EWR/Chiltern Class 196 Build and Implementation

[Steddenm]

Saw this Tweet/X earlier:

https://x.com/i/status/2021914476010782835

@ChimeWhistle said: I've received a DM from a senior union source, saying that the union has heard rumours that a different type of traction may be used on the East West route, as opposed to the 196s. It's expected to be discussed at next week's meeting with Chiltern.

 

[tfw756rider]

Saw this Tweet/X earlier:

https://x.com/i/status/2021914476010782835

Discussion here.

 

[JMW146]

I suggest looking at the contract.
It's a known fact of when the lease expires (Subject to any renewal, naturally). There  is an end date to the existing lease.

Side question: which will come first? End of contract to hire the 196 fleet / units or the start of passenger services?

I'm sure WMT could do plenty with them. They're learning the Camp Hill lines currently (for whichever reason, I forget), with 196 traction.

Is that the 31st March 2026 date mentioned in here earlier or not?

 

[800002]

Is that the 31st March 2026 date mentioned in here earlier or not?

I don't happen to have a copy of the contract to hand, apologies.

 

[Cowley]

Just a quick reminder that this thread is for the East West Rail and Chiltern 196 introductions only please.

Thank you

 

[DBS92042]

007-12 are all in Chiltern livery. 010 was the last one completed in January.

4 should be in Bletchley with the other 2 currently in Tyseley (or on the Camp Hill lines)

Not sure if its been mentioned before but 196009 has now been de-branded of its Chiltern Railways logos but still carries the base Chiltern livery

 

[DavidGrain]

Not sure if its been mentioned before but 196009 has now been de-branded of its Chiltern Railways logos but still carries the base Chiltern livery

I wondered about that this morning when I was watching this video

Showing trains at Kings Norton which included sight of 196009.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Feb 2026 ==

Do these 196's that Chiltern have sit idle alot, looking at movements to and from Bletchley TMD. There have been no registered movements since the 3rd February.

They must pay alot of leasing for units essentially sitting around.

DfT is paying for the leasing charges. There was a report on one of the threads about how much DfT have had to write off in lease charges because of the late entry into service but I have no way of finding it.

 

[The_Train]

Not sure if its been mentioned before but 196009 has now been de-branded of its Chiltern Railways logos but still carries the base Chiltern livery

Are we going to be adding the re-livery of the 196s to the ever growing list titled "What A Waste Of Money?"

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Saw a few 196s in the Chiltern livery yesterday. 196010 and 196012. Some at Tyseley TMD as well. Livery looks decent.

 

[Carlisle]

Would’ve been so much better starting up a new TOC, could’ve been running by now

 

[JonathanH]

Would’ve been so much better starting up a new TOC, could’ve been running by now

Do you not think it would have had the same problems with implementation of the chosen method of operation, not to mention the difficulty and overheads of running a small operation?

 

[Carlisle]

More expensive initially yes but seemed to work with Crossrail & Lumo & ultimately a lot cheaper than permanently employing an additional 40-55 guards.

 

[Gordonman]

196114 is working 2J18 Birmingham NS - Shrewsbury currently.When was this unit last in service,must be a while?

 

[Richard Scott]

Anyone know what the two 196s are at Tyseley in the EWR livery (assuming that's what it is) please?
Thanks in advance.

 

[DavidGrain]

Anyone know what the two 196s are at Tyseley in the EWR livery (assuming that's what it is) please?
Thanks in advance.

196009 in Chiltern Livery has been route learning on the Camp Hill Line in Birmingham due to open 19th March although the Chiltern name has been taken off it. I think 196010 is also at Tyseley as it has also been working on WMR routes.

 

[Richard Scott]

196009 in Chiltern Livery has been route learning on the Camp Hill Line in Birmingham due to open 19th March although the Chiltern name has been taken off it. I think 196010 is also at Tyseley as it has also been working on WMR routes.

Thanks, not sure if there was Chiltern branding or not but both units were next to each other, numbers unfortunately hidden and a bit dark to get front ones.

 

[MidlandRailfan]

….showing on RTT, 196011 worked BY to TS earlier today…

 

[tfw756rider]

….showing on RTT, 196011 worked BY to TS earlier today…

What do those stand for, and can we have a link (or at least headcode) please?

