• Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Chiltern MK5s Starting 2026 (non speculative updates thread)

Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

XCTurbostar

Established Member
Joined
13 Sep 2014
Messages
2,536
Saturday 20th September
Driver Training Mk5s
None.

Passenger Mk3s
68012 and AL03 - Stourbridge Depot > 5J27 > 1H27 > 1R29 > 5H54 > Wembley LMD
168217 - 1J53 > 5J53 > Stourbridge Depot
68013 and AL01 - Stourbridge Depot > 5R17 > 1H17 > 5E20 > Wembley LMD > 5O66 > 1J59 > 5J59 > Stourbridge Depot

Current 68s (MK3s) available for Chiltern Railways use
68008 - XHCS - No, DRS use.
68009 - XHCS - Yes
68010 - XHCE - Yes
68011 - XHCE - No, DRS use. At Gresty Bridge
68012 - XHCE - Yes
68013 - XHCE - Yes
68014 - XHCE - Yes, at Aylesbury with AL02 and 82301
68015 - XHCE - No, DRS use. At Gresty Bridge
 
Last edited:

XCTurbostar

Established Member
Joined
13 Sep 2014
Messages
2,536
Monday 22nd September
Driver Training Mk5s

68022 and 68028 and CH12 - Eastleigh to Banbury - 5Q69
37510 and 68031 and CH07 - Long Marston to Eastleigh - 5Q86
68029 and CH02 - 3U20 > 3H22 > 3E23 > Wembley LMD
68022 and CH12 - 3T08 > Stourbridge Depot

Passenger Mk3s
68012 and AL03 - 5J14 > 1H14 > 1R17 > 1H41 > 1J49 > 5J49 > Stourbridge Depot
168219 - 5R17 > 1H17
168215 - 1R21 > 1H45
68010 and AL04 - 5O60 > 1J53 > 5J53 > Stourbridge Depot

Current 68s (MK3s) avaliable for Chiltern Railways use
68008 - XHCS - No, DRS use.
68009 - XHCS - Yes
68010 - XHCE - Yes
68011 - XHCE - No, DRS use. At Gresty Bridge
68012 - XHCE - Yes
68013 - XHCE - Yes
68014 - XHCE - Yes, at Aylesbury with AL02 and 82301
68015 - XHCE - No, DRS use. At Gresty Bridge
 
Last edited:

warwickshire

On Moderation
Joined
6 Feb 2020
Messages
2,304
Location
leamingtonspa
Monday 22nd September 2025.

1. 3TO8 1603 Banbury Depot to Stourbridge junction move was 68022 with set CH12, still unbranded, for this week's forthcoming training runs between Stourbridge junction and Bicester North,
Which worked up earlier from Eastleigh to Banbury, thanks to the information from the op above.
 

warwickshire

On Moderation
Joined
6 Feb 2020
Messages
2,304
Location
leamingtonspa
Youre welcome, very sadly I couldn't get the other working, 5Q86, as it left Long Marston around 5 Hours late, and it went diverted, via Moreton in Marsh and Oxford instead

Due to Eastleigh Arlington Zg being it's destination, rather than to Eastleigh Trsmd, depot, of where the unbranded current ex Transpennine Express mk5 sets, are at for the time being, ie, for servicing between the training runs, on the Chiltern Mainline,

Its possible that this latest, arrival from Long Marston to Eastleigh Arlington Zg, like the previous, set CH05, did, Back in August 2025, as mentioned upthread,
Might be the next Chiltern Railways, mk5 set, for the Chiltern railways new livery to be applied to it,

However if anyone kindly knows which set was involved with 5Q86 on Monday 22nd September 2025, Long Marston to Eastleigh Arlington it would be much appreciated

Regards
Warwickshire,
 

XCTurbostar

Established Member
Joined
13 Sep 2014
Messages
2,536
Tuesday 23rd September
Driver Training Mk5s

68029 and CH02 - Wembley LMD > 3U20 > 3H22 > 3E23 > Wembley LMD

Passenger Mk3s
68010 and AL04 - Stourbridge Depot > 5R17 > 1H17 > 1R21 > 1H45 > 1J49 > 5J49 > Stourbridge Depot
68012 and AL03 - Stourbridge Depot > 5J14 > 1H14 > 1R17 > 1H41 > 5E37 > Wembley LMD
68013 and AL01 – Wembley LMD > 5P05 > 1H12 > 5E16 > Wembley LMD > 5O62 > 1J53 > 5J53 > Stourbridge Depot

