New trains for West Midlands

Tuesday 15th November 2022

Aside from two new trains for Southend Pier it’s been three years since I’ve written a blog about new trains entering service. That’s because it’s been three years since any new trains entered service.

Abellio owned West Midlands Trains’ West Midlands Railway (WMR) division has recently broken that famine with the first of 26 CAF built Class 196 trains launched at the end of last month. Altogether 80 carriages have been built in factories in Spain and south Wales with 14 formed into four coach trains and 12 as two coach trains.

Obviously their introduction is much delayed as is the way with new trains, mainly, it’s said, due to the pandemic. Originally expected into service in January 2020, I took a trip up to the West Midlands last Thursday to see if they’ve been worth the wait

The new trains are, or should I say the new train is currently running on WMR’s hourly service between Birmingham New Street and Shrewsbury. Despite the launch razzamatazz only one of the two trains out on that route on Thursday during the off peak was a Class 196, the other being what’s been the hitherto mainstay allocation, Class 170.

I always puzzle why operators do the launch thing and raise expectations only to continue to allocate older trains. Luckily it wasn’t too difficult to catch the other train out that morning once I’d copped a 170 on my first journey.

The trains are unusual in being new Diesel Multiple Units and next year the new fleet is also destined for WMR’s line between Birmingham, Worcester and Hereford. The two-coach units will be used on the Leamington Spa to Nuneaton route as well as on the new Camp Hill line passenger service between Birmingham New Street and Kings Norton but that’s not due to start until 2024. Six of the two coach trains are now also earmarked for the new East-West Rail line when that opens in 2024-25 but will see service with WMR before that – and I’d certainly hope so too, as that’s a long time to let expensive new assets lie idle.

The claim is the trains will offer around 15% more seats with a 25% increase in overall capacity.

But Class 196s apparently come with 311 seats (I didn’t count) whereas an equivalent two times two coach Class 170 has 244 which my calculator says is an impressive 27% increase.

The official blurb also says the new trains have more tables but I don’t think that can be right compared to a Class 170 as pictured below.

Indeed the reason the new 196s have more seats is because there are less tables – generally one placed either side of the gangway in the middle of each coach and one either side at both ends except where the accessible toilet is located.

Not that this is a big deal as it makes sense on busy routes used by these trains to maximise seating especially a very welcome development for a new train, decent comfortable seats with decent leg room.

You can tell DfT mandarins haven’t been involved in the specification when luxuries such as comfortable seats can be found on a new train. They’re from the same supplier (Fisa Lean) that’s been used by Greater Anglia on their Stadler built Class 755 trains. One disappointment is the seat back trays are rather small but there’s a three pin and usb socket under each pair of seats, and Wi-Fi is available.

The accessible toilet is well appointed …

… although women won’t like the fact I couldn’t make the seat stay up.

The hand dryer is not as fierce as on Pendolino trains – they’re the best – but is still decent.

The lock mechanism is a sturdy lever but I had to do a double take on the door close button which I’m sure intuitively makes sense to be coloured red but my initial thought was not to touch it as it must be the alarm button.

The same arrangement applies to the open (green) and close( red) buttons which are to the right of each pair of doors.

Outside the accessible toilet is a large flexible area for two wheelchairs and/or buggies …

…. as depicted on the doors…

… but it’s a bit of a squeeze to walk around the outside of the toilet cubicle inside the train especially if passengers are using the tip up seats.

That toilet can be found in the coach at one end of the train while there’s also a space in the coach at the other end for what’s said to be three bicycles but it looked to me as though it would be a faff to retrieve the one closest to the side if two others were alongside.

I can’t comment on the other toilet which is located in the next coach to the one with bike spaces as it was locked out of service.

There are helpful screens at the ends of each coach and alongside the doors …

… which give updates on journey progress and departures from interchange stations …

…. as well as helpful guidance about getting off the train.

The PA system is very loud and has the usual female voice known and loved at many Train Operating Companies and the door opening bleeping sound is to what I assume is some new standard as it’s the same as on Elizabeth line trains – that warm warble type sound.

Stadler built trains for Greater Anglia have level boarding at each set of doors, but as you can see from the photographs, this clever innovation hasn’t been included on these trains as the steps aren’t level with the platforms, which is a shame.

Aside from that disappointment, the seat back tray and the toilet seat, all in all a nice train and most importantly a comfortable one to travel on.

The bright orange and purple livery is certainly bold and makes a change from the dull all over greys and greens of other fleets but I’m still not sure about its overall design.

A batch of similar Class 197 trains (51 two coach and 26 three coach) are just entering service with Transport for Wales, and of course Northern has been running Class 195 trains for some time.

Roger French

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