Chiltern Railways is a
train operating company in
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was formed by the
privatisation of British RailThe privatisation of British Rail was set in train when the government enacted, on the 19th January 1993, the British Coal and British Rail Act 1993 . This enabled the relevant Secretary of State to issue directions to the relevant Board...
in 1996, and operates mainline passenger trains from
Marylebone stationMarylebone station, also known as London Marylebone, is a National Rail and London Underground station in central London, England. The station is located midway between the mainline stations at Euston and Paddington, about 1 mile from each....
in
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
to
AylesburyAylesbury railway station is a railway station in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England. It is a major stop on the London to Aylesbury Line from Marylebone station via Amersham...
and
Birmingham Snow HillBirmingham Snow Hill is a railway station and tram stop in the centre of Birmingham, England on the site of a much larger station which was built by the former Great Western Railway . It is the second most important railway station in the city, after the former LMS Birmingham New Street station...
. In 2002, the company began a new franchise of up to twenty years, promising significant investment in the route — the 20-year term is conditional on various investments and improvements over the life of the franchise.
Initially, the line was franchised to a company formed by the
British RailBritish Railways , which later traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the British railway system from the nationalisation of the 'Big Four' British railway companies in 1948 until privatisation in stages from 1994 to 1997...
managers of the route, but in 2003 it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Laing Rail, who had owned a much smaller shareholding at privatisation. In 2008, Laing Rail was taken over in turn by Germany's
Deutsche Bahn AGDeutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
.
Routes
Chiltern operate services on four routes.
- Chiltern Main Line
The Chiltern Main Line is an intercity regional and commuter main line railway in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. It links London and Birmingham on a 106 mile route which runs via North West London, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire...
- London to Aylesbury Line
The London to Aylesbury Line is the main railway line between London and Aylesbury, going via the Chiltern Hills; it is operated by Chiltern Railways. The line is unique in the UK railway network for being the only route where National Rail trains use track owned by London Underground...
- Princes Risborough to Aylesbury Line
|}The Princes Risborough to Aylesbury Line is a rural branch line from Princes Risborough to Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, England.The line is single track throughout. The maximum speed is 40mph....
- Leamington to Stratford Line
The Leamington to Stratford Line is a railway line linking Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England. It follows the Chiltern Main Line from Leamington to Hatton before diverging to the south...
The
London MaryleboneMarylebone station, also known as London Marylebone, is a National Rail and London Underground station in central London, England. The station is located midway between the mainline stations at Euston and Paddington, about 1 mile from each....
to
Birmingham Snow HillBirmingham Snow Hill is a railway station and tram stop in the centre of Birmingham, England on the site of a much larger station which was built by the former Great Western Railway . It is the second most important railway station in the city, after the former LMS Birmingham New Street station...
route used by Chiltern Railways goes via
High WycombeHigh Wycombe , is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
,
BicesterBicester is a town and civil parish in the Cherwell district of north-eastern Oxfordshire in England.This historic market centre is one of the fastest growing towns in Oxfordshire Development has been favoured by its proximity to junction 9 of the M40 motorway linking it to London, Birmingham...
,
BanburyBanbury is a market town and civil parish in the district of Cherwell in northern Oxfordshire, England, located on the River Cherwell. It lies northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
,
Leamington SpaLeamington Spa, properly Royal Leamington Spa, commonly Leamington or "Leam" to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr...
, Warwick Parkway,
DorridgeDorridge is a village in the West Midlands borough of Solihull, England, with a population of 7800.-Location:Dorridge is to the East of the M40 and the South of the M42 which, along with a small but important green belt area, separates Dorridge and its neighbours of Knowle and Bentley Heath from...
and
SolihullSolihull is a large town in the West Midlands of England, with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
.
Although the fastest timetabled journey between
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
and
BirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands county of England. Birmingham is the second-most populous British city, with a population of 1,006,500 ....
via this route is 1 hour and 56 minutes, most express services take 2 hours and 5 minutes with semi-fast services sometimes taking up to 2 hours and 30 minutes (compared with approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes using
Virgin TrainsVirgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom, which currently provides services from London Euston to the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland, and from Birmingham New Street to North West England and Scotland, on the West Coast Main Line...
services between London Euston and Birmingham New Street).
Train tickets for the slower "High Wycombe" Chiltern route between Birmingham and London are cheaper than Birmingham to London tickets for "Any Permitted Route" (also valid on the faster Virgin service to London Euston. Peak travel restrictions are also different for the two operators.
Some trains continue beyond
Birmingham Snow Hill stationBirmingham Snow Hill is a railway station and tram stop in the centre of Birmingham, England on the site of a much larger station which was built by the former Great Western Railway . It is the second most important railway station in the city, after the former LMS Birmingham New Street station...
to Stourbridge Junction or
KidderminsterKidderminster is a town in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
, where the preserved steam
Severn Valley RailwayThe Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
starts at the adjacent
Kidderminster TownKidderminster Town is a railway station situated in the town of Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England. It is operated by the Severn Valley Railway, a heritage line which runs from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth.-History:...
.