Current 68s (MK3s) available for Chiltern Railways use
68008 - XHCS - No, DRS use.
68009 - XHCS - Yes
68010 - XHCE - Yes
68011 - XHCE - No, DRS use. At Gresty Bridge
68012 - XHCE - Yes
68013 - XHCE - Yes
68014 - XHCE - Yes, at Aylesbury with AL02 and 82301
68015 - XHCE - No, DRS use. At Gresty Bridge
 

Covshire1

Member
Joined
4 Jan 2018
Messages
305
Youre welcome, very sadly I couldn't get the other working, 5Q86, as it left Long Marston around 5 Hours late, and it went diverted, via Moreton in Marsh and Oxford instead

Due to Eastleigh Arlington Zg being it's destination, rather than to Eastleigh Trsmd, depot, of where the unbranded current ex Transpennine Express mk5 sets, are at for the time being, ie, for servicing between the training runs, on the Chiltern Mainline,

Its possible that this latest, arrival from Long Marston to Eastleigh Arlington Zg, like the previous, set CH05, did, Back in August 2025, as mentioned upthread,
Might be the next Chiltern Railways, mk5 set, for the Chiltern railways new livery to be applied to it,

However if anyone kindly knows which set was involved with 5Q86 on Monday 22nd September 2025, Long Marston to Eastleigh Arlington it would be much appreciated

Regards
Warwickshire,
Set 07 moved from Long Marston yesterday.
 

Jacob Porrett

Established Member
Joined
28 Jan 2022
Messages
1,961
Location
Telford
Tuesday 23rd September
Driver Training Mk5s

68029 and CH02 - Wembley LMD > 3U20 > 3H22 > 3E23 > Wembley LMD

Passenger Mk3s
68010 and AL04 - Stourbridge Depot > 5R17 > 1H17 > 1R21 > 1H45 > 1J49 > 5J49 > Stourbridge Depot
68012 and AL03 - Stourbridge Depot > 5J14 > 1H14 > 1R17 > 1H41 > 5E37 > Wembley LMD
68013 and AL01 – Wembley LMD > 5P05 > 1H12 > 5E16 > Wembley LMD > 5O62 > 1J53 > 5J53 > Stourbridge Depot

Current 68s (MK3s) available for Chiltern Railways use
68008 - XHCS - No, DRS use.
68009 - XHCS - Yes
68010 - XHCE - Yes
68011 - XHCE - No, DRS use. At Gresty Bridge
68012 - XHCE - Yes
68013 - XHCE - Yes
68014 - XHCE - Yes, at Aylesbury with AL02 and 82301
68015 - XHCE - No, DRS use. At Gresty Bridge
I would have thought 014 with set AL02 would have finished at the lathe by now?
 

Trainman40083

Established Member
Joined
29 Jan 2024
Messages
4,603
Location
Derby
Will the introduction of the mk5s be a ‘big bang’ or is the plan to replace the mk3s over weeks and then the 168s?!
I'm sure I saw somewhere that the first batch will replace the current MK3 sets and locos, with the rest entering service during 2026, which will release units to strengthen other services. The article suggested that Birmingham will have a half hourly loco hailed service.
 

CyrusWuff

Established Member
Joined
20 May 2013
Messages
5,460
Location
London
Will the introduction of the mk5s be a ‘big bang’ or is the plan to replace the mk3s over weeks and then the 168s?!
Mk3 replacement at first, on a "one in, one out" basis, due to a lack of stabling space. Full fleet from the December 2026 timetable change.
 

Harlequinuk

On Moderation
Joined
15 May 2025
Messages
343
Location
UK
IIRC they all have to be in service by March 2026; the hand back date for the Cl68 locos on the mk3s?
 

Jacob Porrett

Established Member
Joined
28 Jan 2022
Messages
1,961
Location
Telford
5O55 > 1P51 > 5H68 > 5E60 68014 set AL02 today. Back in service after being on the wheel lathe at Aylesbury. Only doing one run tonight however from Marylebone to Princess Risborough.
 

Covshire1

Member
Joined
4 Jan 2018
Messages
305
68020 + Mk5a set both in the new Chiltern Railways livery should be on 5Q69 later on today...
 

