WMR Class 196 Build and Implementation

[The_Train]

I think that 196113 and 196114 are still at Wolverton having gone there in the last few weeks. So something might be happening soon.

Thanks for the update, Peter

 

[nigelsporne]

Is there any news on when 113 & 114 are coming out to play? Are they still at Wolverton?

 

[3973EXL]

196113/114

Realtime Trains | 5J66 1003 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Tyseley T.M.D. | 13/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 5J66 1003 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Tyseley T.M.D. on 13/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[DannyMich2018]

According to Part Time Spotter only 11 196s are out today (3 2 car and 8 4 cars) so wonder if they're we've got cancellations due to train crew shortages or other issues?

 

[12LDA28C]

According to Part Time Spotter only 11 196s are out today (3 2 car and 8 4 cars) so wonder if they're we've got cancellations due to train crew shortages or other issues?

Six 2-car units are to transfer to EWR imminently, perhaps they have already been removed from service?

 

[LowLevel]

Six 2-car units are to transfer to EWR imminently, perhaps they have already been removed from service?

196009 and 010 are apparently now off lease for EWR.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

196009 and 010 are apparently now off lease for EWR.

So these are now technically Chiltern Railways units?

 

[LowLevel]

So these are now technically Chiltern Railways units?

I'm not sure but an impeccable source says they're no longer on lease to WMR.

 

[1D54]

Did anyone see this coming and does it leave WMR with any shortage issues?

 

[The_Train]

Did anyone see this coming and does it leave WMR with any shortage issues?

196s have been one of a few options EWR had in their plans for traction for a long while now so WMR have had plenty of time to plan for life without them

 

[12LDA28C]

Did anyone see this coming and does it leave WMR with any shortage issues?

Yes, plenty of people saw this coming, indeed it's been discussed ad nauseum on this very forum.

 

[1D54]

The wonders of using search hey!! Just found it. Thanks.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Did anyone see this coming and does it leave WMR with any shortage issues?

As per the rest of this thread, it's long been the plan that some of the 196's would move to EWR. It's also been mentioned that only about 50% of the 196 fleet is in use on any particular day, so shouldn't cause any shortages unless reliability is woeful.

 

[DavidGrain]

The decision that Chiltern would operate the EWR services was taken at the time the new Chiltern contract was put out to tender. I think the decision to use 196s predates that decision which is why long ago the suggestion was that WMT would be operating the EWR. Whether or not the lease has been transferred to Chiltern, I don't know as previous talk in this thread was that there would be a sublease to Chiltern.
Interesting to see if they will be reliveried.

 

[vuzzeho]

When do we expect Chiltern to start talking about their shiny new 196s? If service starts next year, surely more should be happening soon, right?

 

[12LDA28C]

When do we expect Chiltern to start talking about their shiny new 196s? If service starts next year, surely more should be happening soon, right?

Why? It's only August...

 

[Liam L]

Did anyone see this coming and does it leave WMR with any shortage issues?

I heard about it in May that it was coming this month, it doesn't leave WMR short. I believe they only require 2 2 car units for Nun - Lem shuttle, the rest are used in stand in for the /1s when needed.

Will only need 2 2 cars for camp hill when it starts I believe.

 

[DavidGrain]

When do we expect Chiltern to start talking about their shiny new 196s? If service starts next year, surely more should be happening soon, right?

They will probably be reliveried before we see anything. Also there is the driver training both on the traction and on the route learning. So you will not see them in service until sometime next year. Originally talk was about them operating out of Bletchley although I have seen a suggestion on here that they might be operating out of Aylesbury. Operating out of Aylesbury will result in a lot of dead mileage coming in and out of service and for crew changes

 

[12LDA28C]

They will probably be reliveried before we see anything. Also there is the driver training both on the traction and on the route learning. So you will not see them in service until sometime next year. Originally talk was about them operating out of Bletchley although I have seen a suggestion on here that they might be operating out of Aylesbury. Operating out of Aylesbury will result in a lot of dead mileage coming in and out of service and for crew changes

The 196s will not be going anywhere near Aylesbury. Light maintenance will be done at BY and heavier work done at Tyseley.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Interesting to see if they will be reliveried.

I am sure there will be a nice snazzy new branding for EWR, but how is this for irony. All the Hitachi AT300 series have been built white then been either vinyled or painted. The Alstom nee Bombardier and CAF trains have been delivered in their customers livery, so the WMR "tango" on the EWR 196s will presumably have warranty issues if it is reliveried within the warranty period of the WMR livery

 

[newtownmgr]

WMT are supposed to be reinstating the rush hour services via Bromsgrove but have heard that might not happen as they haven’t got enough units!
EWR/Chilterm have had enough delays and therefore enough time to source new units.
Crazy situation really but there you go.

 

[12LDA28C]

WMT are supposed to be reinstating the rush hour services via Bromsgrove but have heard that might not happen as they haven’t got enough units!
EWR/Chilterm have had enough delays and therefore enough time to source new units.
Crazy situation really but there you go.

Really? What 'new units' would you suggest? Procuring brand new trains in the current climate takes a minimum of 4-5 years.

 

[Northerngirl]

They should have just got a few more 196/197s, it seems so odd to have them with a different opperator for a couple of years then Take them for ewr

 

[newtownmgr]

Really? What 'new units' would you suggest? Procuring brand new trains in the current climate takes a minimum of 4-5 years.

The line has been planned for over a decade and the initial phase should have opened in 2019. Plenty of time to order but no order made, nor any tender issued.

 

[12LDA28C]

The line has been planned for over a decade and the initial phase should have opened in 2019. Plenty of time to order but no order made, nor any tender issued.

Probably just as well that new units weren't ordered then as they would probably have sat around idle for the last five years.

 

[newtownmgr]

Probably just as well that new units weren't ordered then as they would probably have sat around idle for the last five years.

True but doesn’t help WMT or more importantly there customers. Not sure how many 175’s are off to GWR but if spare they could be used by EWR. Rumours they might be taken on the Mk5’s but that’s gone quiet. They could have released 168’s on the Birmingham’s.

 

[DavidGrain]

The 196s will not be going anywhere near Aylesbury. Light maintenance will be done at BY and heavier work done at Tyseley.

Thank you. That is logical but I was trying to clarify some contrary views that have been expressed earlier in this thread

 

[craigybagel]

True but doesn’t help WMT or more importantly there customers. Not sure how many 175’s are off to GWR but if spare they could be used by EWR. Rumours they might be taken on the Mk5’s but that’s gone quiet. They could have released 168’s on the Birmingham’s.

EWR is I believe going to be set up for DOO using units with bodyside cameras? Nothing in the current Chiltern fleet is capable of doing that, and neither can the 175s.

 

[newtownmgr]

EWR is I believe going to be set up for DOO using units with bodyside cameras? Nothing in the current Chiltern fleet is capable of doing that, and neither can the 175s.

Neither can the 196’s at present. System is fully isolated. They can reinstate it but it means they will be limited to the 6 sets that go initially with no capacity to borrow replacements if reqd.

 

[12LDA28C]

True but doesn’t help WMT or more importantly there customers. Not sure how many 175’s are off to GWR but if spare they could be used by EWR. Rumours they might be taken on the Mk5’s but that’s gone quiet. They could have released 168’s on the Birmingham’s.

It has been suggested in the Class 175 thread that all the 175s are heading to GWR. Discussions are still ongoing as regards a replacement for the Mk3s so nothing has 'gone quiet' - these things take time.