Chiltern MK5s Starting 2026 (non speculative updates thread)

[MerlinRail 804]

In Lumo colours?

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

Don’t worry, not AI

 

[XCTurbostar]

Additional picture showing how the other end of the 68 is a darker colour.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Additional picture showing how the other end of the 68 is a darker colour.

Looking at all three photos it seems to be four shades of blue ?. With the very dark blue being the predominant colour (85% ?). With medium blue on the outward * end of the 68 and medium-dark blue the cab end of the Driving Trailer.

* = The wheelchair stickers on the medium blue end of the 68 I suppose indicate the accessible coach is towards the first class end (so second coach behind the 68) ?.

 

[LUYMun]

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.

The 68s are going from a smart silver livery to a child's painting.

 

[godfreycomplex]

The 68s are going from a smart silver livery to a child's painting.

Which children do you know who paint in dark blue, Holden Caulfield?

 

[MerlinRail 804]

I like the lighter blue, but the dark blue shouldn’t really be the main colour unless it’s set against a lighter colour, like on the refurbed 168s. Why didn’t they just take that and maybe modify it a bit?

 

[Jacob Porrett]

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.

Looks interesting.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Sep 2025 ==

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

I had 009 on Friday from to Birmingham and then took it from Birmingham to Banbury.

 

[driver9000]

Looking at all three photos it seems to be four shades of blue ?. With the very dark blue being the predominant colour (85% ?). With medium blue on the outward * end of the 68 and medium-dark blue the cab end of the Driving Trailer.

* = The wheelchair stickers on the medium blue end of the 68 I suppose indicate the accessible coach is towards the first class end (so second coach behind the 68) ?.

Assuming the coach formation is unchanged from TPE 1st will be next to the loco and has the wheelchair spaces and accessible toilet.

 

[CR165022]

I know its not really an issue at all, but I find it odd how they've only done the light blue on one end, and that end being the no2 end, not the no1 end.

 

[43096]

I know its not really an issue at all, but I find it odd how they've only done the light blue on one end, and that end being the no2 end, not the no1 end.

It depends how it looks when, inevitably, the locos end up the wrong way round on the set. It'll be exactly the same issue that ÖBB have with their RailJet sets, where the locos aer often the wrong way round, as seen below.

 

[AJDesiro]

I know its not really an issue at all, but I find it odd how they've only done the light blue on one end, and that end being the no2 end, not the no1 end.

There’s a similar setup on the silver 68s.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Kinda smart. A bit full on, but smart

Though a bit of FirstGroup style overbranding with the "big C" everywhere.

 

[AJDesiro]

Though a bit of FirstGroup style overbranding with the "big C" everywhere.

It just doesn’t feel like it’s got any balance to it, I’m not the biggest fan of its use…

 

[fgwrich]

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.

Bizarre choice of location to put the disabled stickers though, unless they’re providing PRM Capability in the cab

 

[MCR247]

Bizarre choice of location to put the disabled stickers though, unless they’re providing PRM Capability in the cab

I guess it’s to indicate which end of the train the wheelchair spaces are as the train pulls into the station

 

[fgwrich]

I guess it’s to indicate which end of the train the wheelchair spaces are as the train pulls into the station

I did think that but they appear to have them only at one end. Also, the loco is attached to the FC coach - is that where the wheelchair spaces were on the TPE sets?

 

[MCR247]

I did think that but they appear to have them only at one end. Also, the loco is attached to the FC coach - is that where the wheelchair spaces were on the TPE sets?

It seems like Chiltern have (again?) decided to go with a design that only ‘works’ as intended when the loco is facing the “right” way and so have only applied the stickers to the “right” end

 

[adc82140]

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.

Am I missing something here, or is one of those photos the driving end of a Mark 5a rake?

 

[156444]

Am I missing something here, or is one of those photos the driving end of a Mark 5a rake?

Yes

 

[driver9000]

I did think that but they appear to have them only at one end. Also, the loco is attached to the FC coach - is that where the wheelchair spaces were on the TPE sets?

Yes.

 

[Goldfish62]

From the highly restricted view in those photos I can't really form any sort of opinion. I'd have to see a fully decked-out set.

 

[Welly]

Kinda smart. A bit full on, but smart

Oh good! No more grey! I hate grey.

 

[MerlinRail 804]

Oh good! No more grey! I hate grey.

yeah I'm with that. Modern then, but not now. I did kinda like the livery they had on the slam door Mk3 set. I'd have been very happy if they'd just "blued" that up tbh.

 

[Harlequinuk]

All the mk5a`s gone from Long Marston now?

 

[nw1]

The briefing quoted in posts above says (in route diagram form) that the Mk5s will be found between London and Birmingham/Stourbridge Jn which seems to suggest that Oxford & Stratford are not on the agenda.

Wasn't the Oxford/Stratford comment about restoring the pre-Covid service rather than introducing Mk5s to those destinations, though?

 

[warwickshire]

All the mk5a`s gone from Long Marston now?

No,
DT 12802
Sets CH03 CH04 CH06 CH07 CH09 remaining
With 68031 moving them around the Long Marston site only,

These sets will be at Long Marston a little Longer as work is taking place at the site,
Means they are unable to leave temporary,
However in due course, they will move over to Chiltern respectively, like 68031 will need to go to Leicester for preparation for Chiltern like the other recently arrived ex Transpennine Express 68s did,

However as Chiltern have CH02 CH05 CH10 CH12 CH13 already ready for the 1st mk5 phase to replace the mk3s which is enough anyway, ie phase out to End March 2026,

So the Long Marston ones will remain for time being, as the full requirements isn't to December 2026, ie full Chiltern introduction on its Mainline.

However to Note CH03 CH04 are the most long term resident's at Long Marston, with more or less, not going back out onto the Mainline for about 16 to 17 Months,

 

[Eurostarosaur]

So will the first trains be entering service well ahead of March 2026?

 

[warwickshire]

So will the first trains be entering service well ahead of March 2026?

Expected in service between January 2026 to March 2026, gradually, obviously staff training has to be done, even in March 2026, and onwards substitutions will occur,
Like they do now with mk3 sets,
However yes, but gradually between January 2026 to March 2026, as the mk3 sets slowly vanish away into history. For Chiltern.

 

[nigelsporne]

I was hoping for a little earlier, never mind.

 

[XCTurbostar]

68022 and CH12 are out on 3U20 > 3H22 > 3E23