OpenTube

Chiltern Railways Has Been Nationalised: What's Changing?

Network News

16,519 views

As part of the ongoing efforts to establish Great British Railways, Chiltern Railways has today been nationalised by the government. In this video, I go for a ride on the first train in public ownership and try to unpack what this means for the future of rail travel on Chiltern's network, and across the country more widely!

You can watch my vlog from the first nationalised train here (when published): @mikewillsee

----------------------------------------------

Check out my vlogs channel here: @mikewillsee

Support Network News through channel memberships: @networknewsuk

Support Network News and Michael C through Patreon: Patreon: mikewillsee

Having trouble deciding which plan is right for you? Check out this guide for more information:
Members Introduction Video

----------------------------------------------

SOURCES/ATTRIBUTIONS:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ch...
https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co...
https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co...

20 Comments

@TheHumanoidMicrowave 2 weeks ago

I really hope the new nationalised operator can come to an agreement over EWR

@watcherzero5256 2 weeks ago (edited)

Chiltern were quite interesting in that they had a different franchise model being given a much longer 21 year franchise (as opposed to usual 5-7 years) in return for a large private capital investment. Probably helped generate a greater sense of ownership as the initial five year franchise by the same company wasn't as successful.

@WilVincent27 2 weeks ago

You know what. Chiltern Railways didn't shout that much. But they did a decent job. Given the option, I would take them over Virgin / Whatever Avanti try to be.

@johnevans8533 11 days ago

I was recently on Chiltern going from Marylebone to Beaconsfield (offpeak): great, fast service. Travellers should be aware that it takes a good five minutes of walking to get from the Bakerloo Line to the far platforms at Marylebone.

@JP-Rail-UK 2 weeks ago

I agree with you that the best GBR livery is on the 68 & MK5 set which I think having the line with electrification would have been on my plans instead of batteries

@Trainranger-l5p 2 weeks ago

The first ever GBR painted train I saw was a class 720 at Cambridge South Station.

@jamesryeland1635 10 days ago (edited)

Avanti west coast is going to be nationalised on the 7th of March next year

@Trainranger-l5p 2 weeks ago

4:46 You should note that the proposed section of the route running down to Aylesbury as part of the project is now not going ahead.

@Sim0nTrains 2 weeks ago

Great video, honestly I'm currently not a fan of the livery on a MK5 Set but maybe seeing in person will change my mind.

@MakingTrackZ 2 weeks ago

Add chiltern railways is my local railway, and that they have set a really high standard, I expect GBR to be better, more eco-family and provide class 68 roots to Oxford. However, I’m not so keen on the GBR livery on the mark five.

I’m also worried that Chiltern Railway will get forgotten very easily. With major operators like GWR and LMWR, Chiltern Railway would just probably cease to exist because there’s no model trains for it and it’s not that advertise much in its career. I think that GBR taking over Chiltern railway is not a good thing as they are the leading example of a successful privatisation and eco friendly.

@TransportFan976 2 weeks ago

Amazing video. I have seen the GBR liver on the class 68 and MK5 sets already and GWR is now next to be nationalised

@stewartclark2137 2 weeks ago

Chiltern has not been 'nationalised' but has reverted to the original owner, on expiry of a contract, as explained by your good self.
A contract has expired and the owner has chosen not to renew.
The original privatisation was also, for the benefit of political supporters, the owner in fact 'franchising' parts of his estate, probably based on a property company known as MacDonalds

@HarrisonSnazel 2 weeks ago

I winder if the line will finally be electrified and have better trains now that Chiltern are under GBR

@johnroberts2331 2 weeks ago

I worry about this as a regular user of Chiltern. Not many success stories with after going nationlised but I try to stay positive. Not a fan of the GBR livery on any service. I'm going to miss the 168s on West Mids services ad I'm not a fan of the new explorer sets.

@richjames2540 2 weeks ago

It is a great mistake to exclude freight operators. It has been very problematic in the USA but there the freight operators run the track. They meed to include freight so it continues to grow and does mot get squeezed. Maybe the Great Central which would be ideal for freight

@glassowlie 2 weeks ago (edited)

Strange. So some trains got temporary GBR livery before they even nationalised. I hope Northern and LNER are next because those are the operators I mainly see.

@EM-yk1dw 2 weeks ago (edited)

The 165s are in a dreadful state both internally and externally but all that seems to matter is the MK 5 sets. The Birmingham and Oxford services were not set up in competition to other services.

@paulbowler2760 2 weeks ago

But what about the ROSCO's?

@andrewreynolds4949 2 weeks ago

For the moment the takeover of operators is nothing more than a political stunt, particularly by wasting money applying one-off, mediocre liveries when repainting is unnecessary. Major change will only be seen once GBR is formed as a whole, and there are quite a few major concerns about the way things are being set up with poor oversight and greater potential for politician interference than ever before.