These diesel multiple units are part of the CAF Civity family like the Class 195 and 397. Twenty six sets (a mixture of two and four car formations) have been built for West Midlands Railway for use on the WMR routes from Birmingham New Street to Shrewsbury replacing Class 170s. Deliveries of the Class 196 began in 2020 and the type entered service in October 2022 initially on services to Shrewsbury [1].
WMR 196 110 at Wolverhampton
Information
Number built:
80 (26 2 or 4-car sets)
Built:
2019-2022
Builder:
CAF Newport
Motor:
Rolls-Royce MTU 6H1800R85L diesel per car
Power:
523 hp (390 kW) per car
Twelve two-car sets and fourteen four-car sets have been built.
The type will also be used on the Birmingham to Hereford in 2023, the Leamington-Nuneaton line and the new Camp Hill services could also use the Class 196. Some two-car sets could also be allocated to operate on the new East West Rail line between Oxford and Milton Keynes Central when it opens in 2024 or 25.
WMR 196 103 passes Stafford on test
196 110 at Birmingham New Street
Aboard 196 110
196 105 passes through Wolverhampton
Another view of 196 110 at Birmingham New Street
[1] "West Midlands Trains launches CAF 196s", Modern Railways (November 2022) p. 12
