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The Chiltern Railway Company Limited, trading as Chiltern Railways, is a train operating company that has operated the Chiltern Railways franchise since July 1996. Since 2009, it has been a subsidiary of Arriva UK Trains. The company has gone from strength to strength over the years, with the redoubling of the Chiltern Main line, a new fleet order of DMU’s, expansion to Oxford and a refurbishment and expansion of its London Marylebone terminus.Chiltern Railways operates commuter/regional rail passenger services from its central London terminus at Marylebone along the M40 corridor to destinations in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire, as well as long-distance services to the West Midlands. Major, well-known locations are served, including Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford, and Aylesbury.
Chiltern Railways operate a mixed fleet of trains, including their Class 165’s, their Clubman 168’s and their loco-hauled trains hauled by the Class 68.
And so it comes to this fixture, which focuses on these loco-hauled trains – dating back to 2010, loco-hauled services started with a Class 67 hauling a rake of Mark 3 coaches with a Driving Van Trailer. Over the years, the Mark 3 coaches have been overhauled, fitted with sliding plug doors and toilet retention tanks, and have performed admirably for the operator. In 2014, Chiltern Railways agreed a sub-lease from Direct Rail Services (DRS) for Class 68 locomotives for use on its London Marylebone to Birmingham service to replace the existing fleet of Class 67s. As we come to the end of 2025, some of the Mark 3 coaches are now heading into their 50th year of service, and it's time for their retirement. In August 2025, following an invitation to tender for replacement rolling stock, a leasing order was placed with Beacon Rail for its Mark 5A fleet, previously used by Transpennine Express… this included the Class 68’s also previously used by that operator.
With huge thanks to Chiltern Railways, join us on the day to explore the Chiltern Railways network, with some exceptionally rare and much sought-after track coverage. In true BLS style, we will cover rare platforms, loops and plenty of crossovers, and give the Mark 3 coaches the proper send off that they deserve! We leave Banbury just after 10:00, firstly heading north to Stourbridge, where we will visit the Stourbridge Junction Headshunt and Depot. After a reversal, it's back to Birmingham Snow Hill for a break to allow you to grab some food and drink for the onward journey. Back on board, we head all the way to the end of the line at Marylebone, but not in the straight-forward way… we will cover a number of interesting and rare highlights on the way south. Another short break in London to top up your food and drink requirements, before we head North back to Banbury, again via some unusual platforms and loops along the way! Arrival back at Banbury is around 19.30, and we can then wave the Class 68 and Mark 3 set away for their final workings before retirement.
There will be a charity raffle on board and all profits from this fixture will be for the Railway Children Charity. There will be no catering on board this train, however you are more than welcome to bring your own food and drink. Please note, as we are travelling on non-passenger track, this train will be ‘dry’, with no alcohol allowed to be consumed on board.
All times and routing are indicative until confirmed by Network Rail. Final routing and timings are usually confirmed by Network Rail five days before travel and will be enclosed with your e-ticket. The outline planned spec is as follows:
Banbury P1 (PU 10.20) - Banbury Down Goods Loop - Fenny Compton Down Goods Loop - Leamington Spa South End Emergency Crossover - Leamington Spa P2 (PU 11.09) - Hatton Down Goods Loop - Dorridge Up and Down Goods Loop - Birmingham Snow Hill P2 (PU 12.04) - Stourbridge Jct RM - Stourbridge Jct Down Through Siding - Stourbridge Jct Headshunt RM - Stourbridge Jct Depot RM - Rood End Up Goods Loop - Birmingham Snow Hill (Break 13.37 - 14.21) - Fenny Compton Up Goods Loop - Banbury Up Goods Loop - High Wycombe - London Marylebone RM (Break 16.40 - 17.28) - Wembley Depot (South End and North End Reception Roads) - High Wycombe - Banbury Depot (South End and North End Reception roads) - Banbury (SD 19.31)
In addition, we are hopefully going to include the following in our plans for the day:
Dorridge to Small Heath South Junction via the slow lines at Tyseley and platform 4.
Small Heath South Junction to Birmingham Snow Hill platform 2 via platform 1 at Birmingham Moor Street (bi-di running).
Birmingham Snow Hill platform 2 to Small Heath South Junction via platform 2 at Birmingham Moor Street (bi-di running).
Bentley Heath Crossing to Hatton via Dorridge platform 3 (using crossovers at both ends of Dorridge).
Aynho Junction to Bicester South Junction via the down main (bi-di running).
Princes Risborough to Gerrards Cross via High Wycombe platform 2 (using crossovers at both ends of High Wycombe).
High Wycombe to South Ruislip via Gerrards Cross platform 1 (using crossovers at both ends of Gerrards Cross) and West Ruislip up passenger loop.
Down loop at South Ruislip via platform 3.
South Ruislip to Gerrards Cross via West Ruislip up passenger loop (using crossovers at both ends of West Ruislip).
High Wycombe to Haddenham & Thame Parkway via Princes Risborough platform 2 (using crossovers at both ends of Princes Risborough).
Bicester South Junction to Aynho Junction via the up main (bi-di running).
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