Chiltern MK5s Starting 2026 (non speculative updates thread)

[Forty29]

I haven't seen 008/009 on the Chiltern line for a long time now though obviously don't record every working.

 

[43096]

Wondering if 1 spare loco at the moment even if stationed at Banbury is spreading the ground a little thin if a loco decides to sit down on the mainline and require rescuing.

Ultimately if 10 sets are working the full Service to Birmingham with 1 spare loco and set and two on maintenace cycle at say Eastleigh there is next to no spare capacity. I suspect the two DRS locos are going to be required semi permanently if not fully.

What was TPE's plan for rescue if they managed to get a full service runnin?

It's surprising how often 008 & 9 are on MK3 duties currently tbh

So if there are 11 sets diagrammed (10 service, one hot spare) that implies 79% availability for the loco fleet (14 locos in pool), which should be achievable. Add in a "ThunderCat" rescue loco and it is 86% availability required - which is more challenging for what is a fairly small fleet.

It has been suggested elsewhere that the Mark 5 kit off 68033/034 may be transferred to two Beacon owned locos (68017/018?) and that these would have their DRS lease ended and be re-leased direct to Chiltern, as additional support for the fleet.

 

[matt]

I haven't seen 008/009 on the Chiltern line for a long time now though obviously don't record every working.

68008 was in use on the 23rd August, I travelled back to Birmingham behind it.

 

[D365]

It has been suggested elsewhere that the Mark 5 kit off 68033/034 may be transferred to two Beacon owned locos (68017/018?) and that these would have their DRS lease ended and be re-leased direct to Chiltern, as additional support for the fleet.

I’m going to be that annoying, pedantic person and state that none of the Class 68s (or indeed, any of the Stadler locos… so far) are fitted with the 61 way jumpers and cab equipment for working with Mk5 Sleeper coaches.

But yes, the transfer of Mk5A multiple working equipment from 68033/034 to 68017/018 has been previously suggested on RailUK.

 

[172007]

Depends whether DRS wants to lease locos to Chiltern, which seems unlikely (and 008 and 009 aren't compatible anyway).

Not sure why it's surprising that 008 and 009 appear a lot - 008-15 are all DRS locos and they provide however many it is they are contracted to provide from that pool: it doesn't really matter which specific locos it is. Apart from the livery those two locos are no different from the silver ones.

Its surprising that 008 & 009 are used as
A) most companies (in the real world) would prefer everything to be in their house colours. You ought to see the brand kits specifying typeface and where a Toc logo can and cannot be positioned that are on the intranet to see how seriously this stuff is taken in theory.

B) With 3 x mk5 sets in use and 6 silver locos albeit one in a Chiltern HVO livery the its somewhat staggering / bafflkng that 008 & 009 are ever used

 

[L+Y]

On the subject of liveries, have we any indication at all for when we might see a set vinyled up in Chiltern livery?

 

[Yorkshire09876]

I’m going to be that annoying, pedantic person and state that none of the Class 68s (or indeed, any of the Stadler locos… so far) are fitted with the 61 way jumpers and cab equipment for working with Mk5 Sleeper coaches.

But yes, the transfer of Mk5A multiple working equipment from 68033/034 to 68017/018 has been previously suggested on RailUK.

Not sure what the relevance of the sleeper coaches is as this discussion isn't about them, but as regards the Mk5a sets, those use the native multiple-working system fitted to all the UK Stadler locos, so nothing else needed there. What is needed is the equipment for integrating with the TMS - it is that which 68019-34 are fitted with. It's connected via an additional socket just above the buffer beam.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Sep 2025 ==

Its surprising that 008 & 009 are used as
A) most companies (in the real world) would prefer everything to be in their house colours. You ought to see the brand kits specifying typeface and where a Toc logo can and cannot be positioned that are on the intranet to see how seriously this stuff is taken in theory.

When 67s were used there was a wider range of liveries appearing. Likewise with the Wales operation - both now and previously. All of which suggests that the TOCs aren't that bothered.

