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WMR Class 196 Build and Implementation

Jacob Porrett

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196102 with conductor training today on the Salop. A step closer to entering service. 5Q72/73/74/75 today between Birmingham and Shrewsbury.
 
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Jacob Porrett

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Only 196113 at Donnington Rail Freight Terminal now. 196002 went to Tyseley LMD on Wednesday afternoon.
 

SCDR_WMR

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Have there been any conductors passed out on the 196s or have the door controls not yet been sorted out?
Controls are in, Driver training first. Conductor training is due to start soon, can't remember the new date given.

Edit: conductor training due to start next Monday (13th)
 

Birmingham36

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Controls are in, Driver training first. Conductor training is due to start soon, can't remember the new date given.

Edit: conductor training due to start next Monday (13th)
How long will the Conductor & Driver training take place before they enter passenger service?
 

SCDR_WMR

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How long will the Conductor & Driver training take place before they enter passenger service?
At least 4-6 weeks I'd have thought. Think conductors are doing 2-day traction courses but not 100% as I won't be signing them
 

newtownmgr

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At least 4-6 weeks I'd have thought. Think conductors are doing 2-day traction courses but not 100% as I won't be signing them
4 - 6 weeks will only get about 12 drivers trained assuming they release 2 a week. It will take a lot longer to get sufficient drivers trained to allow an introduction to service.
 

Jacob Porrett

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Controls are in, Driver training first. Conductor training is due to start soon, can't remember the new date given.

Edit: conductor training due to start next Monday (13th)
Exciting times ahead. More progress towards an entry into service date.
 

InOban

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I remember some time ago a poster who drives in the Netherlands telling us how long their induction courses were. A lot shorter.
 

SCDR_WMR

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Do things seem to be on track then? I haven’t seen any on test of late but then again they often do them in the early hours
Considering how late into service they already are, back on track probably wouldn't be how I'd describe it lol. They are onto train crew traction training finally.
4 - 6 weeks will only get about 12 drivers trained assuming they release 2 a week. It will take a lot longer to get sufficient drivers trained to allow an introduction to service.
Are they not getting much uptake in RDW for traction? I know it's been offered to conductors, presumably the same for drivers. I'd also be expecting cross cover to be in place to help Shrewsbury release a few more at a time.
 

newtownmgr

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Considering how late into service they already are, back on track probably wouldn't be how I'd describe it lol. They are onto train crew traction training finally.

Are they not getting much uptake in RDW for traction? I know it's been offered to conductors, presumably the same for drivers. I'd also be expecting cross cover to be in place to help Shrewsbury release a few more at a time.
Last i Heard rest day work hadn’t been agreed for driver training. Nothing political, just ensuring the instructors get days off!
Even with cross cover the release of drivers will be tight, especially during the summer.
 

GWVillager

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On a slightly different note, I took a pair of 170s between Hereford and Birmingham on Saturday, and (especially on the return) 4 coach trains are consistently running full. Considering the 196s will either be 4 coaches or a pair of 2 car sets, it’s a bit concerning. Is there a possibility of additional centre cars to allow for 5 coach operation?
 

Mordac

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On a slightly different note, I took a pair of 170s between Hereford and Birmingham on Saturday, and (especially on the return) 4 coach trains are consistently running full. Considering the 196s will either be 4 coaches or a pair of 2 car sets, it’s a bit concerning. Is there a possibility of additional centre cars to allow for 5 coach operation?
They clearly don't think this is a problem, as they'll fob off a bunch of the units to EWR.
 

