Great Western Coffee Shop

They're struggling with demand and also with the age of their fleet of trains. A roundup from Chiltern on this link.

Mark

https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/capacity-challenges-2025 (https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/capacity-challenges-2025)

According to the Oxford Clarion https://bsky.app/profile/oxfordclarion.bsky.social/post/3lnuhiadpd22q (https://bsky.app/profile/oxfordclarion.bsky.social/post/3lnuhiadpd22q) Chiltern have signed a deal to run 10 locomotive hauled Mk5a sets to replace 4 locomotive hauled Mk3 sets.

They were previously used by Trans Pennine Express (TPE). TPE had 13 5 cars sets made up of 4 standard class and 1 first class coach. It is unclear to me whether TPE actual used all the sets as the most number of sets they had running at the same time was 4 and they also suffered from cracks similar to IET.

I assume that as well as replacing the Mk3's they will either replace some existing Class 165/168 services or even some additional services will be added.
Will we see a return of the Oxford Flyers? :)

Chiltern Railways

F O U R  years to not get to a decision yet.  And, although I know this should require incredulity, I guess it's actually unsurprising

Are we entiltled to ask what we are paying civil servants in the DfT to do with their time?

Painfully slow negotiations again on what should be something fairly easy to solve.  The fleet is not being used elsewhere.  There is a clear need for the extra capacity.

Look at the fuss and nonsense just to get a few redundant Class 175s to GWR.

I would expect all these to be used on their MainLine (Birmingham/Oxford), allowing the 168s to strengthen the turbo services, so all trains get to be at least 5 coaches (many platforms are only that length)