WMR Class 196 Build and Implementation

[Jacob Porrett]

Saw the pair yesterday morning (4/3/23) with a service to Shrewsbury.

 

[LowLevel]

Having finally had a go I rather like them. The ride and braking are still harsh but a bit better than a 195. The interior is well suited for a premium outer suburban service which is effectively what Birmingham - Hereford and Shrewsbury is, they'll not be seeing any jaunts over 100 miles like the 170s were designed for. Just hope they settle down into service now with better availability.

 

[satisnek]

I had a ride in one a couple of weeks back. I was expecting it to be a 195 with end gangways, so I was a bit disappointed.

First of all, in my opinion this is the ugliest front end I've ever seen - and the orange livery makes it look positively demonic! Give me the classic lines of the Southern Region 1963 stock any time - or failing that, I think that the Class 350 looks pretty neat.

The almost square windows seem quite mean compared to other stock and the seats have simply not been designed! Good back support, but I had to tilt my head back in an awkward and slightly painful manner before it contacted the headrest.

Having tried the 195s last year and found them quite comfy, in a Poundland Class 170 kind of way, I'm really not impressed with these.

 

[Techniquest]

I have to disagree personally, the 195s are nice trains and especially so compared to the Pacers that are thankfully long gone. I wouldn't say they were superior to the 196s though, quite the opposite for me. I would much rather a 196 to a 195, the former's interior is far better and brighter in my view!

I definitely can't agree with the 196s looking 'demonic' in their orange colours. Menacing, in a 'I mean business' kind of way, very possibly but demonic? Definitely not!

 

[william.martin]

196005 entered service yesterday.

 

[Liam L]

196005 entered service yesterday.

So how many sets have now entered service?

 

[SuperLuke2334]

So how many sets have now entered service?

I believe we are on around 11 - 12 units.

 

[william.martin]

So how many sets have now entered service?

I believe we are on around 11 - 12 units.

11

196001
196004
196005
196006
196101
196102
196104
196107
196108
196109
196110

 

[Liam L]

11

196001
196004
196005
196006
196101
196102
196104
196107
196108
196109
196110

Thank you

 

[158841]

I believe 196106 has also seen service! Leaving just 103/105 for the three cars

 

[newtownmgr]

I believe 196106 has also seen service! Leaving just 103/105 for the three cars

106 is one of the training units at Worcester & currently not cleared for service.

 

[Liam L]

106 is one of the training units at Worcester & currently not cleared for service.

Same with 002 aswell imagine

 

[newtownmgr]

Same with 002 aswell imagine

Not sure about 002 but it’s one of the units being used for training so i suspect not. 003 & 012 are the other units at Worcester.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Mar 2023 ==

I believe 196106 has also seen service! Leaving just 103/105 for the three cars

111,112,113 & 114 are not in service yet either.

 

[Sprinter107]

I believe 196106 has also seen service! Leaving just 103/105 for the three cars

There arent 3 car sets. They're either 4 car or 2 car ones.

 

[158841]

Apologies.

Also
196001/004 out on the 0940 Shr - Brum
196005/006 on the heavily delayed 0810 Shr - Brum (then goes empty to Tyseley)

 

[Jacob Porrett]

196114 has arrived at Donnington RFT this morning. Pictures to follow when I go out and see it.

 

[william.martin]

196114 has arrived at Donnington RFT this morning. Pictures to follow when I go out and see it.

So that means that all units have been delivered.
Was the unit transported by road or rail?

 

[Jacob Porrett]

So that means that all units have been delivered.
Was the unit transported by road or rail?

It was transported by road yesterday (14/3/23). All the 196s (/0 (2 car) and /1 (4 car) variants) are in the West Midlands now.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

A couple of photos of 196114 at Donnington Rail Freight Terminal today. (15/3/23) 17 units at the terminal now. 1x 196 and 16x 197s.

 

[william.martin]

TS401 and TS403 are 2 car operated again.

 

[GoneSouth]

1x 196 and 16x 197s.

What’s the difference between the 196 and 197?

 

[Bletchleyite]

What’s the difference between the 196 and 197?

Door layout, window size and basically the entire interior including the type of seats and lighting arrangements.

 

[Undiscovered]

What’s the difference between the 196 and 197?

197s are designed for full driver/guard operation, with door panels in the saloons.
196s are designed driver only. All guard operating equipment is being retro fitted, causing a few teething problems.

 

[Peter Sarf]

What’s the difference between the 196 and 197?

I will add
196s are for West Midlands Trains (so in and around Birmingham).
197s are for Transport for Wales (most of long distance Wales).
So the two Train Operating Companies each wanted different features for different services.

 

[william.martin]

I will add
196s are for West Midlands Trains (so in and around Birmingham).
197s are for Transport for Wales (most of long distance Wales).
So the two Train Operating Companies each wanted different features for different services.