The line to Aylesbury Vale Parkway via Amersham shares its route with
London UndergroundThe London Underground, Underground or Tube is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and neighbouring areas of Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire in the UK. The first section opened in 1863, and was the first underground railway system in the world, and, starting in...
's
Metropolitan LineThe Metropolitan line is part of the London Underground. It is coloured in TfL's Corporate Magenta on the Tube map and in other branding. It was the first underground railway in the world, opening on 10 January 1863...
between
Harrow-on-the-Hill Harrow-on-the-Hill station is a London Underground station served by National Rail and London Underground trains. It is located between College Road and Lowlands Road in the Greenhill area of Harrow, about a half-mile north of the locality from which it takes its name.-Railway geography:The...
and
AmershamAmersham is a market town and civil parish within Chiltern district in Buckinghamshire, England, 27 miles north west of London, in the Chiltern Hills...
.
On certain Bank Holiday Mondays services are extended from Aylesbury to the
Buckinghamshire Railway Heritage CentreBuckinghamshire Railway Centre is a railway museum operated by the Quainton Railway Society Ltd. at Quainton Road railway station, in the far depths of "Metro-land", about 5 miles west of Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire....
facilities at
Quainton RoadQuainton Road is a station closed to scheduled passenger services on the freight-only line from Aylesbury to Claydon Junction and Bicester. It is on the southern edge of the village of Quainton in Buckinghamshire, England and is the home of the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre...
, a short way south of . These services are often run by Chiltern's Class 121 diesel multiple unit, referred to as a "bubble car".
A shuttle service operates on the branch line from
AylesburyAylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire in south east England. In the 2001 census the Aylesbury Urban Area, which includes Bierton, Fairford Leys, Stoke Mandeville and Watermead, had a population of 69,021, which included 56,392 for the Aylesbury civil parish.-History:The town name is of...
to
Princes RisboroughPrinces Risborough is a town and civil parish within the Wycombe district in Buckinghamshire, England, about 9 miles south of Aylesbury and 8 miles north west of High Wycombe. It lies at the foot of the Chiltern Hills on the historic trade route between Winchester and Cambridge. Adjacent to the...
on the line to
BirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands county of England. Birmingham is the second-most populous British city, with a population of 1,006,500 ....
via
High WycombeHigh Wycombe , is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
. Certain services from Marylebone via High Wycombe also provide a limited through service to Aylesbury.
In 2004 Chiltern Railways took over the operation of passenger services on the
Leamington SpaLeamington Spa, properly Royal Leamington Spa, commonly Leamington or "Leam" to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr...
to
Stratford-upon-AvonStratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of the county town, Warwick. It is the main town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers a...
branch line.
Chiltern's newly formed sister company, Wrexham & Shropshire, runs services from
North WalesNorth Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales, bordered to the south by Mid Wales and to the east by England.It comprises the island of Anglesey, the Llŷn peninsula and the Snowdonia mountain range, together with the catchments of the Rivers Conwy, Clwyd and Dee with the River Dyfi...
along the Chiltern route to London. The service began on the 28th April 2008.
Chiltern was also asked to bid for the Snow Hill Lines of the former Central Trains area of Birmingham as part of the new West Midlands Franchise competition. However the bid was unsuccessful.
Chiltern is the first train operator to pilot - and subsequently implement - a full system for purchasing, retailing, fulfilling and validating train tickets electronically in the United Kingdom. As of April 2008, over 18,000 "E-Day" customers have registered to use the service and more than 40,000 electronic tickets have been sold; mainly as barcodes delivered as text messages to the mobile phones of their customers and also as 'Self-Print' tickets. Chiltern's electronic ticketing system is specified, built, operated and maintained by YourRail, based in Barnsley, Yorkshire.
Ownership
On 6 July 2007, Henderson Fund Managers, the owner of
John LaingJohn Laing plc is a British developer and operator of privately financed, public sector infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, hospitals and schools through Public-Private Partnership and Private Finance Initiative arrangements...
, announced the sale of its Laing Rail subsidiary, as it wanted to focus on its public infrastructure portfolio. Arriva plc and
Go-Ahead GroupThe Go-Ahead Group plc is a rail and bus operating company that was created following the privatisation of the UK's train and bus industries...
both expressed an interest in acquiring the company, but the final bidders were Germany's
Deutsche BahnDeutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
and the
DutchThe Netherlands is a country in Northwestern Europe, constituting the major portion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east...
NedRail.
In January 2008 it was announced that the Laing Rail company had been sold to
Deutsche BahnDeutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
. Once approval from the
Department for TransportIn the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
,
Transport for LondonTransport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England...
and the
Office of Rail RegulationThe Office of Rail Regulation is a statutory board which is the combined economic and safety regulatory authority for Great Britain's railway network. It was established on 5 July 2004 by the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, replacing the Rail Regulator...
was granted, the company became part of
DB RegioDB Regio AG is as subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn AG that operates passenger trains on short and medium distances in Germany. Unlike its long-distance counterpart DB Fernverkehr, it does not operate trains on its own account. Traffic is ordered and paid for by the Bundesländer or their Landkreise...
. The Chiltern Railways management and brand remained unchanged.