XCTurbostar

Established Member
Joined
13 Sep 2014
Messages
2,536
Thursday 25th September
Driver Training Mk5s

68029 and CH02 - Wembley LMD > 3U20 > 3H22 > 3E23 > Wembley LMD
68022 and CH12 - Stourbridge Depot > 3N01 > 3T04 > Stourbridge Depot
68020 and CH05 (Reliveried Blue Set) - Eastleigh T&RSMD > 5Q69 > 5Q70 > 5Q71 > 5Q72 > 5Q73 > 5Q86 > Eastleigh T&RSMD
68030 and Unknown Set and 68028 - Banbury Depot

Passenger Mk3s
68009 and AL01 - Stourbridge Depot > 5R17 > 1H17 > 1R21 > 1H45 > 1J49 > 5J49 > Stourbridge Depot
68012 and AL03 - Stourbridge Depot > 5J14 > 1H14 > 1R17 > 1H41 > 5E37 > Wembley LMD > 5O55 > 1P51 > 5H68 > 5E60 > Wembley LMD
68010 and AL04 - Wembley LMD > 5P08 > 1H12 > 5E16 > Wembley LMD > 5O62 > 1J53 > 5J53 > Stourbridge Depot
68014 and AL02 - Wembley LMD > 5P05 > 1H10 > 5Y14

Current 68s (MK3s) available for Chiltern Railways use
68008 - XHCS - No, DRS use.
68009 - XHCS - Yes
68010 - XHCE - Yes
68011 - XHCE - No, DRS use. At Gresty Bridge
68012 - XHCE - Yes
68013 - XHCE - 0Z13 via WCML > Crewe Gresty Bridge
68014 - XHCE - Yes
68015 - XHCE - 0Z15 via WCML > Wembley LMD

Loco Moves
68015 - Crewe Gresty Bridge > 0Z15 via WCML > Wembley LMD
68013 - Wembley LMD > 0Z13 via WCML > Crewe Gresty Bridge
 
Last edited:
Joined
24 Jun 2024
Messages
72
Location
Lichfield
Thursday 25th September
Driver Training Mk5s

68029 and CH02 - Wembley LMD > 3U20 > 3H22 > 3E23 > Wembley LMD
68022 and CH12 - Stourbridge Depot > 3N01 > 3T04 > Stourbridge Depot
Speculated to be Reliveried Blue Set - Eastleigh T&RSMD > 5Q69 > 5Q70 > 5Q71 > 5Q72 > 5Q73 > 5Q86 > Eastleigh T&RSMD

Passenger Mk3s
68009 and AL01 - Stourbridge Depot > 5R17 > 1H17 > 1R21 > 1H45 > 1J49 > 5J49 > Stourbridge Depot
68012 and AL03 - Stourbridge Depot > 5J14 > 1H14 > 1R17 > 1H41 > 5E37 > Wembley LMD
68010 and AL04 – Wembley LMD > 5P08 > 1H12 > 5E16 > Wembley LMD > 5O62 > 1J53 > 5J53 > Stourbridge Depot
68014 and AL02 - Wembley LMD > 5P05 > 1H10 > 5Y14 > Wembley LMD > 5O55 > 1P51 > 5H68 > 5E60 > Wembley LMD

Current 68s (MK3s) available for Chiltern Railways use
68008 - XHCS - No, DRS use.
68009 - XHCS - Yes
68010 - XHCE - Yes
68011 - XHCE - No, DRS use. At Gresty Bridge
68012 - XHCE - Yes
68013 - XHCE - Yes
68014 - XHCE - Yes
68015 - XHCE - 0Z15 via WCML > Wembley LMD

Loco Moves
68015 - Crewe Gresty Bridge > 0Z15 via WCML > Wembley LMD
Unknown 68 - Wembley LMD > 0Z13 via WCML > Crewe Gresty Bridge
0Z13 was 68013.
 

Peter Sarf

Established Member
Joined
12 Oct 2010
Messages
9,647
Location
Croydon
IIRC they all have to be in service by March 2026; the hand back date for the Cl68 locos on the mk3s?
It is mentioned somewhere (upthread) but only four or five Mk5 sets are required to replace the Mk3 sets. If I remember correctly the deadline is March 2026.

The other eight or nine sets of Mk5s are required to allow a cascade of 168s to other services. Strengthening services but some think allowing a few 165s to be retired. There are tenders out for replacement of the 165s and 168s BUT there is ANOTHER THREAD for that speculation. SEE BELOW.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

There are currently 4 weekday Mk. 3 diagrams out of a total of 10(?) to/from Birmingham (can someone confirm this?). Since Chiltern is getting 13 sets of Mk. 5a coaches and I must presume they're running it exclusively to Birmingham does that mean all Birmingham services will be loco-hauled? Or will they increase peak frequency by adding some 6-car 168s?
 
Last edited:

Top