WMR Class 196 Build and Implementation

[DannyMich2018]

172102 and 172104 were on the 1250 New Street to Hereford today. 196 shortage?

Possibly. Only 12 units out today, 7 2-cars and just 5 4-cars according to Part Time Spotter, been a lot less 4 cars out recently despite 196113 recently into traffic.

 

[newtownmgr]

172102 and 172104 were on the 1250 New Street to Hereford today. 196 shortage?

Yes drove them to New St and back on 1M89 & 1V21 a nice refreshing change.

 

[DavidGrain]

This may have been mentioned before. Are all Shrewsbury now 196? Am thinking of doing a return trip with WMR 196 and TfW 197.

 

[craigybagel]

This may have been mentioned before. Are all Shrewsbury now 196? Am thinking of doing a return trip with WMR 196 and TfW 197.

All Shrewsbury WMR services have been 196 operated for a while. However, you won't see any 197s on TfW passenger services to Birmingham yet.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

This may have been mentioned before. Are all Shrewsbury now 196? Am thinking of doing a return trip with WMR 196 and TfW 197.

Yes all Shrewsbury to Birmingham are 196s now.

 

[DavidGrain]

All Shrewsbury WMR services have been 196 operated for a while. However, you won't see any 197s on TfW passenger services to Birmingham yet.

Thanks for that. I had assumed that as the 197s were fitted for the signalling on the Cambrian Coast then they would be operating to Birmingham

 

[Kite159]

Thanks for that. I had assumed that as the 197s were fitted for the signalling on the Cambrian Coast then they would be operating to Birmingham

None of the Cambrian signalling batch of the 197s have entered service yet.

 

[craigybagel]

Thanks for that. I had assumed that as the 197s were fitted for the signalling on the Cambrian Coast then they would be operating to Birmingham

They will be. Eventually......

 

[Peter Sarf]

Possibly. Only 12 units out today, 7 2-cars and just 5 4-cars according to Part Time Spotter, been a lot less 4 cars out recently despite 196113 recently into traffic.

Furthermore 196007, 196009 & 196010 do not seem to see any use but still there are regularly 196/0s covering 196/1 diagrams !.

 

[D6975]

Furthermore 196007, 196009 & 196010 do not seem to see any use but still there are regularly 196/0s covering 196/1 diagrams !.

009 and 010 are the driver training units for the E-W services. (Oxford-Bletchley etc.)

 

[Peter Sarf]

009 and 010 are the driver training units for the E-W services. (Oxford-Bletchley etc.)

Thanks for that. I had a feeling those two would be the pioneers so to speak. I presume not quite started yet ?.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

196114 now in passenger service.

 

[The_Train]

I was out and about around the West Mids on Wednesday and it's noticeable how busy Tyseley is with units during the day, particularly 196s! And then having seen all of those parked up, we find a 172 on a Hereford job when we get back to Birmingham

 

[DannyMich2018]

I was out and about around the West Mids on Wednesday and it's noticeable how busy Tyseley is with units during the day, particularly 196s! And then having seen all of those parked up, we find a 172 on a Hereford job when we get back to Birmingham

This is because only around half the fleet is required in daily service, the Camp Hill reopening (needs 2 units) and East West Rail (6 units leaving) will use more up when these open.

 

[nigelsporne]

Just passed 114 at Wolverhampton on its way to Shrewsbury. 113 on Hereford diagram.

 

[Kite159]

The hunt is on lol

 

[The_Train]

This is because only around half the fleet is required in daily service, the Camp Hill reopening (needs 2 units) and East West Rail (6 units leaving) will use more up when these open.

And yet they are filling gaps with 172s? That makes no sense

 

[Peter Sarf]

This is because only around half the fleet is required in daily service, the Camp Hill reopening (needs 2 units) and East West Rail (6 units leaving) will use more up when these open.

There are thirteen diagrams and that is for twenty-six 196s (so currently 50%). If we assume 6 for EWR and two for Camp Hill that still leaves twenty 196s for thirteen diagrams (65%).

But currently it is quite rare to see all thirteen operated by 196s. Furthermore often get 196/0s on diagrams meant to be four car 196/1s. The last weekday I have recorded all nine 196/1 diagrams actually being 196/1 was Thursday 05/09/2024 (just over three weeks ago) and it has been as low as only five out of nine (out of a fleet of 12+) quite often.

Good to see the last 196 (114) has entered service after such a long pause (leading up to 113 just a week ago !).

 

[newtownmgr]

And yet they are filling gaps with 172s? That makes no sense

Current reliability issues rather than just not enough 196’s. I believe CAF get fined every time a 196 diagram is uncovered.

 

[Kite159]

At least 3 of the Shrewsbury services today were 2 coach units plus a pair of 172s on a Hereford diagram.

 

[newtownmgr]

At least 3 of the Shrewsbury services today were 2 coach units plus a pair of 172s on a Hereford diagram.

172102 & 215 were the pair,215 replaced 104 earlier in the day after it failed at Bromsgrove.
196005 & 012 were out on Herefords from the 17:50 ex New St

 

[nigelsporne]

002 and 008 where on Shrewsbury duties yesterday at least. Of the Herefords I saw all three were 196s.

 

[newtownmgr]

002 and 008 where on Shrewsbury duties yesterday at least. Of the Herefords I saw all three were 196s.

There’s 4 circuits out all day on Herefords. One circuit was the pair of 172’s.

 

[Johnhayworth21]

Does anyone know which BHM-HFD services are usually covered by 172’s? Thanks

 

[Peter Sarf]

Does anyone know which BHM-HFD services are usually covered by 172’s? Thanks

There are five diagrams for 196/1s on Hereford/Worcester and from my records it seems fairly variable which one(s) are not 196s. Indeed one or two on a weekday can be made up of 196/0s either singly or in pairs.

 

[Johnhayworth21]

There are five diagrams for 196/1s on Hereford/Worcester and from my records it seems fairly variable which one(s) are not 196s. Indeed one or two on a weekday can be made up of 196/0s either singly or in pairs.

Ah right cheers.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Before anyone notices. Line closed Wolverhampton / Shrewsbury due to flooding.
So that will explain why those six diagrams are not 196s !.

 

[DavidGrain]

This picture from a week ago at Wellington Station.

 

[The_Train]

This picture from a week ago at Wellington Station.

Didn't anyone have a bucket handy?

 

[Peter Sarf]

FULL HOUSE today.
All diagrams covered - even a four car on a two car diagram. There are two four car diagrams that are being covered by pairs of two cars. So still a net extra of two coaches overall !.

For more details peruse Part Time Spotter (scroll down to the 730s on a date of your choice).