Services
The "core" off-peak Chiltern Railways timetable currently comprises the following services:
- Half-hourly London Marylebone
Marylebone station, also known as London Marylebone, is a National Rail and London Underground station in central London, England. The station is located midway between the mainline stations at Euston and Paddington, about 1 mile from each....
- Aylesbury via AmershamAmersham station is a railway station serving Amersham in Buckinghamshire. It is located in Travelcard Zone 9 .Amersham Station is a terminus of the Metropolitan Line branch of the London Underground...
stopping service
- Hourly London Marylebone
Marylebone station, also known as London Marylebone, is a National Rail and London Underground station in central London, England. The station is located midway between the mainline stations at Euston and Paddington, about 1 mile from each....
- High WycombeHigh Wycombe railway station is situated in High Wycombe in South Buckinghamshire. The station is served by Chiltern Railways trains on the Chiltern Main Line from Marylebone towards Birmingham Snow Hill. It is situated between Beaconsfield and Saunderton stations.-History:The station was built...
stopping service
- Hourly London Marylebone
Marylebone station, also known as London Marylebone, is a National Rail and London Underground station in central London, England. The station is located midway between the mainline stations at Euston and Paddington, about 1 mile from each....
- Princes RisboroughPrinces Risborough station is a railway station on the Chiltern Main Line that serves the town of Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire, England...
stopping service
- Half-hourly London Marylebone
Marylebone station, also known as London Marylebone, is a National Rail and London Underground station in central London, England. The station is located midway between the mainline stations at Euston and Paddington, about 1 mile from each....
- Birmingham Snow HillBirmingham Snow Hill is a railway station and tram stop in the centre of Birmingham, England on the site of a much larger station which was built by the former Great Western Railway . It is the second most important railway station in the city, after the former LMS Birmingham New Street station...
via High WycombeHigh Wycombe railway station is situated in High Wycombe in South Buckinghamshire. The station is served by Chiltern Railways trains on the Chiltern Main Line from Marylebone towards Birmingham Snow Hill. It is situated between Beaconsfield and Saunderton stations.-History:The station was built...
semi-fast service
- Hourly London Marylebone
Marylebone station, also known as London Marylebone, is a National Rail and London Underground station in central London, England. The station is located midway between the mainline stations at Euston and Paddington, about 1 mile from each....
- Bicester NorthBicester North is a station on the Chiltern Main Line, and is one of two stations serving Bicester. Services, operated by Chiltern Railways, run south to London Marylebone and north to Banbury, Birmingham Snow Hill and Stratford-upon-Avon....
via High WycombeHigh Wycombe railway station is situated in High Wycombe in South Buckinghamshire. The station is served by Chiltern Railways trains on the Chiltern Main Line from Marylebone towards Birmingham Snow Hill. It is situated between Beaconsfield and Saunderton stations.-History:The station was built...
semi-fast service (extended to Stratford-upon-AvonStratford-upon-Avon railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England. It was once a through station on the Great Western Railway route from Birmingham to Cheltenham, but has been the terminus of the line since 1976.It is served by two TOCs -...
in even hours)
In addition, Chiltern Railways runs one train a day to and from
London PaddingtonPaddington station, also known as London Paddington, is a major National Rail and London Underground station complex in the Paddington area of central London, England....
to keep traincrew route knowledge up-to-date, as the route is regularly used for diversions during periods of engineering work, one train a day from
Birmingham Snow HillBirmingham Snow Hill is a railway station and tram stop in the centre of Birmingham, England on the site of a much larger station which was built by the former Great Western Railway . It is the second most important railway station in the city, after the former LMS Birmingham New Street station...
to
OxfordOxford is a mainline railway station serving the city of Oxford, England. It is about ten minutes' walk to the west of the city centre, and on the line linking Reading with Birmingham New Street. It is also on the line for express trains from London Paddington to Hereford via Worcester...
, and a single train per week from Stratford to
OxfordOxford is a mainline railway station serving the city of Oxford, England. It is about ten minutes' walk to the west of the city centre, and on the line linking Reading with Birmingham New Street. It is also on the line for express trains from London Paddington to Hereford via Worcester...
.
Performance
Chiltern is considered one of the best operators in the whole of Britain with PPMs regularly over 90% during the past 5 years. Chiltern is the only operating company which has achieved over 95% performance over 12 months. This is even more remarkable as Chiltern operates on much more stricter conditions compared with its long distance rivals, such as
Virgin TrainsVirgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom, which currently provides services from London Euston to the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland, and from Birmingham New Street to North West England and Scotland, on the West Coast Main Line...
, as Chiltern has a 5 minute window for performance while others have a 10 minute window.
The latest performance figures, published by the ORR (Office of Rail Regulation), rate Chiltern Railways as the third most punctual train operating company in the UK at 95.1% (PPM) and 95.3% (MAA) as of the first quarter of the financial year 2009/10 - one of four TOCs to achieve over 95% for this quarter.
