Potential Chiltern Mk. 5a Diagrams

[Dirty_Mac]

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?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

It'll be most Birmingham trains, and the existing gaps will be plugged to make it half hourly all day long. A few 168s will remain to Birmingham; most will strengthen other services - either directly or by internal displacement.

 

[barbette165]

The (re-)introduction of 1st class as an 'anytime' ticket from December 2026 rather than the 'on-the-day' upgrade that will be offered from the early 2026 introduction of the Mk5a's would suggest that all (or almost all) the Birmingham journeys will be covered by the Mk5a's.

 

[XC victim]

Given that most peak Birmingham service's are currently 5, 6 or 7 car 168s or the current 6 coach mk3 sets, the introduction of the mk5 sets would appear to be a very significant reduction in capacity.

Are they planning on re-introducing the Banbury to Marylebone stoppers to off-set some of this reduction in capacity?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Given that most peak Birmingham service's are currently 5, 6 or 7 car 168s or the current 6 coach mk3 sets, the introduction of the mk5 sets would appear to be a very significant reduction in capacity.

Are they planning on re-introducing the Banbury to Marylebone stoppers to off-set some of this reduction in capacity?

A lot of this has been answered in one of the other threads; without wading through to look for them ( not for the first time I do wish we had master threads on major topics ) from memory, the busiest peak services are the ones which will remain DMU operated and there will also be changes to the stopping patterns so the Birmingham trains will be less likely to be carrying shorter distance passengers.

 

[XC victim]

Sorry, as a semi-regular Chiltern Railways user I have been following the threads on this topic closely but I really haven’t seen any answers as to how this is going to work.

It would seem to be very surprising if the plan is to not run the mk5a sets on the busy peak services as I would have thought the peak services would be where the first class would make money.

I have seen several posts saying that the reduction in capacity would be off set by an increase in frequency of the Birmingham services but given that they are already 2ph pretty much all day this seems unlikely.

I have also read posts suggesting that the Banbury stoppers are going to be reinstated but I haven’t seen any confirmation of this.

I am really very worried that this is going to be a big reduction in capacity, as at present Chiltern are very good at matching capacity with demand

 

[CyrusWuff]

I am really very worried that this is going to be a big reduction in capacity, as at present Chiltern are very good at matching capacity with demand

Less so in the post-pandemic timetable, given the need to put additional stops on Oxford and Birmingham services to make up for the trains that still haven't been reinstated.

PM peak services leaving Marylebone were always a good example, even if it did mean unusual calling patterns compared to the off-peak timetable.

 

[LondonerTravel]

With Chiltern taking more mk5 stock than Mk3, could they increase the frequency of the Marylebone - Birmingham services? That would hopefully offset to a degree any reduction in capacity with more services (if possible)?

Also (and apologies in advance if this has been asked) but is it completely impossible that they could not lengthen some sets to 6 carriages?

 

[Dirty_Mac]

Also (and apologies in advance if this has been asked) but is it completely impossible that they could not lengthen some sets to 6 carriages?

Seems unlikely given that there are 42 carriages and 14 driving trailers to form 13 5-car sets. You'd have to either make some sets 4 car or have one fewer formation and be stuck with an extra first class carriage!

 

[xotGD]

This has all been discussed at length on the other 68 + Mk5a threads.

The sets will not be lengthened, shortened or run in pairs with a loco in the middle.

The 68s will operate a half hourly service between London and Brum. If there are not enough sets to cover all diagrams, the odd service may be a unit.

 

[sammyg901]

Presumably there will be an adjustment at peak times (inc weekends) to have these fast from Banbury or maybe even further north with the inner stops picked up by extra services using the displaced 165/168s to ensure no overcrowding

 

[AJDesiro]

Presumably there will be an adjustment at peak times (inc weekends) to have these fast from Banbury or maybe even further north with the inner stops picked up by extra services using the displaced 165/168s to ensure no overcrowding

From what I've heard the plan is that there will still be some units operating to Birmingham, so I'd assume the busiest services will remain DMU operated.

 

[LondonerTravel]

I was hoping to catch the 12:02 service today which was to be mk 3, but having got to Marylebone I see it pulling away and the service is now going to be a DMU. Anyone know why?