EWR/Chiltern Class 196 Build and Implementation

[Wyrleybart]

Moderator note - split from:

WMR Class 196 Build and Implementation

Time to start a thread about these things, so lets start with the most important bit of passenger comfort information. The Seats! WM have put out a release re the seats, check out the link below...

www.railforums.co.uk

Aa a matter of interest, what is the situation with the 196s with regard to equipment for operating DCO / DOO ?

I seem to recall reports at the start of their delivery, saying that the 196s and 730s were built with the door panel controls plated over, having to be reinstated due to WMR not using the DCO method.

I wonder if 196007-012 are now being "remodified", to be made DCO capable for use by Chiltern crews on EWR?

 

[tfw756rider]

The 196s are yeah.

I know this is the WMR 196 thread, but isn't it only the 20 West Midlands Railway 196s that have been in service, with none of the 6 Chiltern / East West Rail 196s yet in service?

 

[JonathanH]

none of the 6 Chiltern / East West Rail 196s yet in service?

Those six all operated for WMR before being withdrawn for transfer.

 

[Pete_uk]

At least that should hopefully mean they have bedded in somewhat and should hit the ground running.

 

[Wyrleybart]

At least that should hopefully mean they have bedded in somewhat and should hit the ground running.

True, but are they having to be retro modified for DCO / DOO door controls if EWR is or isn't going to be DCO operated ?

 

[HLE]

No, it's all there as built, however the DOO screens were covered over and the system isolated. It's TBC what form of dispatch EWR will use.

 

[DavidGrain]

The 6 Class 196s also will be re-liveried according to Chiltern's announcement. I have seen reports that they are still in WMR livery a few days ago. This will be another delay in opening the Oxford - MKC route.
There has been no public mention of this but I am wondering if the question of DOO is causing another delay in bringing these back into public service. Bear in mind Chiltern operates DOO south of Banbury for all their trains except for the loco hauled.

 

[D365]

True, but are they having to be retro modified for DCO / DOO door controls if EWR is or isn't going to be DCO operated ?

Even if EWR doesn’t require GOPs (guard operation panels), the intention is that the 196/0s will return to WMR once EWR procures its own fleet of bi-mode trains. Given that the materials & installation cost is a low proportion of the overall GOP modification workstream, it would be a bit bonkers to not fit the entire 196 fleet.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Even if EWR doesn’t require GOPs (guard operation panels), the intention is that the 196/0s will return to WMR once EWR procures its own fleet of bi-mode trains. Given that the materials & installation cost is a low proportion of the overall GOP modification workstream, it would be a bit bonkers to not fit the entire 196 fleet.

I don't doubt that, but is there an official statement to that effect published anywhere ?

 

[william.martin]

What is the source, that specifically 007-012 are planned for EWR, I can't find it?

 

[sqwizz]

What is the source, that specifically 007-012 are planned for EWR, I can't find it?

001 and 008-012 are the six five that Chiltern have been using on the line recently (007 is still in the midlands)

 

[CR165022]

001 and 008-012 are the six that Chiltern have been using on the line recently (007 is still in the midlands)

I don't recall 001 ever moving to Bletchley? Thought it was just 008-012 so far.

 

[sqwizz]

I don't recall 001 ever moving to Bletchley? Thought it was just 008-012 so far.

I think you're absolutely right and I've somehow got mixed up by seeing 165001 on the line last month, oops! Sorry

 

[vuzzeho]

Saw the 196s at Bletchley on Monday. Sorry for the terrible picture quality, the windows on the 150 were very dirty.

 

[DavidGrain]

Do Chiltern have all 6 units yet? I assume that they would not want to start the service with insufficient units. The full timetable requires 4 units in service each day with 2 units spare.
Also how long will it take to re-livery the units? Will it require a repaint or will they be wrapped? Will the units need to go away for this to be done? This will also delay the availability.

 

[Class15]

Do Chiltern have all 6 units yet? I assume that they would not want to start the service with insufficient units. The full timetable requires 4 units in service each day with 2 units spare.
Also how long will it take to re-livery the units? Will it require a repaint or will they be wrapped? Will the units need to go away for this to be done? This will also delay the availability.