Rolling stock
Chiltern Railways operates services using a modern fleet of
Class 165 "Turbo"The British Rail Class 165 Turbo diesel multiple units were built by BREL at York Works from 1990–1992. These units are suburban trains, with an express version appearing later in the form of the Class 166 Turbo Express trains...
and
168 "Clubman"The Class 168 Clubman is a diesel multiple-unit train used on InterCity services between London and the Midlands.-Description:The units were built in several batches from 1997 onwards. The first batch of units was classified 168/0 under TOPS and resembled the Class 165 units previously built by...
units. The "Turbo" units have undergone refurbishment work at
BombardierBombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Bombardier Inc.. Bombardier Transportation is the world’s largest company in the rail equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters is in Berlin, Germany....
's Ilford Works, and the
Class 168sThe Class 168 Clubman is a diesel multiple-unit train used on InterCity services between London and the Midlands.-Description:The units were built in several batches from 1997 onwards. The first batch of units was classified 168/0 under TOPS and resembled the Class 165 units previously built by...
have recently been lengthened. Chiltern also operates a single
Class 121 "Bubble Car"Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020-55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280-289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes...
on its Aylesbury to Princes Risborough heritage route. This unit was extensively refurbished, and operates the majority of the services on the line. In 2008, Chiltern ordered four 2-car
Class 172 "Turbostar"The Class 172 is a planned diesel multiple unit of the Turbostar family similar to the Class 168, Class 170 and Class 171.-Technical details and variants :There will be four sub-types:*Class 172/0 - two-car units to be operated by London Overground...
units to increase their capacity.
When first starting in 1996, Chiltern inherited 34 Class 165/0 (
NetworkerThe Networker is a family of trains which operate on the UK railway system. They were built in the late 1980s and early 1990s by BREL . The trains were built for the Network SouthEast sector of British Rail...
) diesel multiple units which were fitted with
Automatic Train ProtectionAutomatic Train Protection in Great Britain refers to either of two implementations of a train protection system installed in some trains in order to help prevent collisions through a driver's failure to observe a signal or speed restriction. Note that ATP can also refer to automatic train...
and a tripcock so they could be used on London Underground lines on the approach to London Marylebone. The trains were originally used for both suburban and commuter services, including to Birmingham. However the class 165 was designed solely for suburban travel and not the intercity service to Birmingham unlike its sister, the Class 166, and so, following healthy growth, Chiltern took order of Class 168 units, leaving the Class 165's to be concentrated on the stopping services to Banbury and Aylesbury, although they are still sometimes seen on the runs to Birmingham. Chiltern now run all 39 Class 165/0 made after the 5
First Great WesternFirst Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup, which operates services in the west and south west of England and South Wales....
units were transferred over.
The first Class 168's (Clubman) to arrive was the 168/0, a train deigned to externally look like the
Networker TurboThe Networker is a family of trains which operate on the UK railway system. They were built in the late 1980s and early 1990s by BREL . The trains were built for the Network SouthEast sector of British Rail...
, but be better suited for the intercity services to Birmingham, and was, in fact, the basis for the Class 17x
TurbostarTurbostar is the name given to a family of diesel multiple units built by Bombardier Transportation at their Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, England...
s. The Clubman trains were the first to be delivered post privatisation, and allowed Chiltern to intensify the commuter services, whilst also providing more comfort on the intercity runs. Later orders of the Class 168 provided the 168/1 and 168/2, which had the Turbostar wiring and external design, and so can be considered to be Turbostars. The Class 168 differs from the rest of the Turbostar family in that they are fitted with the tripcock and ATP, the same as the Class 165/0. There is also plans to run a locomotive hauled set to Birmmingham in the mere future.
Current fleet
| Class |
Image |
Type |
Top speed |
Cars per set |
Unit Numbers |
Number |
Routes operated |
Built |
| mph |
km/h |
Class 121 ‘Bubble Car’Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020-55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280-289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes...
|
 |
diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
|
70 |
112 |
1 |
121020 |
1 |
Princes Risborough to Aylesbury Line |}The Princes Risborough to Aylesbury Line is a rural branch line from Princes Risborough to Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, England.The line is single track throughout. The maximum speed is 40mph....
|
1959-60 |
Class 165/0 Networker TurboThe British Rail Class 165 Turbo diesel multiple units were built by BREL at York Works from 1990–1992. These units are suburban trains, with an express version appearing later in the form of the Class 166 Turbo Express trains...
|
 |
diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
|
75 |
120 |
2/3 |
165001-165039 |
39 |
Chiltern Main LineThe Chiltern Main Line is an intercity regional and commuter main line railway in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. It links London and Birmingham on a 106 mile route which runs via North West London, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire...
London to Aylesbury LineThe London to Aylesbury Line is the main railway line between London and Aylesbury, going via the Chiltern Hills; it is operated by Chiltern Railways. The line is unique in the UK railway network for being the only route where National Rail trains use track owned by London Underground...
|
1990 - 1992 |
Class 168/0 Networker ClubmanThe Class 168 Clubman is a diesel multiple-unit train used on InterCity services between London and the Midlands.-Description:The units were built in several batches from 1997 onwards. The first batch of units was classified 168/0 under TOPS and resembled the Class 165 units previously built by...
|
 |
diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
|
100 |
160 |
4 |
168001-168005 |
5 |
Chiltern Main LineThe Chiltern Main Line is an intercity regional and commuter main line railway in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. It links London and Birmingham on a 106 mile route which runs via North West London, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire...
