Business Engage Profiles New trains roll-out on track

New state-of-the-art trains are being rolled out across the West Midlands to transform the way passengers travel - the first to be introduced in the region in more than a decade.

West Midlands Trains operates West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway services, connecting the West Midlands to the Northwest and London.

New trains – the Class 196 fleet and the Class 730 fleet - are now being introduced as part of West Midlands Railway's £690m investment in new trains and infrastructure.

The first trains in the Class 196 fleet entered service between Birmingham and Shrewsbury in October last year.

Now, following a period of route testing and driver training, the trains have begun carrying passengers between Hereford, Worcester, Bromsgrove and Birmingham for the first time.

Later this year the Class 196 fleet is due to enter service on West Midlands Railway’s Leamington to Nuneaton route, serving communities including Coventry, Kenilworth and Bedworth.

This will be followed by new Class 730 fleet trains on the Cross City line.

Passenger benefits of the fleet include more seats and tables with improved underseat storage, improved accessibility, at least one accessible toilet per train, more bicycle storage and clear luggage racks to avoid passengers leaving items behind.

Technology has also been a focal point, with the trains featuring smart new digital screens featuring live journey information, plug and USB sockets at every seat, intelligent air-conditioning which reacts to the carriage environment, and free Wi-Fi.

The trains offer 25 per cent more capacity than the fleet they replace.

Ian McConnell, West Midlands Railway managing director, said: “We work hard to provide a service that is better equipped, more reliable and at a price everyone can afford.

“These brand-new trains are already providing a much-improved travelling experience for our customers, with smart air conditioning and power points at every seat.

“We have had to wait a little while to introduce the trains due to the pandemic, but I am delighted our customers are now able to experience the trains for themselves.

“We look forward to continuing to roll the trains out across our network over the coming months.

“We’re also bringing improved timetables a couple of times a year, so our networks can run even more smoothly.”