Chiltern Railways news
News about Chiltern Railways, which is owned by Arriva and operate passenger trains from London Marylebone station to Aylesbury, Oxford, Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon and Birmingham Moor Street.
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Rail Business UKOxford Cowley branch passenger train service funding announced
UK: The government has announced funding to introduce passenger train services on the currently freight-only branch serving BMW’s Cowley car factory in Oxford.
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Rail Business UKChiltern Railways unveils MkVa push-pull trainset and looks to battery power
UK: Chiltern Railways has unveiled the first of its future MkVa push-pull trainsets as it prepares to bring them into service between London Marylebone and Birmingham in early 2026.
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Rail Business UKChiltern Railways signs 10-year lease for push-pull trainsets
UK: Chiltern Railways has finally signed a 10-year agreement to lease push-pull sets of diesel locomotives and MkVa coaches from Beacon Rail for use on services between London Marylebone and Birmingham.
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Rail Business UKReal-time monitoring system could support proactive wheel-rail adhesion management
UK: A year-long trial is to be undertaken with a monitoring system designed to help operators better understand the rail-wheel interface and move towards proactive adhesion management.
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Rail Business UKEast West Rail operator confirmed
UK: The Department for Transport has formally selected Arriva Group’s Chiltern Railways to operate Oxford – Milton Keynes passenger services on the first stage of the East West Rail line, which is to launch later this year.
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Rail Business UKEast West Rail test train reaches Milton Keynes
UK: The first test train has run over the Bicester – Bletchley route which has been rebuilt as part of ‘Connection Stage One’ of the East West Rail project to reinstate a rail corridor linking Oxford and Cambridge. The Class 168 DMU left Oxford at 09.43 ...
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Rail Business UKThree-stage plan to modernise and decarbonise Chiltern Railways
UK: The refurbishment of Chiltern Railways’ diesel multiple-unit fleet is the first step in a three-stage plan to modernise and ultimately decarbonise the operator’s services, according to Managing Director Richard Allan. Speaking at London Marylebone station during the unveiling of the first refurbished Class 168 DMU ...
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Rail Business UKFirst refurbished Class 168 DMU unveiled by Chiltern Railways
UK: Chiltern Railways has unveiled the first of its 28 Class 168 diesel multiple-units to be refurbished under a £12m programme. However, the programme is facing delays because of the greater than anticipated differences in the first post-privatisation trainsets. Speaking to stakeholders at the presentation ...
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Rail Business UKChiltern Railways cancels call for battery train proposals
UK: Chiltern Railways has discontinued its call for proposals for the supply of a fleet of battery-electric multiple-units. In September 2022 the operator invited proposals for the supply of between 30 and 70 new, existing or converted BEMUs. However, the procurement process was not progressing, and ...
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Rail Business UKInterview: Chiltern Railways is ‘focused on what we can control’
UK: As the rail sector braces itself for major institutional change, Chiltern Railways Managing Director Richard Allan is keen to deliver tangible improvements now. Key investment priorities include decarbonising its rolling stock fleet. Tony Miles posed the questions.
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NewsInvestor sees ‘genuine growth potential’ as DB completes sale of Arriva
EUROPE: The sale of Deutsche Bahn’s non-German public transport business Arriva to I Squared Capital has been completed, the companies announced on June 3. DB said it would now focus on rail transport within Germany, while I Squared said it sees opportunities to invest in decarbonisation. ...
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Rail Business UKChiltern Railways seeks fleet proposals
UK: Chiltern Railways has invited proposals from established rolling stock owners for the lease and maintenance of between 25 and 70 existing vehicles to operate inter-city and regional services on the Chiltern Main Line between London Marylebone and Birmingham. The operator is seeking either ‘self-powered’ multiple ...
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NewsDeutsche Bahn to sell Arriva Group to I Squared
EUROPE: German national railway Deutsche Bahn has signed an agreement to sell the whole of Arriva Group to infrastructure investment manager I Squared Capital. The transaction announced on October 19 is expected to complete in 2024, subject to customary closing conditions including the approval of the ...
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Rail Business UKChiltern Railways seeks proposals for low-emission multiple-unit fleet
UK: Chiltern Railways is seeking proposals for the supply of between 20 and 70 new or converted ‘low-emission’ multiple units. The operator has called for ‘established’ rolling stock manufacturers, owners and modifiers to propose vehicles which would provide a ’meaningful’ reduction in the emissions and external ...
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Rail Business UKHVO fuel switch starts Chiltern Railways decarbonisation drive
UK: Chiltern Railways has switched to using hydrotreated vegetable oil in its fleet of Class 68 diesel locomotives, as part of a long-term strategy to decarbonise London’s last remaining all-diesel suburban network.
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Rail Business UKChiltern electrification alternatives studied
UK: Chiltern Railways is working to present the Department for Transport with options for a fleet renewal programme, with London Marylebone being the only non-electrified London terminal and pressure for the withdrawal of diesel trains continuing to mount, particularly from local residents. Industry insiders report that ...
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Rail Business UKChiltern Railways adds capacity to Oxford and retains loco-hauled fleet
UK: Chiltern Railways is providing additional capacity between Oxford and London Marylebone following the emergency closure of the main line route between Oxford and Didcot on April 3 owing to the structural condition of the southern end of Nuneham Viaduct. With repairs to the viaduct now ...
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Rail Business UKInitial East West Rail services to be included in Chiltern contract
UK: The operation of future East West Rail ‘Connection Stage 1’ passenger services between Oxford, Bletchley and Milton Keynes is to be added to the existing National Rail Contract for the operation of Chiltern line services. Arriva subsidiary Chiltern Railways currently holds the National Rail Contract ...
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Rail Business UKArriva UK Trains appoints partner to develop ACE digital customer platform
UK: Arriva UK Trains has formed a strategic partnership with Nagarro to further develop its Arriva Customer Engine digital ticket retailing and real-time information platform. ACE launched at Arriva’s Chiltern Railways business five years ago and according to the company is now ‘a feature-rich, mature platform’ ...
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Rail Business UKTributes paid to former Chiltern Railways CEO Adrian Shooter
UK: Senior executives across the UK rail sector have paid tribute to long-time industry leader Adrian Shooter CBE, who died on December 13 at the age of 74. He had been increasingly affected by motor neurone disease in recent years. Shooter joined British Rail in 1970 ...