They can probably be done at Wolverton so not too bad!

 

[D365]

I’m not aware that any 196s have transferred (sub-lease) to Chiltern yet.

 

[43096]

They can probably be done at Wolverton so not too bad!

They won't need to go to Wolverton. It will be a vinyl wrap - the paint on the 196s is almost certainly still under warranty - and that can be applied by getting contractors in on a depot (e.g. Bletchley).

 

[DavidGrain]

I’m not aware that any 196s have transferred (sub-lease) to Chiltern yet.

Somewhere on this forum, possibly on the WMR 196 thread or on a previous EWR thread, it was reported that 196007-012 were on sub-lease to Chiltern about October time last year. Chiltern have been doing traction training with them out of Bletchley Depot on the Oxford-MKC Line for about two months.

 

[150219]

Somewhere on this forum, possibly on the WMR 196 thread or on a previous EWR thread, it was reported that 196007-012 were on sub-lease to Chiltern about October time last year. Chiltern have been doing traction training with them out of Bletchley Depot on the Oxford-MKC Line for about two months.

Yes. Can confirm.

You'd be surprised how quickly vinyl wraps can be applied, so I wouldn't imagine there would be any noticeable delay in the deployment of the units for being rebranded.

 

[wokspotter]

Somewhere on this forum, possibly on the WMR 196 thread or on a previous EWR thread, it was reported that 196007-012 were on sub-lease to Chiltern about October time last year. Chiltern have been doing traction training with them out of Bletchley Depot on the Oxford-MKC Line for about two months.

196007 was on a Leamington Spa - Nuneaton WMR service on Wednesday 23/4/25,according to RTT.

 

[Zomboid]

From what's been said here, it's 001 rather than 007 which Chiltern will be using.

 

[150219]

From what's been said here, it's 001 rather than 007 which Chiltern will be using.

No, it is 007, but it's working for WMT currently.

 

[Rhydgaled]

Yes. Can confirm.

You'd be surprised how quickly vinyl wraps can be applied, so I wouldn't imagine there would be any noticeable delay in the deployment of the units for being rebranded.

Will they even have a full vinyl wrap/relivery or just minor rebranding? The latter might be very quick; I seem to recall that some mark 3 and mark 4 sets (in base GNER blue livery) were even rebranded in the station at Kings Cross (some vehicles may have even had this happen twice, the first time from GNER red stripe to NXEC white stripe and the second time with the purple 'East Coast' (operator of last resort) branding put on top of the NXEC white stripe).

 

[150219]

Will they even have a full vinyl wrap/relivery or just minor rebranding? The latter might be very quick; I seem to recall that some mark 3 and mark 4 sets (in base GNER blue livery) were even rebranded in the station at Kings Cross (some vehicles may have even had this happen twice, the first time from GNER red stripe to NXEC white stripe and the second time with the purple 'East Coast' (operator of last resort) branding put on top of the NXEC white stripe).

It will be a full relivery.

 

[DavidGrain]

No, it is 007, but it's working for WMT currently.

Thanks for that in formation. This appears to be the unit no one had seen in Bletchley or out on the line on training runs.

 

[Zomboid]

They might do a quick rebrand if they were in a hurry to get them into service, but there's not a huge amount of evidence that that's the case.

 

[fadster]

I've just been past Tyseley and I believe 196010 and 196011 were in the carriage sidings next to the main line. I thought all the EWR units had left for Bletchley?
Can anyone confirm my sighting please.
Fadster.

 

[150219]

I've just been past Tyseley and I believe 196010 and 196011 were in the carriage sidings next to the main line. I thought all the EWR units had left for Bletchley?
Can anyone confirm my sighting please.
Fadster.

Confirmed.

 

[tfw756rider]

I've found on this page on the Steam Workshop website that Celmi has a British Rail Class 196 Western livery pack for Transport Fever 2, that includes Chiltern Railway by Mezzie (not my images, low-resolution preview, both uncropped and my crop attached):