London to Aylesbury LineThe London to Aylesbury Line is the main railway line between London and Aylesbury, going via the Chiltern Hills; it is operated by Chiltern Railways. The line is unique in the UK railway network for being the only route where National Rail trains use track owned by London Underground...
|
1998 |
Class 168/1 Turbostar ClubmanThe Class 168 Clubman is a diesel multiple-unit train used on InterCity services between London and the Midlands.-Description:The units were built in several batches from 1997 onwards. The first batch of units was classified 168/0 under TOPS and resembled the Class 165 units previously built by...
|
 |
diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
|
100 |
160 |
3/4 |
168106-168113 |
8 |
Chiltern Main LineThe Chiltern Main Line is an intercity regional and commuter main line railway in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. It links London and Birmingham on a 106 mile route which runs via North West London, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire...
London to Aylesbury LineThe London to Aylesbury Line is the main railway line between London and Aylesbury, going via the Chiltern Hills; it is operated by Chiltern Railways. The line is unique in the UK railway network for being the only route where National Rail trains use track owned by London Underground...
|
2000 |
Class 168/2 Turbostar ClubmanThe Class 168 Clubman is a diesel multiple-unit train used on InterCity services between London and the Midlands.-Description:The units were built in several batches from 1997 onwards. The first batch of units was classified 168/0 under TOPS and resembled the Class 165 units previously built by...
|
 |
diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
|
100 |
160 |
3/4 |
168214-168219 |
6 |
Chiltern Main LineThe Chiltern Main Line is an intercity regional and commuter main line railway in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. It links London and Birmingham on a 106 mile route which runs via North West London, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire...
London to Aylesbury LineThe London to Aylesbury Line is the main railway line between London and Aylesbury, going via the Chiltern Hills; it is operated by Chiltern Railways. The line is unique in the UK railway network for being the only route where National Rail trains use track owned by London Underground...
|
2004 |
Future Fleet
| Class |
Image |
Type |
Top speed |
Number |
Cars per set |
Seat layout |
Routes operated |
Built |
| mph |
km/h |
Class 172/1 TurbostarThe Class 172 is a planned diesel multiple unit of the Turbostar family similar to the Class 168, Class 170 and Class 171.-Technical details and variants :There will be four sub-types:*Class 172/0 - two-car units to be operated by London Overground...
|
|
diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
|
75 |
120 |
4 |
2 |
2+3 |
Chiltern Main LineThe Chiltern Main Line is an intercity regional and commuter main line railway in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. It links London and Birmingham on a 106 mile route which runs via North West London, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire...
London to Aylesbury LineThe London to Aylesbury Line is the main railway line between London and Aylesbury, going via the Chiltern Hills; it is operated by Chiltern Railways. The line is unique in the UK railway network for being the only route where National Rail trains use track owned by London Underground...
|
2009 |
Mark 3 CoachBritish Rail's third fundamental design of carriage was designated 'Mark 3' , and was developed primarily for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train...
|
 |
Passenger Coach |
125 |
200 |
? |
N/A |
2+2 |
Chiltern Main LineThe Chiltern Main Line is an intercity regional and commuter main line railway in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. It links London and Birmingham on a 106 mile route which runs via North West London, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire...
|
1975-1984 |
 |
Driving Van TrailerA Driving Van Trailer , sometimes referred to as Driving Luggage Van , is a purpose-built railway vehicle that allows the driver to operate a locomotive at the opposite end of a train. Trains operating with a DVT therefore do not require the locomotive to run round to the other end of the train at...
|
125 |
200 |
? |
N/A |
N/A |
Chiltern Main LineThe Chiltern Main Line is an intercity regional and commuter main line railway in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. It links London and Birmingham on a 106 mile route which runs via North West London, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire...
|
1988 |
Gerrards Cross incident
Near to
Gerrards Cross railway stationGerrards Cross railway station serves the villages of Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St Peter in Buckinghamshire. It is sited in a cutting, on the Chiltern Main Line between Denham Golf Club and Seer Green and Jordans....
, a tunnel is being constructed to enable the building of a new
TescoTesco plc is a UK-based international grocery and general merchandising retail chain. It is the largest British retailer by both global sales and domestic market share, with profits exceeding £3 billion. It is currently the third largest global retailer based on revenue, behind Wal-Mart and...
store above the railway line. However, the partially-built tunnel collapsed at 19:30 on 30 June 2005. Nobody was injured but the line was closed for over six weeks, eventually reopening on 20 August 2005. Compensation by Tesco to Chiltern is believed to have cost at least £8.5m and the retailer has pledged to fund a media campaign to win back passengers lost by the closure of its route. Construction of the tunnel finally re-commenced in January 2009.
Future plans
Wrexham & Shropshire
From 2010, the operating rights of Wrexham & Shropshire, in which Deutsche Bahn is also a shareholder, will be transferred to Chiltern Railways. However, the separate Wrexham & Shropshire brand will be retained.
