New Chiltern Railways Trains to Increase Passenger Capacity by 10,000 Seats a Day

Chiltern Railways has showcased its new Mark 5A trains, which once introduced between London and the West Midlands will add more than 10,000 more seats for customers each weekday from early 2026.

The introduction of the new 13 train fleet will enable Chiltern to deliver increased passenger capacity across each of its West Midlands, Aylesbury and Oxford routes.

The trains will replace the operator’s oldest carriages – some of which are now 50 years old.

Each vehicle will feature enhanced Wi-Fi, plug sockets and USB ports at every seat, as well as digital customer information screens, air conditioning and increased luggage space.

Additional accessibility improvements include dedicated areas with fully accessible toilets and more comprehensive boarding and seating arrangements.

Richard Allan, Managing Director of Chiltern Railways, said:

We are thrilled for customers that we are replacing our oldest coaches with much newer trains, and as a result we plan to provide 10,000 more seats on our network every weekday from the end of 2026.

The unveiling of the first of our newest trains at London Marylebone is a positive, tangible sign of better times ahead for customers. There are better on-board facilities and more services planned from the end of 2026, subject to the usual rail industry approval processes.

We are making good progress with our vision and plan to modernise and decarbonise Chiltern; the next stage is to continue working with Network Rail and the Department of Transport on the business case to replace our 35-year old diesel trains with battery-electric trains.

Rail Minister Lord Hendy toured the first new train with the Managing Director before it embarked on a journey to Birmingham Moor Street as part of a charter service featuring speeches from businesses across the line.

Hendy said:

These trains will give a fresh look and greater capacity for Chiltern’s passengers, giving better journeys while using cleaner fuel, and this investment reflects the Government’s unwavering commitment to building a rail industry that Britain needs and deserves as part of its Plan for Change.

Thanks to Government support, these trains will start to enter service from early next year, bringing easier, greener, and better journeys for millions of passengers.

The new vehicles are set to enter service on a phased basis during 2026.