WMR Class 196 Build and Implementation

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Are 170s still the mainstay of the route, or have we reached the point where the 196s are doing 50% or more of the Shrewsbury services yet?

 

[The_Train]

Reported on twitter that 196001 & 196006 worked 2J32 17:26 BHM-SHR tonight.

I then make the following as operated in service thus far.....
196001/006.
196101/102/104/107/108/110.

Can anyone confirm when 107 entered service please?

 

[XCTurbostar]

Can anyone confirm when 107 entered service please?

Not sure of exactly when but it definitely operated 2J14 on 20th Dec

 

[AJDesiro]

Are 170s still the mainstay of the route, or have we reached the point where the 196s are doing 50% or more of the Shrewsbury services yet?

It varies day to day, although it is very rare for services to be all 196s, but I believe it has happened. Some days you could have only one 106, then the next everything is a 196, very much a gamble atm.

 

[The_Train]

Not sure of exactly when but it definitely operated 2J14 on 20th Dec

Thanks very much

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jan 2023 ==

Can anyone confirm when 107 entered service please?

Not sure of exactly when but it definitely operated 2J14 on 20th Dec

Oops, was meant to ask for 104, not 107 sorry

 

[XCTurbostar]

Thanks very much

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jan 2023 ==





Oops, was meant to ask for 104, not 107 sorry

104 entered service on 27th Dec

 

[The_Train]

104 entered service on 27th Dec

Superb, thanks very much

 

[GWVillager]

Test run in connection with clearance work for University.

Were they not already cleared? Why?

 

[william.martin]

Would anybody be able to way up the chances of getting a 196 on Saturday at about 10:00 from Telford?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Were they not already cleared? Why?

Either they didn't do it before given the Hereford line wasn't due to get them until later, or it may be to do with the station redevelopment.

As far as I'm aware that route wasn't used for the fault free running

 

[Class172]

Either they didn't do it before given the Hereford line wasn't due to get them until later, or it may be to do with the station redevelopment.

As far as I'm aware that route wasn't used for the fault free running

This may be a fabricated memory but wasn’t the North Warks line down to Stratford used for testing? I recall seeing some pictures there.

 

[warwickshire]

This may be a fabricated memory but wasn’t the North Warks line down to Stratford used for testing? I recall seeing some pictures there.

Yes it most definitely was. Especially two cars as well.

 

[newtownmgr]

Were they not already cleared? Why?

Tested with a 4 car not 2 x 2

 

[Undiscovered]

Would anybody be able to way up the chances of getting a 196 on Saturday at about 10:00 from Telford?

As has been mentioned previously on this thread, find a nice warm spot to wait and see what turns up.
Units tend to be removed from service at the weekend to give a solid block of time for rectifying any new issues that have arisen during the course of the week.

 

[newtownmgr]

As has been mentioned previously on this thread, find a nice warm spot to wait and see what turns up.
Units tend to be removed from service at the weekend to give a solid block of time for rectifying any new issues that have arisen during the course of the week.

Given that more 170’s will be heading to EMR in the coming days, it’s likely the 196’s will be in service over the weekend.

 

[Undiscovered]

Given that more 170’s will be heading to EMR in the coming days, it’s likely the 196’s will be in service over the weekend.

I admire your optimism.

 

[william.martin]

As has been mentioned previously on this thread, find a nice warm spot to wait and see what turns up.
Units tend to be removed from service at the weekend to give a solid block of time for rectifying any new issues that have arisen during the course of the week.

Sadly sitting around waiting is not an option as I need to get to Shrewsbury by 10:30 although I was just wandering if there was any patterns.

 

[newtownmgr]

I admire your optimism.

So if not 196’s what do you suggest they use if not enough 170’s.

 

[Undiscovered]

So if not 196’s what do you suggest they use if not enough 170’s.

Well, if there's no 196s and no 170s... there'll be no service.

 

[Wyrleybart]

As a matter of interest, I believe it is still suggested that EWR are to lease six class 196s from WMR. Has there been such a service reduction intended since the 196s were ordered, to facilitate this, or maybe the class 172 acquisitions from London Overground and Chiltern have allowed it ?

 

[Bletchleyite]

As a matter of interest, I believe it is still suggested that EWR are to lease six class 196s from WMR. Has there been such a service reduction intended since the 196s were ordered, to facilitate this, or maybe the class 172 acquisitions from London Overground and Chiltern have allowed it ?

I thought it was 3 units i.e. 6 vehicles. Oxford to MKC is 45 minutes so you'll only need two to do the initial hourly service, plus a spare. Might be wrong though.

