New WMR fleet enters service

A brand new West Midlands Railway (WMR) train fleet has carried its first passengers on the Hereford Line.

The Class 196 train left Birmingham New Street shortly before 6pm on Monday 17 April for its maiden journey to Worcester Shrub Hill. The rollout means the fleet is now serving passengers in new locations including Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Worcester. The start of passenger services on the route follows the fleet’s introduction on the Shrewsbury Line in October.

There are a total of 26 trains in the Class 196 fleet, whose features include intelligent air conditioning, plug and USB chargers at every seat and extra storage space. The trains offer 25% more capacity than the fleet they replace.

Jonny Wiseman, WMR customer experience director, said: “I am delighted that even more passengers are now able to take advantage of our newest train fleet with the rollout of the Class 196s onto the Hereford Line.

“With smart air conditioning, power points at every seat and extra space on board, I am certain these trains will prove a hit with our passengers in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.”

The Class 196 is the first new fleet to be introduced to the West Midlands franchise for more than a decade and is part of WMR’s faster, greener and more reliable services across the region.”

Hannah Lomas, Industry Programme Director for Transpennine Route Upgrade, said: “We'd like to say a big “thank you” to passengers for bearing with us while we did this work; it means that trains will be able to move through Stalybridge station faster and more reliably.”

Additional follow up work will take place at Stalybridge on 20-21 May.

£690 million investment in new trains and infrastructure.

Initially a small number of journeys on the Hereford Line will be run by Class 196s as the new trains are drip-fed into service over the coming months. The trains are also due to enter service on the Leamington to Nuneaton route later this year, serving communities including Coventry, Kenilworth and Bedworth.

One of the trains in the fleet – 196004 - was officially named “Sir Edward Elgar” by the High Sheriff of Worcestershire Andrew ManningCox at a special ceremony last month. The name was chosen by WMR staff to honour the Worcestershire-born composer recognised as one of the greatest Britons of all time.

The first train in passenger service was formed of a pair of two-carriage trains - 196005 and 196006.

The Best

Rail Minister views Mountfield Tunnel engineering progress

On 12 April, Fiona Taylor, Network Rail’s Kent route director, hosted a visit by Rail Minister Huw Merriman to the Mountfield Tunnel near Robertsbridge, where worn out track is being replaced.

Mr Merriman was there to see the progress on track upgrades and the strengthening of embankments along this key commuter line between Tunbridge Wells and Hastings.

Inside the tunnel, the existing track slab – a concrete block which supports the track, conductor rail and tunnel structure – is being removed. Built in the 1970s, it needs replacing after 50 years of wear and tear. A new track slab, reinforced with four tonnes of metal bars, will be installed plus 900 metres of specially coated track, specifically designed to withstand tunnel environments.

Elsewhere on the line, engineers are working tirelessly to complete a number of other vital upgrades, surveys, monitoring, and general maintenance to support the reliable running of the railway.

At Wadhurst and Frant, sections of a reinforced concrete wall will be built to prevent trees and soil reaching the tracks.

On sections of the line near Snape Wood, 230 five-metre-long soil nails will be driven into the cutting with 600m2 of wire mesh to stop material falling onto tracks below.

Once complete, this work will increase the reliability of this important line, built 170 years ago.

Fiona Taylor, Network Rail’s Kent route director, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome the Rail Minister to see first-hand the work we’re doing to improve the reliability of this important line between Tunbridge Wells and Hastings which carries around 120,000 passengers a week between Kent and London.

“It’s a really complex part of the railway which was built in the 1850s along very hilly ground, which meant that the Victorian engineers had to excavate steep cuttings, long tunnels and build miles of embankment. As a result of its age and geographical setting, this stretch of line has required regular repairs and upgrades to maintain its reliability.”

Network Rail’s partner for the Mountfield Tunnel project was Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group (UK). The firm was awarded the Southern Slab Refurbishment project back in 2020, but planned works were cancelled in October 2022, at Network Rail’s request, to perform emergency works on a short section of concrete slab. This led to the latest stage replacing 500 metres of track, including 250 metres of concrete track slab. Speaking after his visit, Mr Merriman said: “The Hasting to Tunbridge Wells mainline is a key commuter route for those travelling across East Sussex and Kent and I was pleased to see the ongoing work to improve reliability for those passengers.

“From track upgrades to strengthening the embankments, these improvements will deliver a more resilient and dependable rail network for years to come, and I’d like to thank local residents for their patience while these works are carried out.” https://www.railwaymission.org/ donate/donate-online

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