WMR Class 196/0’s

[Thommo 1]

Hi all,

These 2 car 196’s are quite elusive. Apart from the Nuneaton - Leamington run, I am a bit stumped as to where to go to see these units. Has anyone got any idea of their diagrams please ?

Cheers
John

 

[JonathanH]

Hi all,

These 2 car 196’s are quite elusive. Apart from the Nuneaton - Leamington run, I am a bit stumped as to where to go to see these units. Has anyone got any idea of their diagrams please ?

Cheers
John

They operate on the Shrewsbury and Hereford lines alongside the 4-car units. You can follow their workings on RTT.

For example

196001 - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L34452/2025-08-21/detailed

196005 - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L34110/2025-08-21/detailed#allox_id=0

The first of those seemingly starts with a Worcester to Birmingham service - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L33369/2025-08-21/detailed#allox_id=0

Note that the WMR fleet is only meant to be six units, with six allocated to East West Rail, but some of the East West Rail units are currently still with WMR.

 

[Thommo 1]

Thanks for that Jonathan

I have been on New St quite a lot recently, and have indeed seen two pairs together but only the once.
Taken in Shrewsbury also but only seen the 196/1’s there.
Looking to go out next week to get these, I only have 3 of them,but as stated don’t know where to start really only New St again

Cheers

 

[Chorley Cake]

Thanks for that Jonathan

I have been on New St quite a lot recently, and have indeed seen two pairs together but only the once.
Taken in Shrewsbury also but only seen the 196/1’s there.
Looking to go out next week to get these, I only have 3 of them,but as stated don’t know where to start really only New St again

Cheers

007-012 are at Bletchley, ready to work on CrossRail I believe, so only 001-006 available. Realtimetrains is the place to search for them.

008 was on Leamington’s today.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

007-012 are at Bletchley, ready to work on CrossRail I believe, so only 001-006 available. Realtimetrains is the place to search for them.

I don't think they're going to be operating on CrossRail!

 

[Chorley Cake]

I don't think they're going to be operating on CrossRail!

Yeah, meant East West Rail.

 

[newtownmgr]

There is a pair diagrammed on Herefords daily but quite often is a 2 car on its own.

196008 one of the EWR sets was working off of Worcester earlier this week but has since been swapped out. Presumably on short term hire back to WMT as was 007 the other week.

 

[D365]

196008 one of the EWR sets was working off of Worcester earlier this week but has since been swapped out. Presumably on short term hire back to WMT as was 007 the other week.

There’s a separate thread for the EWR Class 196/0s, but I’m only aware that two of the six units to be subleased have started being prepared.

 

[Robin Edwards]

There’s a separate thread for the EWR Class 196/0s, but I’m only aware that two of the six units to be subleased have started being prepared.

And I don't believe 196007-012 are sat at Bletchley as they might earlier in the year?

 

[newtownmgr]

There’s a separate thread for the EWR Class 196/0s, but I’m only aware that two of the six units to be subleased have started being prepared.

Yes I’m aware, but posted in this thread as regards booked work for /0’s on WMT

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Aug 2025 ==

And I don't believe 196007-012 are sat at Bletchley as they might earlier in the year?

I’m not sure they were ever all there. Willing to be corrected

 

[800001]

And I don't believe 196007-012 are sat at Bletchley as they might earlier in the year?

Some of these are stored at Long Marston.

 

[Bletchleyite]

And I don't believe 196007-012 are sat at Bletchley as they might earlier in the year?

I guess space at Bletchley has been needed for the 730/2s but 350/2s are still taking up some space in the carriage sidings.

 

[D365]

I’m not sure they were ever all there. Willing to be corrected

Correct as they've been rotating through Tyseley for fitment of guard controls.

 

[Robin Edwards]

I’m not sure they were ever all there. Willing to be corrected

I wasn't suggesting they were all there at the same time but I've seen 008-012 there on March / April dates this year. My point was more that they have been there at some juncture before being moved on / back - and agree that 730's appeared thereafter.

 

[800001]

I wasn't suggesting they were all there at the same time but I've seen 008-012 there on March / April dates this year. My point was more that they have been there at some juncture before being moved on / back - and agree that 730's appeared thereafter.

Post #4 said they were all at Bletchley (they are not) maybe crossed wires with that.

 

[warwickshire]

Post #4 said they were all at Bletchley (they are not) maybe crossed wires with that.

196008, most certainly is not at Bletchley, because today Thursday 04th September 2025, it has been on the Nuneaton to Leamington shuttles all day, recent weeks it has also been a regular on this line,
196008, at the moment is still a regular worker for Wmr, on the Nuneaton to Leamington line.

 

[nigelsporne]

I am not sure this is the correct thread but... I have just read an article in my Engineering Magazine about the Camp Hill line which states that services will be formed of 6 carriages. Is this likely to be 196/0s as originally intended? Surely not.

 

[Fidelis]

I am not sure this is the correct thread but... I have just read an article in my Engineering Magazine about the Camp Hill line which states that services will be formed of 6 carriages. Is this likely to be 196/0s as originally intended? Surely not.

The West Midlands Rail Executive website states:
There will be 3 new stations at Moseley Village, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road. They’ll each have 2 platforms suitable for 6-car trains.
So no guarantee that six car trains will run but provision has been made for a 196/0 and a 196/1 coupled together when passenger numbers grow.

 

[nigelsporne]

Ok that makes a bit more sense.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Apologies for the unknown credit to the photo but 196007 is now in Chiltern livery for East West rail. 196008 is next to receive the same treatment.

 

[D365]

Apologies for the unknown credit to the photo but 196007 is now in Chiltern livery for East West rail. 196008 is next to receive the same treatment.

For the benefit of all - Discussion for EWR (Chiltern) Class 196/0s is linked here.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

For the benefit of all - Discussion for EWR (Chiltern) Class 196/0s is linked here.

Yeah I have noticed now

 

[800001]

Apologies for the unknown credit to the photo but 196007 is now in Chiltern livery for East West rail. 196008 is next to receive the same treatment.

It looks a lot better on a class 68....

 

[Jacob Porrett]

It looks a lot better on a class 68....

I say it looks similar to the refurb 168 new livery.