Yes, they have the capability to perform rescue missions for each other aswell (obviously not up the Cambrian though as 196's are not ETCS fitted.)
I do think that the 196's should of come in 2 car and 3 car formations as 4 car remains too short for rush hour but is too long for off peak so 3 in off peak and 5 in the peak would of been great but never mind.
The 196's stopping at Smethwick Galton Bridge didn't help overcrowding either.

 

[Class172]

Yes, they have the capability to perform rescue missions for each other aswell (obviously not up the Cambrian though as 196's are not ETCS fitted.)
I do think that the 196's should of come in 2 car and 3 car formations as 4 car remains too short for rush hour but is too long for off peak so 3 in off peak and 5 in the peak would of been great but never mind.
The 196's stopping at Smethwick Galton Bridge didn't help overcrowding either.

I can't speak for the Shrewsbury services but certainly for the Herefords I think 4 carriages is a good length to deal with the majority of services. Pre-covid a 3-car 170 wasn't sufficient for a lot of off-peak services—locally the 0940 ex-Hereford was semi-regularly leaving passengers behind at Droitwich Spa—4 would be more reasonable. In the peak time it allows all the services to be a consistent minimum or 4 carriages, which allows people to plan their journeys accordingly, as previously it would vary between 2 and 5 for a departure towards Worcester in the peak. The 2-car sets also allow for the formation of 6 carriage services should demand require in future, which will be more than adequate for even the peak services for a good while.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I can't speak for the Shrewsbury services but certainly for the Herefords I think 4 carriages is a good length to deal with the majority of services. Pre-covid a 3-car 170 wasn't sufficient for a lot of off-peak services—locally the 0940 ex-Hereford was semi-regularly leaving passengers behind at Droitwich Spa—4 would be more reasonable. In the peak time it allows all the services to be a consistent minimum or 4 carriages, which allows people to plan their journeys accordingly, as previously it would vary between 2 and 5 for a departure towards Worcester in the peak. The 2-car sets also allow for the formation of 6 carriage services should demand require in future, which will be more than adequate for even the peak services for a good while.

I agree. If anything Covid19 has meant the railways have to worry about justifying what they have not trying to get more stock.

In an ideal world there would be no 2-car sets so services never run the risk of being one 2-car set instead of 4-cars. But then the same availability would lead to either a 4-car service or nothing. At least they have unit end gangways.

I have not considered at what length platform limitations come into effect and where.

 

[RailWonderer]

I can't speak for the Shrewsbury services but certainly for the Herefords I think 4 carriages is a good length to deal with the majority of services. Pre-covid a 3-car 170 wasn't sufficient for a lot of off-peak services—locally the 0940 ex-Hereford was semi-regularly leaving passengers behind at Droitwich Spa—4 would be more reasonable. In the peak time it allows all the services to be a consistent minimum or 4 carriages, which allows people to plan their journeys accordingly, as previously it would vary between 2 and 5 for a departure towards Worcester in the peak. The 2-car sets also allow for the formation of 6 carriage services should demand require in future, which will be more than adequate for even the peak services for a good while.

I did a couple of Brum Hereford trips a couple of years ago and the best was when they ran a pair of 2 car 170s.

What’s the difference between the 196 and 197?

The 196s use the Fisa Lean seat as seen in the GA Stadler fleet.
The 197s use a version of the Fainsa that the HEX uses in first class. Then interior colour schemes as well.

Door layout, window size and basically the entire interior including the type of seats and lighting arrangements.

The car lengths look the same but the 196s have five windows between the doors and the 197s have 4 windows. Is that what you meant? Lighting arrangement and window size looks identical on both.

 

[LowLevel]

I agree. If anything Covid19 has meant the railways have to worry about justifying what they have not trying to get more stock.

In an ideal world there would be no 2-car sets so services never run the risk of being one 2-car set instead of 4-cars. But then the same availability would lead to either a 4-car service or nothing. At least they have unit end gangways.

I have not considered at what length platform limitations come into effect and where.

There are benefits to 2 car sets - they're more efficient for depot space for example, you can split a 2 + 2 and move it about as needed.

Wasn't there a rumour these would end up on the Nuneaton - Leamingtons at some point too, for which 4 car would be definite overkill?

 

[Bletchleyite]

The 197s use a version of the Fainsa that the HEX uses in first class. Then interior colour schemes as well.

Otherwise known as the 80x Standard seat (but more padding, which may make it a lot better - let's see how it lasts).

The car lengths look the same but the 196s have five windows between the doors and the 197s have 4 windows. Is that what you meant? Lighting arrangement and window size looks identical on both.

There is one more window, the windows are narrower and the seats aligned to them, and the doors are nearer to quarters than thirds. The size looks similar because they're also vertically shorter by a few inches. Lighting on the 197 is direct, on the 196 is indirect (shines sideways and uses the ceiling as a diffuser) and has spotlights which gives a much classier look.