Chiltern Railways (1996–2026)

Common card · No. 431604

The Chiltern Railway Company Limited, trading as Chiltern Railways, was a British train operating company that operated the Chiltern franchise from July 1996 until September 2026. It was a subsidiary of Arriva UK Trains from April 2009 until the end of its franchise. Chiltern Railways was founded as M40 Trains by a group of ex-British Rail managers backed by John Laing and 3i; in June 1996, it was announced that M40 Trains had been awarded the Chiltern Railways franchise. On 21 July 1996, it took over operations from British Rail. The company promptly commenced the redoubling of the Chiltern Main Line under the Evergreen initiative and ordered the Class 168 Clubman diesel multiple units (DMUs) to supplement its ex-British Rail fleet. Following the awarding of a 20-year franchise to Chiltern Railways in August 2000, Evergreen phase 2 works begun to raise line speeds around Beaconsfield, built two new platforms at its London Marylebone terminus. In January 2010, a £250 million upgrade package...

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