Chiltern MK5s Starting 2026 (non speculative updates thread)

[Covshire1]

68028 and 68030

With CH10...

 

[cm39275]

The Mk5s won't be running to Oxford. Even though they've got one less carriage than the Mk3s, they likely still wouldn't fit in the bay platforms at Oxford so would need to shunt out of the way to avoid occupying one of the through platforms during their turnaround.

I managed to capture a 68 and mk5 set in platform 1 at Oxford on December 23rd and confirm that they take up roughly the same space if not less that a 5 car IET.

 

[Snow1964]

I managed to capture a 68 and mk5 set in platform 1 at Oxford on December 23rd and confirm that they take up roughly the same space if not less that a 5 car IET.

mk5a coaches are 22.2m, driving trailer 22.4m
class 68 loco is 20.5m
so formation is around 131m long

A 5car IET with 26m vehicles is 130m
so virtually same length

For comparison , a 6car 165 or 168 is around 138m

 

[Peter Sarf]

mk5a coaches are 22.2m, driving trailer 22.4m
class 68 loco is 20.5m
so formation is around 131m long

A 5car IET with 26m vehicles is 130m
so virtually same length

For comparison , a 6car 165 or 168 is around 138m

My bold.
And that will be the obvious choice/temptation.

 

[Kite159]

My bold.
And that will be the obvious choice/temptation.

Just think though at how many first class upgrades they can shift to those rich tourists visiting Bicester Village, where £20 extra each way is nothing compared to splashing the cash at that place

 

[PLY2AYS]

Just think though at how many first class upgrades they can shift to those rich tourists visiting Bicester Village, where £20 extra each way is nothing compared to splashing the cash at that place

Or how easily they’d solve the EWR staffing dispute by using them, and implementing SDO at Winslow.

 

[172007]

Web link on page 840 is live now.

Trains are no longer "Nova 3's" and are now known as "Explorer". Is this the first train to have two brand names?

Wonder if they will expand the Explorer theme and name the loco's whith names such as "Chiltern Hill Explorer" "Warwick Castle Exolorer" "Red Kite Explorer" .........

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jan 2026 ==

New Trains | Chiltern Railways

www.chilternrailways.co.uk

Brief descrition of web link below

New Trains | Chiltern Railways

www.chilternrailways.co.uk

Our new Chiltern Explorer trains are designed with your comfort, convenience and accessibility in mind. ​

Our Chiltern Explorer trains bring many new features:​

• First Class carriages offered as an on-the-day upgrade offering more spacious seats
• Automated onboard air conditioning that reacts to outdoor temperatures
• Fold down seat back tables with extendable sections for larger devices
• Spacious luggage racks in every carriage
• Dedicated bike storage for up to four bikes
• Plug sockets and USB ports at every seat
• Overhead luggage racks in every carriage
• Customer information display screens - both overhead and at the carriage ends to keep you informed throughout your journey
• 4 toilets on each train including one accessible toilet
• 2 dedicated accessible areas complete with companion seating, hearing loop

With all these amazing features whether you're commuting, cycling or travelling with family, our new trains are built to make your journey smoother and more enjoyable so you can go and explore more.

 

[CR165022]

5D03 is running, 68014 & 82305, not sure what the set is but can assume it's AL03.

 

[43096]

Web link on page 840 is live now.

Trains are no longer "Nova 3's" and are now known as "Explorer". Is this the first train to have two brand names?

Weren’t the 180s known as Adelante originally and Grand Central later named theirs as Zephyrs?

 

[FrontSideBus]

"Our new Chiltern Explorer trains are designed with your comfort in mind" Yeah, sure! Comparing a Mk3 with IC70's with CAF rollercoaster coaches with rock hard seats!

 

[156444]

5D03 is running, 68014 & 82305, not sure what the set is but can assume it's AL03.

Photo of the train at Wembley LMD on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/36593372@N04/55060027341

 

[JamesT]

Web link on page 840 is live now.

Trains are no longer "Nova 3's" and are now known as "Explorer". Is this the first train to have two brand names?

Class 222s were called Pioneers by Hull Trains and Meridians by EMR.

 

[vuzzeho]

Web link on page 840 is live now.

Trains are no longer "Nova 3's" and are now known as "Explorer". Is this the first train to have two brand names?

Wonder if they will expand the Explorer theme and name the loco's whith names such as "Chiltern Hill Explorer" "Warwick Castle Exolorer" "Red Kite Explorer" .........

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jan 2026 ==

New Trains | Chiltern Railways

www.chilternrailways.co.uk

Brief descrition of web link below

New Trains | Chiltern Railways

www.chilternrailways.co.uk

The information screens in the video still say Transpennine Express! (bad screenshot, sorry)

 

[Kite159]

"

• Overhead luggage racks in every carriage
• Customer information display screens - both overhead and at the carriage ends to keep you informed throughout your journey"

New features?

As I'm pretty sure the Mk3 coaches had overhead luggage racks and had info display screens. Reminds me of the stuff they came up with when they offered business class on the Mk3 coaches as some of the advantages of paying extra.

I'm sure the commuters will be pleased to have a train designed with them in mind when they end up standing in the aisles from Banbury due to only having 4 standard class coaches of quite low density seating (i.e. some of the coaches being majority table seats)

 

[43096]

"

• Overhead luggage racks in every carriage
• Customer information display screens - both overhead and at the carriage ends to keep you informed throughout your journey"

New features?

