The Class 168 on the Chiltern Mainline from Birmingham Snow Hill to Leamington Spa

Chiltern Railways operates the Chiltern Mainline from Birmingham Snow Hill (or Moor Street) towards London Marylebone. Their main diesel multiple unit trains are the Class 168 Clubman. They do also use Class 68 with Mark 3 carriages, but here we will be looking at the Class 168 from Birmingham Snow Hill towards Leamington Spa. Stopping at Solihull and Warwick Parkway.

I've not been on a train since lockdown came into force during late March 2020. Before then I went on the Chiltern Mainline from Solihull to Leamington Spa at the end of February 2020 (to go on the branch line to Coventry). The last time I went to Solihull Station in the middle of March 2020 was get some trains to Aston (to see the turnable in Eastside).

The photos below were taken between 2009 and early 2020.

Chiltern Railways have been running the Chiltern Railways franchise since 1996. The mainline is between Birmingham Snow Hill and London Marylebone. In late 2010, the terminus platforms 3 and 4 were restored to Birmingham Moor Street Station, and many Chiltern trains now terminate there.

The Class 168 Clubman DMU trains were built between 1998 and 2004. They were refurbished in 2007-8 and from 2013 onwards. There is 4 types of Class 168. The

• 168/0 (built in 1998)
• 168/1 (built in 2000)
• 168/2 (built in 2004)
• 168/3 (built in 2000 as Class 170 for TransPennine Express)

Birmingham Snow Hill Station

Seen at platform 2 during September 2013 was Chiltern Railways 168216. It would form a service to London Marylebone. Seen in it's new livery at Birmingham Snow Hill Station, while I was at platform 3.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Snow Hill 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Snow Hill Class 168 (Sept 2013) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Chiltern Railways 168002 had just arrived at platform 2 at Snow Hill Station during November 2014, having come from London Marylebone. One of the oldest trains in the fleet, in it's new livery.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Snow Hill 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Snow Hill Class 168 (Nov 2014).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Chiltern Railways 168217 was seen at platform 2 at Birmingham Snow Hill Station during May 2016. From my usual view from platform 3. In the new standard grey livery.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Snow Hill 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Snow Hill Class 168 (May 2016).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Seen inside of Birmingham Snow Hill Station at platform 2, during December 2017 was Chiltern Railways 168 329. It would form the Chiltern Mainline service to London Marylebone. This was one of the trains that Chiltern inherited from TransPennine Express, which used to be a Class 170, before it was converted.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Snow Hill 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Snow Hill Class 168 (Dec 2017).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Birmingham Moor Street Station

Seen at platform 4 at Birmingham Moor Street Station during November 2011, was Chiltern Railways 168108. Behind was Selfridges, the Rotunda and what used to be the Pavilions (which it was at the time). The old blue livery would last a few more years after this. These restored platforms opened at the end of 2010. Part of Chiltern's Evergreen 3 project (during Phase 1).

dndimg alt="Chiltern Moor Street 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Moor St Class 168 (Nov 2011).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Chiltern Railways 168110 was seen at platform 4 during April 2015 in the new grey livery. The inside of these trains had been refurbished as well. Can just about see Selfridges from here.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Moor Street 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Moor St Class 168 (April 2015).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Arriving at platform 3 at Birmingham Moor Street during December 2017 was Chiltern Railways 168004. In the new grey livery, but was looking a bit dirty at the time.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Moor Street 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Moor St Class 168 (Dec 2017).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

In January 2020 from platform 1 at Birmingham Moor Street. Chiltern Railways 168106 had just left Birmingham Snow Hill. And after a stop at Moor Street, was heading on it's way to it's next stop at Solihull, on it's way towards London Marylebone.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Moor Street 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Moor St Class 168 (Jan 2020).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Solihull Station

Departing Solihull Station during May 2013 was Chiltern Railways 168216. At the front was also Chiltern Railways 172 103. It was heading to London Marylebone. In the old blue livery.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Solihull 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Solihull Class 168 (May 2013) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

