British Rail Class 196
The Class 196 Civity is a class of diesel multiple unit being constructed for Abellio/Mitsui/JR East consortium subsidiary West Midlands Trains by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF. A total of 26 units are to be built, twelve two-car units and fourteen four-car units.[2]
| British Rail Class 196 Civity | |
|---|---|
| In service | From 2020 |
| Manufacturer | CAF |
| Built at | Newport, Wales (final assembly) |
| Family name | Civity |
| Replaced | Class 153 Class 170 |
| Number under construction | 23 |
| Number built | 3 |
| Formation | 12 x 2-car units 14 x 4-car units |
| Fleet numbers | 196001–196012 196101–196114[1] |
| Operator(s) | West Midlands Trains |
| Specifications | |
| Maximum speed | TBC |
| Prime mover(s) | TBC |
| Power output | TBC |
| Transmission | TBC |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The trains will enter service in 2020. They will be the first train of the Civity family to feature end gangways.
History
Shortly after the announcement a consortium of Abellio, Mitsui and JR East had been awarded the West Midlands franchise, West Midlands Trains confirmed they had placed an order for 26 diesel multiple units based on CAF's Civity platform.[3]
The first completed unit started testing at the Velim railway test circuit in December 2019.[4]
The first vehicle from 196001 arrived at Tyseley TMD in Birmingham on Friday 17th April 2020, having travelled by ship from Cuxhaven to Hull.
Operators
West Midlands Trains
West Midlands Trains plan to replace their fleet of 23 Class 170/5 & 170/6 Turbostar and the 8 Class 153 units, which operate on West Midlands Railway services, with 26 Class 196 units. The Class 153 units will either be off-leased or transfer to Transport for Wales to cover for delays with their new rolling stock, whilst the Class 170s will move to East Midlands Railway so as to replace the Class 153, 156 and 158s in its regional services with the exception of centre cars of the Class 170/6 units are to be transferred to CrossCountry to lengthen their Class 170/5s.[5] . These units will be run on Birmingham to Shrewsbury via Telford services, Birmingham to Hereford services, with appearances on the Snow Hill Lines (Dorridge & Stratford-upon-Avon to Worcester) on occasion.
Fleet details
| Class | Operator | Number | Year Built | Cars | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 196/0 | West Midlands Trains | 12 | 2019–20 | 2 | 196001–012 |
| Class 196/1 | 14 | 4 | 196101–114 |
See also
- British Rail Class 195 - A diesel multiple unit variant of the CAF Civity UK platform being built for Northern Trains.
- British Rail Class 197 - A diesel multiple unit variant of the CAF Civity UK platform being built for Transport for Wales.
- British Rail Class 331 - An electric multiple unit variant of the CAF Civity UK platform also being built for Northern Trains.
- British Rail Class 397 - An electric multiple unit variant of the CAF Civity UK platform being built for TransPennine Express.
References
- Moore, Kyle. "Video: First glimpse of brand new West Midlands Railway trains". Birmingham Updates. Birmingham Updates. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- Fender, Keith; Sheratt, Philip (June 2018). "West Midlands prepares for new fleets". Modern Railways. 75 (837): 78.
- Briginshaw, David. "New West Midlands franchise orders 107 trains". International Railway Journal. International Railway Journal. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/west-midlands-trains-reveals-first-class-196-dmu/55395.article
- Milner, Chris (June 2019). "West Midlands Class 196 DMU construction underway". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 165 no. 1, 419. Horncastle: Mortons Media. p. 104. ISSN 0033-8923.