Sprinter107

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On a slightly different note, I took a pair of 170s between Hereford and Birmingham on Saturday, and (especially on the return) 4 coach trains are consistently running full. Considering the 196s will either be 4 coaches or a pair of 2 car sets, it’s a bit concerning. Is there a possibility of additional centre cars to allow for 5 coach operation?
The Birmingham to Hereford trains were especially busy on Saturday due to a Ladies Day at Worcester racecourse, and a festival at Eastnor, which was served by a shuttle bus from Ledbury. 4 coaches are usually sufficient for off peak Hereford trains.
 

newtownmgr

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On a slightly different note, I took a pair of 170s between Hereford and Birmingham on Saturday, and (especially on the return) 4 coach trains are consistently running full. Considering the 196s will either be 4 coaches or a pair of 2 car sets, it’s a bit concerning. Is there a possibility of additional centre cars to allow for 5 coach operation?
A 4 car 196 has more capacity than a 4 car 170. Can’t remember the difference but it’s a reasonable amount. 2 x 2 car 196 are similar to the 170’s the. It’s the middle cars on the 196’s that provide the additional capacity
 

GWVillager

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The Birmingham to Hereford trains were especially busy on Saturday due to a Ladies Day at Worcester racecourse, and a festival at Eastnor, which was served by a shuttle bus from Ledbury. 4 coaches are usually sufficient for off peak Hereford trains.
Yeah, I noticed the Eastnor Festival in particular, but even without it I’m finding that 4 coaches might be starting to struggle. They’re generally sufficient at the moment but the mid afternoon services on BHM-HFD are really in need of a bit more.
A 4 car 196 has more capacity than a 4 car 170. Can’t remember the difference but it’s a reasonable amount. 2 x 2 car 196 are similar to the 170’s the. It’s the middle cars on the 196’s that provide the additional capacity
Do we know anything about whether the 4 car sets will be predominantly deployed on the Shrewsbury or Hereford route? I’m not sure how the former is coping, it might need the extra capacity more than Hereford.
 

43102EMR

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Yeah, I noticed the Eastnor Festival in particular, but even without it I’m finding that 4 coaches might be starting to struggle. They’re generally sufficient at the moment but the mid afternoon services on BHM-HFD are really in need of a bit more.

Do we know anything about whether the 4 car sets will be predominantly deployed on the Shrewsbury or Hereford route? I’m not sure how the former is coping, it might need the extra capacity more than Hereford.
I’m sure they’ll be pooled between the two as the 2 and 3 car 170s were previously no? Then again, in my experience you were more likely to see a 3 car to Hereford than to Shrewsbury…
 

Rhydgaled

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They clearly don't think this is a problem, as they'll fob off a bunch of the units to EWR.
Before some of the 196s were diverted to EWR, was there any plans to run 196s in 6-car formations (either 3x2-car or 4-car + 2-car)?
 

TT-ONR-NRN

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I’m sure they’ll be pooled between the two as the 2 and 3 car 170s were previously no? Then again, in my experience you were more likely to see a 3 car to Hereford than to Shrewsbury…
Interesting you should say that as I used to see 2x2-170s dominate Herefords with 3-170 on Shrewsbury most days when I was in B’ham
 

GWVillager

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I’m sure they’ll be pooled between the two as the 2 and 3 car 170s were previously no? Then again, in my experience you were more likely to see a 3 car to Hereford than to Shrewsbury…
I have an awful lot of photo evidence to back that up! I seem to have found that Shrewsbury was allocated a pair of 2 coach sets. I think WMR have realised that 3 cars is not enough on either route so most will operate as 4 presumably. But which routes will get what I don’t know.

Before some of the 196s were diverted to EWR, was there any plans to run 196s in 6-car formations (either 3x2-car or 4-car + 2-car)?
As far as I’m aware, the 196s for EWR will be a separate order, they’re not coming out of WMR’s fleet. 6 car formations might be useful for some busy services, but platform lengths at Colwall and Ledbury could be an issue
 

SuperLuke2334

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I have an awful lot of photo evidence to back that up! I seem to have found that Shrewsbury was allocated a pair of 2 coach sets. I think WMR have realised that 3 cars is not enough on either route so most will operate as 4 presumably. But which routes will get what I don’t know.


As far as I’m aware, the 196s for EWR will be a separate order, they’re not coming out of WMR’s fleet. 6 car formations might be useful for some busy services, but platform lengths at Colwall and Ledbury could be an issue
I was most certainly under the impression that they were to be 'borrowed' from WMTs fleet until some new bimodes could be ordered.
 

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