Chiltern EWR Stock

[MerlinRail 804]

Considering Chiltern’s already stretched fleet, and that EWR is making progress and is set to start sometime in 2025 (according to all 4 minutes of research!) an increasingly important question is where will chiltern get the extra trains from to run the services? My only even slightly practical idea involves TPE 68 + Mk5s and EMR 222s (once the 810s are in service) going to chiltern for Birmingham (and perhaps Oxford if spares are available) services so more 165s on local services and 168s to Oxford and EWR.
Or perhaps some new trains.

 

[Chris172]

6 x 196s from WMR

 

[MerlinRail 804]

Seems like a very bare minimum choice, especially if in pairs. Could and maybe should have been a temporary opportunity to add more coaches to their current services

 

[55018ballymoss]

To boost growth on the new routes you need more than the bare minimum that the dead hand of the treasury via the DfT have offered. Six 196 units will quickly be found out as lacking capacity, and if there are any reliability issues, then cancelled services, will only serve to kill demand at the vital time when a new service is starting.
it would be good to see the Mark 5 coaches paired with class 68s on the Birmingham services, freeing up the units to be able to work the EWR services and have some contingency to boost capacity if and when needed.

 

[childwallblues]

The 196 have been run in on WMR services.
Has it been confirmed that Chiltern not WMR will run the service.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The 196 have been run in on WMR services.
Has it been confirmed that Chiltern not WMR will run the service.

Yes. Chiltern are recruiting for a small pool of drivers at Bletchley.

I suspect one reason for it being Chiltern is that they operate DOO.

 

[The Planner]

Considering they will be using 2A at Milton Keynes, loco hauled isnt going to happen. If a 196 fails, expect a 168 to get subbed in.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Considering they will be using 2A at Milton Keynes, loco hauled isnt going to happen.

The argument for LHCS was to use it on the Chiltern line to free up 165/168 for EWR, was it not?

If a 196 fails, expect a 168 to get subbed in.

Will Bletchley drivers sign 168s? It's a dedicated pool.

Must admit I'm very surprised this was the approach rather than doing it from the Oxford end.

 

[JonathanH]

Must admit I'm very surprised this was the approach rather than doing it from the Oxford end.

There is no Chiltern driver depot in Oxford either, so it would need to be staff from Banbury driver depot.

Presumably Bletchley is considered too awkward to reach from either Banbury or Aylesbury to run the first services from the existing depots.

It will be interesting to see which direction the earliest services run in.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There is no Chiltern driver depot in Oxford either, so it would need to be staff from Banbury driver depot.

Presumably Bletchley is considered too awkward to reach from either Banbury or Aylesbury to run the first services from the existing depots.

It's a shame the Aylesbury bit isn't being done yet, as starting them there* would be by far the easiest!

* Run a double set to Winslow, splitting it in half with half to Oxford and half to MKC.

It will be interesting to see which direction the earliest services run in.

I suspect towards Oxford if the drivers and units will be at Bletchley.

 

[HeelBurton]

The argument for LHCS was to use it on the Chiltern line to free up 165/168 for EWR, was it not?



Will Bletchley drivers sign 168s? It's a dedicated pool.

Must admit I'm very surprised this was the approach rather than doing it from the Oxford end.

168’s will be cleared over the route

 

[swt_passenger]

There’s no real need for speculation about the subject of this thread. Although 196s operated by Chiltern has been known for a while, the official track access application was posted back in April in the EWR thread, and confirms the stock, the operator, and the number of services per day. I’ll add a link it here to save time cross refencing:

https://sacuksprodnrdigital0001.blob.core.windows.net/sale-of-access-rights/Consultations/Completed%20Track%20Access%20Consultations/2024/15.03.2024%20-%20Chiltern%20Railway%20Company%20-%20Section%2022%20-%2010th%20SA%20-%20Closes%2017.04.2024/10th%20SA%20Form%20P.pdf