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indicates DRS blue unbranded or Compass blue livery
Green
indicates 68014's 'Greener Future' livery
Correct as of 21/10/2025
Current coaching formations
MK3s 'Silver Sets' sets
Set
DVT
RFM
TSO
TSO
TSO
TSO
TSO
AL01
82304
10272
12609
12606
12610
12621
12602
AL02
82301
10273
12613
12605
12608
12615
12616
AL03
82305
10274
12625
12604
12617
12620
AL04
82309
10271
12607
12614
12603
12619
12618
DVT - Driving Van Trailer
RFM - Restaurant First Modular
TSO - Trailer Standard Open
Correct as of 13/10/2025
MK5s 'Blue Stripe' sets
Set
DT
TOS
TOS
TOS
TOF
Location
Notes
CH01
12801
12703
12702
12701
11501
Wolverton Works
CH02
12814
12706
12705
12704
11502
Eastleigh
CH03
12803
12709
12708
12707
11503
Longsight Depot
CH04
12804
12712
12711
12710
11504
Eastleigh
CH05
12805
12715
12714
12713
11505
Stourbridge Depot
CH06
12806
12718
12717
12716
11506
Eastleigh
CH07
12807
12721
12720
12719
11507
Eastleigh
CH08
12808
12724
12723
12722
11508
Longsight Depot
CH09
12809
12727
12726
12725
11509
Eastleigh
CH10
12810
12730
12729
12728
11510
Eastleigh
CH11
12811
12733
12732
12731
11511
Longsight Depot
CH12
12812
12736
12735
12734
11512
Banbury Depot
CH13
12813
12739
12738
12737
11513
Wembley LMD
Spare
12802
Long Marston
DT - Driving Trailer (Standard)
TOF - Trailer Open First
TOS - Trailer Open Standard
Key
Red
indicates re-vinyled 'Blue Stripes' sets
Black
indicates Grey unbranded sets
Correct as of 13/10/2025
Revinyl Order CH05 - Released from Eastleigh with 68020 - 25/09/2025 CH13 - Released from Eastleigh with 68032 - 29/09/2025 CH10 - Released from Eastleigh with 68030 - 06/10/2025 CH12 - Released from Eastleigh with 68022 - 13/10/2025
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
indicates DRS blue unbranded or Compass blue livery
Green
indicates 68014's 'Greener Future' livery
Correct as of 21/10/2025
Current coaching formations
MK3s 'Silver Sets' sets
Set
DVT
RFM
TSO
TSO
TSO
TSO
TSO
AL01
82304
10272
12609
12606
12610
12621
12602
AL02
82301
10273
12613
12605
12608
12615
12616
AL03
82305
10274
12625
12604
12617
12620
AL04
82309
10271
12607
12614
12603
12619
12618
DVT - Driving Van Trailer
RFM - Restaurant First Modular
TSO - Trailer Standard Open
Correct as of 13/10/2025
MK5s 'Blue Stripe' sets
Set
DT
TOS
TOS
TOS
TOF
Location
Notes
CH01
12801
12703
12702
12701
11501
Wolverton Works
CH02
12814
12706
12705
12704
11502
Eastleigh
CH03
12803
12709
12708
12707
11503
Longsight Depot
CH04
12804
12712
12711
12710
11504
Eastleigh
CH05
12805
12715
12714
12713
11505
Stourbridge Depot
CH06
12806
12718
12717
12716
11506
Eastleigh
CH07
12807
12721
12720
12719
11507
Eastleigh
CH08
12808
12724
12723
12722
11508
Longsight Depot
CH09
12809
12727
12726
12725
11509
Eastleigh
CH10
12810
12730
12729
12728
11510
Eastleigh
CH11
12811
12733
12732
12731
11511
Longsight Depot
CH12
12812
12736
12735
12734
11512
Banbury Depot
CH13
12813
12739
12738
12737
11513
Wembley LMD
Spare
12802
Long Marston
DT - Driving Trailer (Standard)
TOF - Trailer Open First
TOS - Trailer Open Standard
Key
Red
indicates re-vinyled 'Blue Stripes' sets
Black
indicates Grey unbranded sets
Correct as of 24/10/2025
Revinyl Order CH05 - Released from Eastleigh with 68020 - 25/09/2025 CH13 - Released from Eastleigh with 68032 - 29/09/2025 CH10 - Released from Eastleigh with 68030 - 06/10/2025 CH12 - Released from Eastleigh with 68022 - 13/10/2025 CH02 - Released from Eastleigh with 68029 - 24/10/2025
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Set 5 has been released - 68029 and CH02 has been delivered to Banbury Depot.
68029 has the same livery as 68022 with blue on the Number 1 End. - Image from RailcamView attachment 191016
DRS will be relinquishing its lease on 68018, and it will return to Beacon Rail and be directly leased by CR and reliveried. However, it will only be deployed as a thunderbird locomotive as it will not be modified to work with the rolling stock.
Hope they plan on giving it a different livery to avoid last-minute problems when it gets coupled up and then found to be missing a socket for the TMS!
Surely they could just leave it in DRS? I mean 68008 & 009 are still in DRS and actually work in service. I don't see the point in reliverying it if it won't.
Surely they could just leave it in DRS? I mean 68008 & 009 are still in DRS and actually work in service. I don't see the point in reliverying it if it won't.
008 and 009 are DRS' locos, subleased from them and often used on DRS' own trains. 018 is being returned to the ROSCO and leased directly to Chiltern so DRS will have no involvement (and will probably remove their branding before handing it back - it's likely to be handed over in the same plain blue with yellow ends which the rest of the Chiltern fleet has before the vinyls are applied).