B) With 3 x mk5 sets in use and 6 silver locos albeit one in a Chiltern HVO livery the its somewhat staggering / bafflkng that 008 & 009 are ever used

That rather depends on the availability levels, and on whether there is a clear preference for Chiltern-liveried locos or whether it's just whichever of the pool is available.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Not sure what the relevance of the sleeper coaches is as this discussion isn't about them, but as regards the Mk5a sets, those use the native multiple-working system fitted to all the UK Stadler locos, so nothing else needed there. What is needed is the equipment for integrating with the TMS - it is that which 68019-34 are fitted with. It's connected via an additional socket just above the buffer beam.

D365 was being a pedant and trying to highlight the difference between Mk5 and Mk5a.

It is written somewhere that the Caley sleepers are Mk5 and the ex TPE push pull sets are Mk5a

 

[XCTurbostar]

68022 and CH12: 3U20 > 3H22 > 3E23

68030 and CH10: 5Q69 > 5Q70 > 5Q71 > 5Q72 > 5Q73

Looks like a set is going back to Eastleigh too: 5Q86

 

[43 302]

So if there are 11 sets diagrammed (10 service, one hot spare) that implies 79% availability for the loco fleet (14 locos in pool), which should be achievable. Add in a "ThunderCat" rescue loco and it is 86% availability required - which is more challenging for what is a fairly small fleet.

It has been suggested elsewhere that the Mark 5 kit off 68033/034 may be transferred to two Beacon owned locos (68017/018?) and that these would have their DRS lease ended and be re-leased direct to Chiltern, as additional support for the fleet.

68017 and 68018 off lease from the end of September.

 

[317362]

Just seen a set on the west-south curve at Reading West, DVT facing South and silver, anyone know the set and 68? Hadn't expected it and took a while to work out what I was seeing

Realtime Trains | 5Q86 1622 Banbury to Eastleigh Trsmd | 02/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q86 1622 departure from Banbury to Eastleigh Trsmd on 02/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[alanc]

Just seen a set on the west-south curve at Reading West, DVT facing South and silver, anyone know the set and 68? Hadn't expected it and took a while to work out what I was seeing

Realtime Trains | 5Q86 1622 Banbury to Eastleigh Trsmd | 02/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q86 1622 departure from Banbury to Eastleigh Trsmd on 02/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Will have been 68030, uncertain of the set
Alan

 

[xotGD]

Can the discussion about plastic please find another thread, so that this one can focus on proper trains?

 

[BlueLeanie]

Can the discussion about plastic please find another thread, so that this one can focus on proper trains?

Surely all trains will be vinyled whether they be Locos + LHCS, or multiple units?

I'm looking forward to seeing the Mk5As in service in Chiltern livery.

 

[XCTurbostar]

Surely all trains will be vinyled whether they be Locos + LHCS, or multiple units?

I'm looking forward to seeing the Mk5As in service in Chiltern livery.

Likewise, I am interested to see if Chiltern Railways will retain the black fronts on the MK5 DTs and if they will follow the same format as the Clubmans. Historically, the locohauled sets always led the way with a slightly different livery.

 

[XCTurbostar]

Will have been 68030, uncertain of the set
Alan

68030 and CH10

 

[yorkie]

Just a gentle reminder, this is traction & rolling stock updates thread regarding what is actually happening with Chiltern Mk5s.

Anything else, including anything that is speculative, belongs in a separate thread, please.

If anyone sees any post of concern and/or a thread go off-topic/speculative, please do not reply/react/respond to it; instead please use the report button.

Thanks


Edit: some posts have been moved to:

Potential Chiltern rolling stock cascade, once Mk5s are introduced?

Moderator note: Split from https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/chiltern-mk5s-starting-2026-non-speculative-updates-thread.290448/ Apologies if this is the wrong thread. Unsure if this is accurate or not, but have read on Facebook on an article about EWR that the introduction of these MK5s will...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[XCTurbostar]

No sets in traffic today.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Can the discussion about plastic please find another thread, so that this one can focus on proper trains?

What is this thread title about ?
Think you need to get used to CAF Mk5a stock - or take up stamp collecting

 

[Forty29]

68008 was in use on the 23rd August, I travelled back to Birmingham behind it.

