Caf-built Class 196 is launched onto WMR’S Shrewsbury route
AS REPORTED in the last issue of Railways Illustrated, West Midlands Railway has now launched the first of its new Caf-built Class 196 DMUS into service on the Birmingham to Shrewsbury route.
The first diagrams to make use of them saw 196101 Charles Darwin on the Shrewsbury route from October 17. The Class 196/1 is one of 14 fourcar trains being delivered for use with WMR, with a further 12 two-car Class 196/0 also due to enter service on the WMR network over the coming months, allowing the operator to cascade its Class 170s to neighbouring operator East Midlands Railway. The debut of the trains, which WMR says will provide a 25% capacity increase, has been delayed; they should have originally entered traffic in 2020.
The initial diagrams from October 17 saw the Class 196 operate in the morning peak period between Birmingham New Street and Shrewsbury, before the unit was returned to Tyseley Depot mid-morning. The diagrams being worked by the new DMUS will be expanded over the coming weeks as more are accepted into service.
WMR says it is also planning on introducing the Class 196s onto the Birmingham New Street to Hereford line, via Worcester Shrub Hill, from the New Year.
196101 was named Charles Darwin by the High Sheriff of Shropshire, Selina Graham, during a media event to launch the new fleet on October 14. The name was chosen by WMR staff following an internal poll and honours the Shrewsbury-born naturalist recognised as one of the greatest Britons of all time.
WMR customer experience director Jonny Wiseman said on October 17, following the launch into traffic of the first unit: “I am delighted to see our Class 196 trains carrying passengers for the first time.
“With smart air conditioning, power points at every seat, and extra space on board, I am certain that these trains will prove a hit with passengers.”
The introduction of the Class 196s and also a fleet of Class 730 EMUS being built by Alstom (but not yet accepted into traffic) are part of a £690 million investment by WMR in providing new fleets and infrastructure for its services.
The entry into service of the Class 196s was expected to allow WMR to dispense with its Class 153 and 170 fleets, but while the Class 153s have already been removed from service and withdrawn, a number of Class 170s remain in use with WMR. Eventually, the plan is that 170501517 and 170530-535 will be moved across from WMR to EMR, and some of these DMUS have already been transferred, but the remainder cannot be moved until sufficient Class 196s have been accepted into passenger service.
The arrival of Class 170s to EMR is allowing the East Midlands operator to transfer its remaining Class 156s DMUS to Northern.
Once the Class 730s enter service on WMR’S Cross-city Line, it is expected that 17 of WMRS existing Class 323 fleet will also be transferred to Northern.