiltern Railways unit slowly entering Milton Keynes (or Bletchley) at about 3pm. Not the usual stomping ground for a Chiltern unit. What was happening?
 
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Peter Mugridge

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That would be a 196/0 doing crew training on the East - West route.

As an example, here is 196 007 at Milton Keynes on 27th March this year.
 

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Gathursty

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Very fast reply thanks. Can't wait to ride the East-West route at some point.
 
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zwk500

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Gathursty said:
On my way back from London to Wigan, I spotted a Chiltern Railways unit slowly entering Milton Keynes (or Bletchley) at about 3pm. Not the usual stomping ground for a Chiltern unit. What was happening?
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Chiltern are running ECS moves most/every day for when the passenger services eventually start.
Some of them turn round at Bletchley high level and theyre quite often cancelled for crew availability but its pretty common now to see Chiltern units around MK
 
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sammyg901

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Chiltern are advertising a "Customer Service Inspector" role at Bletchley which sounds like an non operational onboard role similar to Southern etc. Fingers crossed this is the solution agreed to staffing and will unlock getting passenger services finally running !
 
Sun Chariot

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Gathursty said:
On my way back from London to Wigan, I spotted a Chiltern Railways unit slowly entering Milton Keynes (or Bletchley) at about 3pm. Not the usual stomping ground for a Chiltern unit. What was happening?
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Hello - I'll build upon Peter's explanation - the driver-training has been underway for quite a while. I attach photos from 22-Oct 2024, when Chiltern and GWR ran several trials betwwen Bletchley / MK and Bicester / Oxford.
 

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Gathursty

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I'll hesitate over my follow-up question as I'm sure there'll be a thread somewhere on here about the situation regarding staffing holding up the beginning of passenger services on this route. Thanks for the photos.
 
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800002

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Gathursty said:
I'll hesitate over my follow-up question as I'm sure there'll be a thread somewhere on here about the situation regarding staffing holding up the beginning of passenger services on this route. Thanks for the photos.
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Why stand on ceremony.
Ask away.

Personally, I think it's just got a little interesting again...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

And, of course, not to be confused with the blue 196 units being used on the Leamington- Nuneaton service, if spotted while out and about...
These having been sub-leased *back* to WMT for a period of time.
 
Gathursty

Gathursty

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800002 said:
Why stand on ceremony.
Ask away.

Personally, I think it's just got a little interesting again...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

And, of course, not to be confused with the blue 196 units being used on the Leamington- Nuneaton service, if spotted while out and about...
These having been sub-leased *back* to WMT for a period of time.
Click to expand...
Okie dokie. When will passenger trains begin serving Oxford - Bletchley - Bedford?
 
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800002

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iamraymond said:
Within 5 years (hopefully), it's only been a year since it was ready, so patience is key
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The cynic inside says "if only".
The optimistic inside me says "when sufficient drivers are trained, and when 'other unions not invited to participate in such services "give up and go home".
The realist inside me says "who knows... certainly not those responsible for operating said service"
The accurist inside me says "the line was complete in 2024... so more than a year since complete and no service".
 
Horizon22

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sammyg901 said:
Chiltern are advertising a "Customer Service Inspector" role at Bletchley which sounds like an non operational onboard role similar to Southern etc. Fingers crossed this is the solution agreed to staffing and will unlock getting passenger services finally running !
Click to expand...

That discussion about that is in this thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/chiltern-customer-service-inspector.305260/

Gathursty said:
I'll hesitate over my follow-up question as I'm sure there'll be a thread somewhere on here about the situation regarding staffing holding up the beginning of passenger services on this route. Thanks for the photos.
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There's some discussion about that here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ge-bletchley-oxford-speculative-thread.301029 with original discussion here: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/east-west-rail-ewr-countdown-to-entry-into-service.275902
 
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800002

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TT-ONR-NRN said:
I seriously hope this is tongue-in-cheek.
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... firmly.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

But hey, the paths are all in public systems now, so what else could go wrong?
 
CHobbs

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Gathursty said:
On my way back from London to Wigan, I spotted a Chiltern Railways unit slowly entering Milton Keynes (or Bletchley) at about 3pm. Not the usual stomping ground for a Chiltern unit. What was happening?
Click to expand...
I saw this too .. just presumed they were route training .. for whenever the line opens for passengers. They will be the best trained staff ever!
 
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cle

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Wasn't there some issue about Winslow station being too cold / hot / something else ... ? Before services would begin too.
 
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barbette165

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cle said:
Wasn't there some issue about Winslow station being too cold / hot / something else ... ? Before services would begin too.
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I see this more of a smokescreen excuse for the failure to open the line rather than a real reason. If it really is a problem (and I'm not convinced of that) then the line could open without calling at Winslow, in a similar manner to the way The Northumberland Line was opened.
 
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