![[WMR] new WMR train fleet](https://www.railadvent.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/WMR-new-WMR-train-fleet.jpg)
West Midlands Railway has shown off the first look at their new Class 196 diesel trains that are part of a new £800 million investment in the West Midlands.
A total of 26 diesel trains have been ordered and will be put to use on the Birmingham to Hereford route next year. They will be in two-car or four-car formations and have many advancements which benefit passengers, such as WiFi, power sockets, under-floor heating and larger luggage racks, a massive improvement over the current trains that are in use.
Eighty carriages will be built, with the first batch under construction in Europe by manufacturer CAF, and will arrive in the UK in spring.
The remaining units will be built in South Wales and will be delivered throughout 2020.
What did the officials say?
Jane Fisher, transition and projects director for West Midlands Railway, said:
“The popularity of rail travel in the West Midlands is continuing to grow at a rapid rate, which is why we have pledged to invest £800m to help us keep up with demand.
“It is exciting to see that this investment is starting to come to fruition with our new Class 196 trains entering the track-testing stage before they begin arriving in the UK next year.
“These smart, modern trains will boost capacity on our network and come with features such as under-floor heating and extra luggage space which I am certain will prove popular with passengers.”
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Responses
It looks similar to the Class 172 (172/2 & 172/3) Bombardier Turbostar that West Midlands Railway will still keep. But the Class 196 Civity is to replace the Class 150 and Class 170 (170/5 & 170/6) Turbostar and to be cascaded to Northern & East Midlands Railway.
CAF do have competition with other competitors who are also manufacturing new trains for the UK. Including Bombardier, Siemens, Hitachi, Alstom, Talgo & Stadler.