 

[newtownmgr]

Well, if there's no 196s and no 170s... there'll be no service.

Well i suspect there will be enough 196’s. Unless of course you work for WMR & know different!

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

I thought it was 3 units i.e. 6 vehicles. Oxford to MKC is 45 minutes so you'll only need two to do the initial hourly service, plus a spare. Might be wrong though.

Was supposed to be 6 units. Whether it will happen remains to be seen. EWR Service not starting anytime soon & WMR will be using more 2 cars due to them now going to be used on Leamington-Coventry-Nuneaton! The potential lease was either never signed or included an opt out clause I’m guessing.
Not saying it won’t happen but my personal feeling is it’s unlikely to.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

As a matter of interest, I believe it is still suggested that EWR are to lease six class 196s from WMR. Has there been such a service reduction intended since the 196s were ordered, to facilitate this, or maybe the class 172 acquisitions from London Overground and Chiltern have allowed it ?

There's only 3 or 4 diagrams on Shrewsbury (plus peak) and 4 on Hereford (plus peak) so I don't quite know why they ordered so many!

 

[newtownmgr]

There's only 3 or 4 diagrams on Shrewsbury (plus peak) and 4 on Hereford (plus peak) so I don't quite know why they ordered so many!

Ordered pre Covid. When services were more frequent. As & when Service levels increase the units will be needed. Camp Hill services to start in the next year or so as well

 

[Halish Railway]

There's only 3 or 4 diagrams on Shrewsbury (plus peak) and 4 on Hereford (plus peak) so I don't quite know why they ordered so many!

And to supplement 172s on the Snow Hill lines, this was before Chiltern’s 172s we’re deemed as surplus to requirement and transferred to WMR.

 

[william.martin]

Had my first ride on the 196's today, I would score them a generous 8/10.

Pros:
• Beautifully quieter compared to there predecessor
• Gentle rocking helped me relax.
• quick acceleration
•Lovely new seats.
• Large almost TV like P.I.S's.
•Obviously being more modern
• Overall, they are just generally better than the 170's.


Cons:
• Ride is rough over junctions.
• No armrests!!!!
•Speakers playing announcements stupidly loud.
•196107 vibrating vigorously after being at a stand still for a long period of time. (Most likely a issue with this particular unit as 196102 was fine.)


I rode the trains (196102 outbound and 107 inbound) imbetween Oakengates and Shrewsbury resulting in a 20 minute journey.

Huge thanks to the lovely crew I met:

•The driver who let me have a look round the cab!
• The lovely senior conductor (whom hosted the video by WMR introducing these new trains.)

 

[GWVillager]

Had my first ride on the 196's today, I would score them a generous 8/10.

Pros:
• Beautifully quieter compared to there predecessor
• Gentle rocking helped me relax.
• quick acceleration
•Lovely new seats.
• Large almost TV like P.I.S's.
•Obviously being more modern
• Overall, they are just generally better than the 170's.


Cons:
• Ride is rough over junctions.
• No armrests!!!!
•Speakers playing announcements stupidly loud.
•196108 vibrating vigorously after being at a stand still for a long period of time. (Most likely a issue with this particular unit as 196102 was fine.)


I rode the trains (196102 outbound and 108 inbound) imbetween Oakengates and Shrewsbury resulting in a 20 minute journey.

Huge thanks to the lovely crew I met:

•The driver who let me have a look round the cab!
• The lovely senior conductor (whom hosted the video by WMR introducing these new trains.)

Interesting to hear someone else say they like the seats - I despise them. They seem to be a real marmite case.

I was on 102 several months ago and also noticed vibrations when stationary, is this something to do with the train being left in forward or would that never happen?

Off topic but was the Senior Conductor still wearing his 170 badge?

 

[AlexNL]

Had my first ride on the 196's today, I would score them a generous 8/10.

Pros:
(...)

Cons:
(...)

It might be worthwhile to get in touch with WMR and sharing your opinion with them. I'm sure they'll be happy to hear about the positives you've listed, and they might be able to tweak some of the cons you've listed.

 

[william.martin]

It might be worthwhile to get in touch with WMR and sharing your opinion with them. I'm sure they'll be happy to hear about the positives you've listed, and they might be able to tweak some of the cons you've listed.

Good idea!
Would anybody be able to advise on how to get in touch with them?

 

[Razorblades]

Good idea!
Would anybody be able to advise on how to get in touch with them?

Try Googling 'West Midlands Trains customer service' or 'WMT contact us' or some such. They are a customer facing organisation, it won't be hard to give them feedback, especially if there's some positives involved!