Chiltern Railways Hosts Farewell Journey for Iconic Mark III Coaches

Chiltern Railways is preparing a one-off farewell journey to mark the retirement of its iconic Mark III coaches while supporting the Railway Children charity.

The special event will take place on Sunday 22 February and gives rail enthusiasts and the public a chance to ride the British Rail-era coaches, which were built in the 1970s and have been part of Chiltern’s fleet since 2010. The coaches, along with the locomotives that haul them, are due to leave service by the end of March, making way for a larger, modern fleet being introduced in 2026.

Organised by the Branch Line Society with the help of volunteers, the day trip will raise funds for the Railway Children charity, which works with vulnerable children living alone or at risk on the streets and rail networks in the UK, Tanzania, and India.

The route will start from Banbury, head north to Stourbridge, then travel the full length of the Chiltern Main Line to London Marylebone before returning to Banbury in the evening, giving participants a full-day experience aboard the historic coaches.

Richard Allan, Managing Director of Chiltern Railways, said:

“I am thrilled that we are celebrating these iconic coaches which have served our customers for many years. This special and unique journey is a wonderful opportunity to say farewell to the Mark III coaches and to raise money for the brilliant Railway Children charity.”

Jack Miller, Group Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Railway Children, said:

“We are consistently humbled by the generosity and commitment from our friends right across the rail family. This event, thanks to Chiltern Railways and Branch Line Society is a wonderful example of the industry uniting through a landmark occasion to support some of the world's most vulnerable children. This will be an incredible event that will create a fitting legacy.”

Tickets for the Mark III farewell journey went on sale on Friday 12 December via the Branch Line Society website. A total of 250 tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, priced at £68 for adults and £34 for children.

Image: Chiltern Railways