Project Evergreen 3
Plans are well advanced to construct a quarter-of-a-mile double track extending the
Oxford to Bicester LineThe Oxford to Bicester Line is a branch line linking Oxford and Bicester in Oxfordshire, England.-History:The line was opened in 1850 as part of the Buckinghamshire Railway, which in 1879 became part of the London and North Western Railway...
from
Bicester TownBicester Town is one of two railway stations serving the town of Bicester in Oxfordshire; the other being Bicester North. The station is located 11¾ miles northeast of Oxford, and is operated by First Great Western....
to join the
Chiltern Main LineThe Chiltern Main Line is an intercity regional and commuter main line railway in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. It links London and Birmingham on a 106 mile route which runs via North West London, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire...
allowing a new
OxfordOxford is a mainline railway station serving the city of Oxford, England. It is about ten minutes' walk to the west of the city centre, and on the line linking Reading with Birmingham New Street. It is also on the line for express trains from London Paddington to Hereford via Worcester...
to London Marylebone service to operate calling at
Bicester TownBicester Town is one of two railway stations serving the town of Bicester in Oxfordshire; the other being Bicester North. The station is located 11¾ miles northeast of Oxford, and is operated by First Great Western....
and
High WycombeHigh Wycombe railway station is situated in High Wycombe in South Buckinghamshire. The station is served by Chiltern Railways trains on the Chiltern Main Line from Marylebone towards Birmingham Snow Hill. It is situated between Beaconsfield and Saunderton stations.-History:The station was built...
. Part of the track between Wolvercote Tunnel (on the outskirts of Oxford) and
Bicester TownBicester Town is one of two railway stations serving the town of Bicester in Oxfordshire; the other being Bicester North. The station is located 11¾ miles northeast of Oxford, and is operated by First Great Western....
would be doubled and a new station may be constructed at
Water Eaton Park-and-RideWater Eaton Parkway railway station is a proposed railway station at Water Eaton on the railway line between Oxford and Bicester. The station would be sited between Kidlington and Oxford next to an exisiting park and ride facility....
. The scheme would include additional platforms at
Bicester TownBicester Town is one of two railway stations serving the town of Bicester in Oxfordshire; the other being Bicester North. The station is located 11¾ miles northeast of Oxford, and is operated by First Great Western....
,
IslipIslip railway station serves the village of Islip, Oxfordshire, England. Islip is located just to the north-east of Oxford — services run south to Oxford 9 km away and north-east to Bicester....
and
OxfordOxford is a mainline railway station serving the city of Oxford, England. It is about ten minutes' walk to the west of the city centre, and on the line linking Reading with Birmingham New Street. It is also on the line for express trains from London Paddington to Hereford via Worcester...
.
In connection with the above work, line speeds on the
Chiltern Main LineThe Chiltern Main Line is an intercity regional and commuter main line railway in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. It links London and Birmingham on a 106 mile route which runs via North West London, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire...
would be increased to permit 100 mph running. A bi-directional through track will be restored at
Princes RisboroughPrinces Risborough station is a railway station on the Chiltern Main Line that serves the town of Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire, England...
, a new turnback siding provided at
Gerrards CrossGerrards Cross railway station serves the villages of Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St Peter in Buckinghamshire. It is sited in a cutting, on the Chiltern Main Line between Denham Golf Club and Seer Green and Jordans....
and four-tracking reinstated between West and South Ruislip stations. Services may start as early as 2013 if approval is given.
The £200m project, which is being promoted by Chiltern Railways had originally proposed doubling the entire route from Oxford to Bicester however structural problems found in September 2009 may mean that the section from Bicester and Islip may remain single track - which would not affect the Evergreen plans but would limit intended services between Oxford and Milton Keynes as part of the East West Rail Link. Oxfordshire County Council supports the scheme but remains to be convinced of the benefits to be gained from building the new station at Water Eaton, which would be in the
Green BeltA green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
.
All signalling on the route (including the new platforms at Oxford) would be controlled by Marylebone Signalling Centre.
Other plans
- The High Speed 2
High Speed Two is the dubbed name of the proposal for the second high speed rail in the UK , on 15 January 2009 the UK Government launched a formal high speed rail project, announced as part of a package of transport proposals dominated by the announcement of approval for the expansion of London...
mainline route is under consideration, and preliminary budgets have been made using the M40 / Chiltern Railways route between London and Birmingham. If this goes ahead, a new line will be built between Aynho (just south of Banbury) and the existing High Speed 1 line, joining it between St. Pancras InternationalSt Pancras railway station is a major railway station situated in the United Kingdom that is celebrated for its Victorian architecture. The Grade I listed building stands on Euston Road in St Pancras, London, between the British Library, King's Cross station and the...
and Stratford International. A spur to Heathrow Airport has also been proposed. The remainder of the line will be upgraded to French TGVThe TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by VFE, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator. It was developed during the 1970s by GEC-Alsthom and SNCF, and is now operated primarily by SNCF...
standard and will split from the mainline again to serve Birmingham International Airport and will terminate at Birmingham Moor Street. This would allow passengers from Birmingham and other places (Coventry, Warwick, Banbury, Bicester, Aylesbury, Oxford) a direct train link to High Speed 1, previously known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, with the passenger only having to get off at St. Pancras or Stratford to board a Eurostar train. In June 2008 it was revealed that Network Rail were indeed seriously looking into the proposal of building high speed lines shadowing 5 routes (WCMLThe West Coast Main Line is a busy mixed-traffic railway route in the United Kingdom. It provides fast, long-distance Intercity passenger services between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and southern Scotland....