As I'm pretty sure the Mk3 coaches had overhead luggage racks and had info display screens. Reminds me of the stuff they came up with when they offered business class on the Mk3 coaches as some of the advantages of paying extra.

The Mark 3s also had luggage space between the seat backs - a benefit of the excellent IC70 design.

 

[dooton]

The information screens in the video still say Transpennine Express! (bad screenshot, sorry)

They don't anymore that was an old photo when we hadn't been trained on PIS.

 

[Snow1964]

I'm sure the commuters will be pleased to have a train designed with them in mind when they end up standing in the aisles from Banbury due to only having 4 standard class coaches of quite low density seating (i.e. some of the coaches being majority table seats)

Amazing how we now refer to coaches with 72 seats as low density.

Many mk1s had eight 6aside compartments (48 seats)
some had 2+2 or 8 seat compartments (64 seats)
nearly all the mk2s had 64 seats

Is 72 seats in a 2.2m longer really low density, or normal density?

Ok it is not pack as many seats in as possible even if passenger is squashed density. But not sure it is low density by historic intercity standards

 

[Kite159]

Low density compared to something like a 80X coach with mostly airline style seating.

 

[PLY2AYS]

Low density compared to something like a 80X coach with mostly airline style seating.

There’d be infinitely more complaints if these coaches had any similarity to 80x seating…
The Hitachis are also 4m longer vehicles with ~20 extra seats in.
The Mk5As are only 0.3 seats less per metre.
So roughly the same ‘seating density’.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There’d be infinitely more complaints if these coaches had any similarity to 80x seating…

They're worse, as far as commuters would be concerned. The same awful seats and far too many tables. Also terrible window alignment.

First Class is very good, on the other hand, possibly in my view the best on the network.

 

[PLY2AYS]

They're worse, as far as commuters would be concerned. The same awful seats and far too many tables. Also terrible window alignment.

First Class is very good, on the other hand, possibly in my view the best on the network.

Thanks for the info, I’d not realised the seating issue. From reviews on the staff train, I was told the seats “weren’t bad at all” but I’ll take that with a pinch of salt.
I think you’ve highlighted the problem with standard class in modern times.
Stripping first class of its historic merits, means that the only way to offer a tangible benefit is to highlight how much better the seating is. And to do that, they’ve lowered the quality of the standard seats.

 

[DEAN MURPHY]

Do we know the timetable for the mark 5 set from today?
Cheers
Dean

 

[185143]

Do we know the timetable for the mark 5 set from today?
Cheers
Dean

08:15 Brum-London
11:02 London-Brum

Not sure about after that.

 

[156444]

Anyone know which set and loco is on the first run?

 

[MerlinRail 804]

08:15 Brum-London
11:02 London-Brum

Not sure about after that.

Then should be:
1H48 1345 BMO - MYB
1J47 1637 MYB - SBJ

 

[TrainTrackJack]

Anyone know which set and loco is on the first run?

68022 + CH02

 

[Bletchleyite]

Thanks for the info, I’d not realised the seating issue. From reviews on the staff train, I was told the seats “weren’t bad at all” but I’ll take that with a pinch of salt.

In Standard they are bog standard Fainsa Sophias, same as all IETs bar Avanti/Lumo/EMR. The only difference from the TPE 802s is the fake leather headrest. They don't have the thick base cushion as per TfW. I suspect that because these have had very limited use so far the cushions just haven't collapsed to reveal the metal bar yet, but they I'm sure will because they are the same seat and same cushion.

In First it's the same seat frame as IETs I *think*, but the cushion is much thicker and much better shaped - I found it really comfortable. Only downside I could see is the light colour which means they'll get dirty, but that's only visual and not comfort I guess. But First Class really does feel very good to me, I felt it had rather a European feel to it, though in miniature of course given the diminutive size of the vehicles

 

[Jacob Porrett]

I was told on Saturday evening by a Chiltern driver that the vinyls have been put on the wrong way around. No 1 end should be light blue and no. 2 end should by dark blue.

He also mentioned about the Mk3s doing Aylesbury diagrams as well?

 

[PLY2AYS]

I was told on Saturday evening by a Chiltern driver that the vinyls have been put on the wrong way around. No 1 end should be light blue and no. 2 end should by dark blue.

He also mentioned about the Mk3s doing Aylesbury diagrams as well?

Yes, he’s correct. The No.1 end should be lighter blue, the No.2 end should be dark blue.
I’ve not seen any diagrams of Mk3s going to Aylesbury, especially as Aylesbury depot don’t sign 68s.

Perhaps he meant the 165/168 diagrams Aylesbury depot currently have will be replaced by Mk3s as the Mk5s come into service.
It is suspected that Aylesbury drivers will lose the Birmingham work as all of it, bar a couple of exceptions, will be served by 68s and the Mk5s.

 

[CR165022]

I was told on Saturday evening by a Chiltern driver that the vinyls have been put on the wrong way around. No 1 end should be light blue and no. 2 end should by dark blue.

He also mentioned about the Mk3s doing Aylesbury diagrams as well?

It's only 68020 & 032 with the vinyls the wrong way round.

And there's no chance of MK3s going to Aylesbury in passenger service, he was probably referring to when they go there for maintenance.