 

[43096]

What do those stand for, and can we have a link (or at least headcode) please?

They are standard depot codes: Bletchley and Tyseley,

 

[zwk500]

What do those stand for, and can we have a link (or at least headcode) please?

The two-letter codes are Depot Identifiers
BY - Bletchley
TS - Tyseley

The working was 5H50, link: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K63422/2026-03-16/detailed#allox_id=0
It was routed via Coventry and Leamington, as it happens.

 

[1D54]

What do those stand for, and can we have a link (or at least headcode) please?

Bletchley T.M.D - Tyseley L.M.B....5H50.

 

[tfw756rider]

The two-letter codes are Depot Identifiers
BY - Bletchley
TS - Tyseley

The working was 5H50, link: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K63422/2026-03-16/detailed#allox_id=0
It was routed via Coventry and Leamington, as it happens.

Bletchley T.M.D - Tyseley L.M.B....5H50.

Many thanks both Uniform Resource Locator (URL) copied straight into the post, for the automatically-generated link with preview:

Realtime Trains | 5H50 1105 Bletchley T.M.D. to Tyseley L.M.D. | 16/03/2026

Real-time train running information for 5H50 1105 departure from Bletchley T.M.D. to Tyseley L.M.D. on 16/03/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[uniquicity]

Didn’t really want to start a whole new thread for this, but 196103 is operating the 1550 Chiltern service to Hereford according to the automated announcements onboard…

 

[Liam L]

Didn’t really want to start a whole new thread for this, but 196103 is operating the 1550 Chiltern service to Hereford according to the automated announcements onboard…

Software issues, probably happened when they are adding the new stations to the software.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

196 007 is doing route learning today; just seen it in the bay at Milton Keynes.

 

[DavidGrain]

According to a comment on FaceBook, the Union has been advised that the 3 Class 196 leased back to WMR will be used on the Leamington-Coventry-Nuneaton Line. https://www.facebook.com/groups/954843288350285/permalink/2377462599421673/
196009 so far has been used most days on route learning on the Camp Hill Line service due to start next Tuesday. The 3 units (perhaps someone can confirm the numbers) are remaining in Chiltern livery but the Chiltern name has been removed.
As Leamington Spa station is a Chiltern managed station, it will be ironic if trains operating with Chiltern livery will not be on Chiltern services.
(Memo to me. Need to visit Leamington so see if I can get a photo)

 

[Liam L]

According to a comment on FaceBook, the Union has been advised that the 3 Class 196 leased back to WMR will be used on the Leamington-Coventry-Nuneaton Line. https://www.facebook.com/groups/954843288350285/permalink/2377462599421673/
196009 so far has been used most days on route learning on the Camp Hill Line service due to start next Tuesday. The 3 units (perhaps someone can confirm the numbers) are remaining in Chiltern livery but the Chiltern name has been removed.
As Leamington Spa station is a Chiltern managed station, it will be ironic if trains operating with Chiltern livery will not be on Chiltern services.
(Memo to me. Need to visit Leamington so see if I can get a photo)

Hopefully the spare units will allow the camp hill to be 4 cars.... 2 cars won't be enough.

 

[PLY2AYS]

According to a comment on FaceBook, the Union has been advised that the 3 Class 196 leased back to WMR will be used on the Leamington-Coventry-Nuneaton Line. https://www.facebook.com/groups/954843288350285/permalink/2377462599421673/

The comments don’t allude to that in the slightest…
Moreover, I’d expect to see these moving along EWR, or at least around Bletchley and Tyseley a lot more in the next couple of weeks.

 

[newtownmgr]

196011 has been in use for WMR today worked 1V33 17:50 New St - Hereford, 1M90 19:50 Hereford - New St and will work 1V39 22:00 New St - Worcester SH. Will be in use off Worcester tomorrow but not sure on what as won’t be allocated until the early hours.

 

[tfw756rider]

196011 has been in use for WMR today worked 1V33 17:50 New St - Hereford, 1M90 19:50 Hereford - New St and will work 1V39 22:00 New St - Worcester SH. Will be in use off Worcester tomorrow but not sure on what as won’t be allocated until the early hours.

A 196 in Chiltern colours at Hereford? Has anyone captured that?