Can 68s and MK5a run via Harrow on the Hill - Aylesbury - Princess Risborough even though they are not fitted with tripcocks as fitted to 165s and 168s
Can 68s and MK5a run via Harrow on the Hill - Aylesbury - Princess Risborough even though they are not fitted with tripcocks as fitted to 165s and 168s
I don’t believe the current Mk3 sets & 68s are able to run via Harrow / Amersham to Aylesbury so I doubt they will attempt to clear the Mk5s via that route. Don’t see why they wouldn’t have a need to clear them for Princes Risborough to Aylesbury though to get them to Aylesbury TMD.
I don’t believe the current Mk3 sets & 68s are able to run via Harrow / Amersham to Aylesbury so I doubt they will attempt to clear the Mk5s via that route. Don’t see why they wouldn’t have a need to clear them for Princes Risborough to Aylesbury though to get them to Aylesbury TMD.
It’d be pretty snug to get them on/off depot and keep them on there for prolonged periods of time since they’re fixed formation, and you’d only be able to turn the tires of the DT vehicle and the loco… so not sure it’s worth getting them on/off Aylesbury depot.
They may do, but I’ve not seen any pathed across the branch yet and not sure it’s worth them doing.
Almost certain they will also never be used on the Met.
It’d be pretty snug to get them on/off depot and keep them on there for prolonged periods of time since they’re fixed formation, and you’d only be able to turn the tires of the DT vehicle and the loco… so not sure it’s worth getting them on/off Aylesbury depot.
They may do, but I’ve not seen any pathed across the branch yet and not sure it’s worth them doing.
Almost certain they will also never be used on the Met.
If they are to be maintained at Eastleigh TMD (Arriva Traincare) will there be any need for them to go to Aylesbury. The present 68+Mk3 sets only go there to use the wheel lathe. There used to be a wheel lathe at Eastleigh TMD, but it was decomissioned many years ago, so I suppose they will need to go somewhere for such attention.
If they are to be maintained at Eastleigh TMD (Arriva Traincare) will there be any need for them to go to Aylesbury. The present 68+Mk3 sets only go there to use the wheel lathe. There used to be a wheel lathe at Eastleigh TMD, but it was decomissioned many years ago, so I suppose they will need to go somewhere for such attention.
There are indeed differences, although Bicester to Oxford and Bicester to Milton Keynes are included for service operation - not that it means they will use it.
If indeed the locos and sets are to be fully maintained at Eastleigh TMD, I would expect at least one "Q" pathway every day each way, probably Banbury to Eastleigh and return.
There are indeed differences, although Bicester to Oxford and Bicester to Milton Keynes are included for service operation - not that it means they will use it.
I wouldn't expect to see them on Oxford/ MK trains much, if at all (maybe the occasional run since they'll need to maintain guards' route comptence? Pending what actually gets decided for the MK service at least).
If they are to be maintained at Eastleigh TMD (Arriva Traincare) will there be any need for them to go to Aylesbury. The present 68+Mk3 sets only go there to use the wheel lathe. There used to be a wheel lathe at Eastleigh TMD, but it was decomissioned many years ago, so I suppose they will need to go somewhere for such attention.
If indeed the locos and sets are to be fully maintained at Eastleigh TMD, I would expect at least one "Q" pathway every day each way, probably Banbury to Eastleigh and return.
I wouldn't expect to see them on Oxford/ MK trains much, if at all (maybe the occasional run since they'll need to maintain guards' route comptence? Pending what actually gets decided for the MK service at least).
If indeed the locos and sets are to be fully maintained at Eastleigh TMD, I would expect at least one "Q" pathway every day each way, probably Banbury to Eastleigh and return.
Chiltern Railways today (Tuesday 14 October) showcased for the first time its newest (Mark 5A) trains, set to add 10,000 more seats for customers each weekday from December 2026.
Given the capacity of each MK5 set is in total 291 (261 standard, 30 first) and remembering the higher capacity of the MK3 sets that are being replaced this implies around 24 Marylebone <> Birmingham or shorter Marylebone <> Banbury return trips.
Once the MK3 sets leave how much of the MK5 set maintenance can Wembley take on remembering the MK3 sets are far less intensively used?
If Eastleigh is a long term plan for all that can not be done at Wembley there will be significant ECS mileage. Using Aylesbury would cut this if both physically practical and the workload capacity was made available.
If Eastleigh is a long term plan for all that can not be done at Wembley there will be significant ECS mileage. Using Aylesbury would cut this if both physically practical and the workload capacity was made available.
Does the trackwork for accessing the Aylesbury wheel lathe allow a 5+loco set to fit? That will be the main issue - the MK5a sets are fixed-formation with bar couplers, and unlike the MK3 sets cannot be temporarily shortened without a lot of work.
Does the trackwork for accessing the Aylesbury wheel lathe allow a 5+loco set to fit? That will be the main issue - the MK5a sets are fixed-formation with bar couplers, and unlike the MK3 sets cannot be temporarily shortened without a lot of work.
Where there's a will, there's a way. The DMUs are bar couplers and care is taken with the planning for the tyre turning of 4-car units. *If* the Mark 5a sets were going to have tyre turning at Aylesbury, then there would probably be the opportunity to do it. Whether they will or not is a different matter entirely.
Real-time train running information for 5Q87 0847 departure from Longsight T.M.D. (D) to Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) on 31/10/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 5Q87 0847 departure from Longsight T.M.D. (D) to Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) on 31/10/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
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