Thanks for information.

 

[warwickshire]

68008 was in use on the 23rd August, I travelled back to Birmingham behind it.

Yes, 68008 had a 3 week spell at Chiltern, arrived on Saturday 16th August 2025 at Wembley from Crewe, and Returned Saturday 30th August 2025,

Most notably for the best part of time between Monday 18th August for Most of that week it actually ran with 68022 and CH12, Banbury depot to Banbury platform one, to see if in the interim, Doing various test runs to see if a Chiltern based 68 can rescue a Mk5 set, should one fail on the Mainline, ie for, obvious reasons because until March 2026, Whilst testing and graduall fleet replacement occurs, ie goodbye mk3s, this situation of a Chiltern 68 rescuing a Mk5 set could well happen,
Until enough Mk5 compatible 68s are around on Chiltern.

Yes 68008 returned to the Chiltern Mainline on Mk3s for a very short spell mainly just covering the Bank Holiday weekend either side.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Yes, 68008 had a 3 week spell at Chiltern, arrived on Saturday 16th August 2025 at Wembley from Crewe, and Returned Saturday 30th August 2025,

Most notably for the best part of time between Monday 18th August for Most of that week it actually ran with 68022 and CH12, Banbury depot to Banbury platform one, to see if in the interim, Doing various test runs to see if a Chiltern based 68 can rescue a Mk5 set, should one fail on the Mainline, ie for, obvious reasons because until March 2026, Whilst testing and graduall fleet replacement occurs, ie goodbye mk3s, this situation of a Chiltern 68 rescuing a Mk5 set could well happen,
Until enough Mk5 compatible 68s are around on Chiltern.

Yes 68008 returned to the Chiltern Mainline on Mk3s for a very short spell mainly just covering the Bank Holiday weekend either side.

Also begs the question, can a TPE 68 rescue a Chiltern Mk3 set ?.

 

[warwickshire]

Also begs the question, can a TPE 68 rescue a Chiltern Mk3 set ?.

Yes, should be able to do so,

However a Chiltern locomotive on a Mk5 set drag, has occurred before and can be done, anyway, because between Lockdown Covid one July 2020 and Covid two January 2021, in those final days of the pacers on the clc Lines Manchester Piccadilly to Chester, Transpennine Express did seem to hire in 68013 a lot for movement in around Longsight yard, because I remember seeing it there moving a set around and also was on a ecs move with one, between Stockport and Slade Lane junction on a ecs move from Crewe. With the pacer on the slow line, successful in undertaking it with great ease,

However yes a Chiltern 68, has occurred before on a mk5 set, but only for ecs or dragging move only, and rescue can be achieved but only for such purposes.
and the same vice versa,

 

[XCTurbostar]

68022 and CH12: 3U20 > 3H22 > 3E23

68032 and CH13: 3N01 > 3J04 > 3N07 > 3J08

 

[Yorkshire09876]

Also begs the question, can a TPE 68 rescue a Chiltern Mk3 set ?.

Mk3a and Mk5a sets have standard buffers / drawgear, and air pipes - so in either case any air-braked loco should be able to rescue them.

 

[E27007]

68008 was in use on the 23rd August, I travelled back to Birmingham behind it.

RTT reports 68009 on the 1R17 0902 MYB to Birmingham today

 

[The_Train]

RTT reports 68009 on the 1R17 0902 MYB to Birmingham today

Indeed it is. It dropped onto 1J53 last night so I had to do a desperate leap to get it into the book

 

[XCTurbostar]

There are some pictures floating around of the new Chiltern livery.. here you go.

The livery shows 68020 in a brand new Chiltern livery of all over blue with dark blue body sides and no yellow fronts.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

There are some pictures floating around of the new Chiltern livery.. here you go.

The livery shows 68020 is a brand new Chiltern livery of all over blue with dark blue body sides and no yellow fronts.

Kinda smart. A bit full on, but smart

 

[BlueLeanie]

In Lumo colours?

I'm never sure if I'm seeing AI or a photo these days.