, ECMLECML may refer to:*East Coast Main Line*European Conference on Machine Learning...
, MMLThe Midland Main Line is a major railway line in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The 'Modern' line links London St. Pancras International to Sheffield station in northern England via Luton, Bedford, Kettering, Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Chesterfield.Historically the...
, GWML) one of them being the Chiltern Main LineThe Chiltern Main Line is an intercity regional and commuter main line railway in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. It links London and Birmingham on a 106 mile route which runs via North West London, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire...
.
- Lengthening of platforms at South Ruislip
South Ruislip is a station served by London Underground and Chiltern Railways in South Ruislip in West London. The station is owned by London Underground but managed by Chiltern Railways. The station is in Travelcard Zone 5.- History :...
, West RuislipWest Ruislip is a Network Rail station located on Ickenham Road between Ickenham and Ruislip in western Greater London; it is served by both London Underground and National Rail trains on independent platforms....
, SaundertonSaunderton railway station is a rural National Rail station located on the A4010 between High Wycombe and Princes Risborough, in Buckinghamshire. The station is located some two and a half miles south of the original village of Saunderton and close to the villages of Bledlow Ridge and Bradenham...
, Kings Sutton, Sudbury Hill HarrowThis article is about a station in the former county of Middlesex. For the branch terminus in Suffolk see Sudbury railway station.Sudbury Hill Harrow railway station is a National Rail station in the London Borough of Harrow in northwest London....
, Sudbury and Harrow RoadThis article is about a station in the former county of Middlesex. For the branch terminus in Suffolk see Sudbury railway station.Sudbury & Harrow Road is a Network Rail station served by Chiltern Railways; it is located in Harrow Road, Sudbury to the North West of Wembley in Greater...
and Northolt ParkNortholt Park railway station is a Network Rail station in Northolt, Greater London. It is in Cadogan Close and spans the boundary between the London Borough of Harrow and the London Borough of Ealing, with a footbridge connecting the north side to the south side .The service to the station has...
to accommodate eight vehicles, thereby obviating the need for vehicles to be locked out of use on departure from London MaryleboneMarylebone station, also known as London Marylebone, is a National Rail and London Underground station in central London, England. The station is located midway between the mainline stations at Euston and Paddington, about 1 mile from each....
.
- The restoration of the quadruple track between South Ruislip
South Ruislip is a town in the London Borough of Hillingdon.The population, according to the 2001 UK census, was 10,823.There is an active .-Education:Schools in South Ruislip include;Bourne Primary,Field End,Ruislip High,St Swithun Wells,...
(Northolt Junction) and West Ruislip, allowing trains to call at both stations without blocking the line. Triple track currently exists at West Ruislip, with the up platform loop still in situ, and at South RuislipSouth Ruislip is a town in the London Borough of Hillingdon.The population, according to the 2001 UK census, was 10,823.There is an active .-Education:Schools in South Ruislip include;Bourne Primary,Field End,Ruislip High,St Swithun Wells,...
, with the Down Main through line also in situ. This would involve the reconstruction of the new down platform at West Ruislip, and the reconstruction of the up platform at South Ruislip. This 'Chiltern Metro' service was not programmed in to the last round of franchising agreements.
- Restoration of fast through lines at Beaconsfield
Beaconsfield is a market town and civil parish operating as a town council within South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It lies northwest of London, and south-east of the county town of Aylesbury...
as part of a longer term aspiration for a 90 minute journey time between London and Birmingham..
- Double track the line from Princes Risborough to Aylesbury.
- Remodelling Banbury Station and tracks.
- Building of the West Hampstead Interchange
In West Hampstead there are three stations, one on the National Rail network, one served by London Overground and a London Underground station...
to allow easy interchange with the London OvergroundLondon Overground is a commuter rail service in London, UK, the brand applied by Transport for London to the services on four railway lines: the Watford DC Line, the North London Line, the West London Line and the Gospel Oak to Barking Line.The name has been used since 2007, when TfL took over...
, Jubilee LineThe Jubilee line is a line on the London Underground , in the United Kingdom. It was built in two major sections - initially to Charing Cross in Central London, and later extended in 1999 to Stratford in East London. The later stations are notable for their larger size and safety features...
, Metropolitan LineThe Metropolitan line is part of the London Underground. It is coloured in TfL's Corporate Magenta on the Tube map and in other branding. It was the first underground railway in the world, opening on 10 January 1863...
and First Capital ConnectFirst Capital Connect is a passenger train operating company in England that began operations on the National Rail network on 1 April 2006...
service. This would also give Chiltern Railways an interchange with the future OrbirailOrbirail was a name for a suggested orbital railway route around London. It would involve connecting the extended East London Line, the North London Line, the West London Line, the South London Line and the Gospel Oak to Barking Line to form a route that would orbit London in Zone 2, Zone 3 and ...
line.