In December 2013, I was at Solihull Station when I saw Chiltern Railways 168108. It was heading for Birmingham Moor Street (which would be it's final stop and terminus).

dndimg alt="Chiltern Solihull 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Solihull Class 168 (Dec 2013) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

In May 2016 at Solihull, I saw Chiltern Railways 168218 heading towards London Marylebone. It was a wet weekend, and this might have been a Wembley Special weekend (the FA Cup Final was that weekend at the time). I've been on a Chiltern train when it's been packed full of football fans going down to Wembley.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Solihull 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Solihull Class 168 (May 2016).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In July 2019 an unidentified Chiltern Railways Class 168 is seen crossing the Low Bridge on Blossomfield Road in Solihull. While a pair of buses cross under it towards Solihull Town Centre. I had just got off the no 6 bus, which was the red single decker bus on the right. The bus with NXWM was 1914. Landflight bus on the left was on the 8W.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Solihull 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Solihull Class 168 (July 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Warwick Parkway Station

I got the train down from Solihull to Warwick in April 2019, and walked up the Grand Union Canal. Getting off near Warwick Parkway Station. This was my first time using the station, although I've passed through it many times in the past. Seen departing from Warwick Parkway for London Marylebone was Chiltern Railways 168 323 and 168 321.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Warwick Parkway 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Warwick Parkway Class 168 (April 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Both Chiltern Railways 168 323 and 168 321 had been part of the former TransPennine Express fleet (it ended in 2016) that used to be Class 170, before they were refurbished and change to a Class 168/3.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Warwick Parkway 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Warwick Parkway Class 168 (April 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

After a wait at Warwick Parkway, Chiltern Railways 168 326 arrived at the station.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Warwick Parkway 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Warwick Parkway Class 168 (April 2019) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Chiltern Railways 168 326 would be my ride back to Solihull from Warwick Parkway. Sit in the Quiet Zone. It is so comfortable on these trains.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Warwick Parkway 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Warwick Parkway Class 168 (April 2019) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Leamington Spa Station

Back in October 2011, I got the train down to Leamington Spa Station for the first time for a photo walk around the town. Seen at the opposite platform was Chiltern Railways 168112. After stopping at Leamington Spa, it would resume it's journey down to London Marylebone.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Leamington Spa 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Leamington Spa Class 168 (Oct 2011) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

In March 2018 on another visit to Leamington Spa Station, I saw Chiltern Railways 168108. This was the first time I had got a train from Coventry to Leamington, going past Kenilworth (which hadn't opened at the time). I would go back when Kenilworth Station opened for the first time. Meanwhile this Chiltern train was heading down to London Marylebone after a stop at Leamington Spa.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Leamington Spa 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Leamington Spa Class 168 (March 2018) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

On Leap Year Day at the end of February 2020, I caught a packed Chiltern Railways train down to Leamington Spa from Solihull (heading to Coventry on the branch line). Got off before the train got too busy with football fans. Chiltern Railways 168215 seen heading on it's way down to London Marylebone. That day, Chiltern should have put two trains on of 8 carriages. But was only a crowded four carriages.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Leamington Spa 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Leamington Spa Class 168 (Feb 2020) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

After I got back to Leamington Spa from Coventry (with Cross Country, as would have been a long wait for West Midlands Railway), Chiltern Railways 168003 arrived, and it would take me back to Solihull. Much quieter and less busier. This was the last time I travelled with Chiltern Railways before lockdown and the current restrictions.

dndimg alt="Chiltern Leamington Spa 168" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chiltern Leamington Spa Class 168 (Feb 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

From the 15th June 2020, if you travel on the train (or bus) you have to wear a mask over your mouth and nose. But travel is still "essential travel only". So I don't know when I'll be going on a train, or even a bus again (any time soon). Not been on either in 3 months now (since March 2020).

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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