- New Chiltern Metro Service that would operate 4+tph for Wembley Stadium, Sudbury & Harrow Road, Sudbury Hill Harrow, Northolt Park, South Ruislip and West Ruislip. This would require a reversing facility at West Ruislip, passing loops at Sudbury Hill Harrow and a passing loop at Wembley Stadium (part of the old down fast line is in use as a central reversing siding, for stock movements and additionally for 8-car football shuttles to convey passengers to the stadium for events).
- Re-opening the line between Oxford
Oxford is a city, and the county town of Oxfordshire, in South East England. The city has a population of just under 165,000, with 151,000 living within the district boundary. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through Oxford and meet south of the city centre...
and Princes RisboroughPrinces Risborough is a town and civil parish within the Wycombe district in Buckinghamshire, England, about 9 miles south of Aylesbury and 8 miles north west of High Wycombe. It lies at the foot of the Chiltern Hills on the historic trade route between Winchester and Cambridge. Adjacent to the...
, which would provide an alternative to the Oxford-Paddington route. The Oxford to Banbury spur would then be handed over to the Chiltern Main LineThe Chiltern Main Line is an intercity regional and commuter main line railway in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. It links London and Birmingham on a 106 mile route which runs via North West London, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire...
to create a diversionary loop from Princes Risborough to Banbury via Oxford. This option requires an expensive crossing of the M40 motorway.
- Re-opening the passenger line between Aylesbury
Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire in south east England. In the 2001 census the Aylesbury Urban Area, which includes Bierton, Fairford Leys, Stoke Mandeville and Watermead, had a population of 69,021, which included 56,392 for the Aylesbury civil parish.-History:The town name is of...
via Milton KeynesMilton Keynes , often abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is also the principal town of the Borough of Milton Keynes. It was formally designated as a new town on 23 January 1967...
to BedfordBedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town of Kempston...
and the line from OxfordOxford is a city, and the county town of Oxfordshire, in South East England. The city has a population of just under 165,000, with 151,000 living within the district boundary. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through Oxford and meet south of the city centre...
to BedfordBedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town of Kempston...
as part of the East West Rail Link. Two miles of the line north of Aylesbury re-opened on 14 December 2008 terminating at a new station, Aylesbury Vale ParkwayAylesbury Vale Parkway railway station is a railway station serving villages to the northwest of Aylesbury. It will also serve the Berryfields and Weedon Hill housing developments to the north of the town when these are completed. The station is served by Chiltern Railways and opened on December 14...
.
- Opening a rail line from Aylesbury
Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire in south east England. In the 2001 census the Aylesbury Urban Area, which includes Bierton, Fairford Leys, Stoke Mandeville and Watermead, had a population of 69,021, which included 56,392 for the Aylesbury civil parish.-History:The town name is of...
to a M6The M6 motorway is the longest motorway in the United Kingdom. It runs from junction 19 of the M1 in Catthorpe near Rugby in central England, passes between Coventry and Nuneaton, through Birmingham, Walsall and Stafford and near the major cities of Wolverhampton and Stoke-on-Trent...
-M1The M1 is a major north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
Parkway Station near RugbyRugby is a market town in Warwickshire, in the West Midlands of England, on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
.
- Re open the former Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835, and ran its first trains three years later...
branch line to Uxbridge High Street, continuing the route to Heathrow AirportLondon Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , located in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the world's busiest airport in terms of international passenger traffic. It is the world's second busiest airport in total passenger traffic. It is also the largest and busiest airport in the United Kingdom...
. This would give BirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands county of England. Birmingham is the second-most populous British city, with a population of 1,006,500 ....
a direct rail link with the largest airport in the United Kingdom.
- Extending Oyster Pay-as-you-go
The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems including London Underground, buses, the Docklands Light Railway ,...
to High WycombeHigh Wycombe railway station is situated in High Wycombe in South Buckinghamshire. The station is served by Chiltern Railways trains on the Chiltern Main Line from Marylebone towards Birmingham Snow Hill. It is situated between Beaconsfield and Saunderton stations.-History:The station was built...
and AylesburyAylesbury railway station is a railway station in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England. It is a major stop on the London to Aylesbury Line from Marylebone station via Amersham...
.
- If the Croxley Rail Link
The Croxley Rail Link is a railway engineering proposal to re-route part of a London Underground line in Hertfordshire, outside London, UK. The project would divert Metropolitan line Watford branch services east of Croxley station away from Watford station to via intermediate stations using a...
gets the go ahead from TfLTFL may refer to:* Tasmanian Football League, an Australian rules football competition* Tensor fasciae latae, a thigh/hip muscle* Transport for London, a public transport organisation in the London area of the UK* The Flaming Lips, an American rock band....
and Hertfordshire County Council, direct services into Watford JunctionWatford Junction station is a railway station in Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. Located a short distance from the town centre, it is served by the West Coast Main Line , the Watford DC Line to Euston, currently operated by London Overground services and a branch line to St Albans. Journeys...
from Aylesbury will be likely, as it will link the Chilterns to the important commercial centre at Watford and the important transport connections at the Junction.
External links