BRAND NEW West Midlands Railway Class 196 now in service!

[@IanPooleTransportHub]

Despite the flaws with them, I think they will be a firm favourite with everyone

[@bb-3653]

Yeah first and foremost , because they are actually a well nicely designed train out of most the newer DMU/EMUS (2010 to 2020+) For a long time since the 90s. The electrostars arent bad tbh. But most others weren't or aren't My cup of tea, i think the same can be said for alot of people with mediorce designs, these look spectacular though!! . 😂😂most EMUs after the mid 2000s seem to look mediocre or alien to the uk with designs but again my opinion. The class 196s/197s look reminiscent or are an omage to the class 317s/455/318s etc etc , and the main bodies look like networkers.

[@RockstarPoole69]

I think, if we are being brutally honest, they are god tier trains, absolute god tier

[@jacobporrett]

Great video Simon. Good to speak to you today and good to meet you in person. I like them as well. Great review.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thanks Jacob and nice to meet you as well

[@MidlandRailEnthusiast]

I’m glad the Class 196s have finally entered service and I really did enjoy watching your review of the new West Midlands Railway Class 196s il have to check them out myself at some point I continue to enjoy watching your Vlogs Simontrains carry on being awesome keep up the good work my friend take care and stay safe

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thanks Simon

[@SamsVlogstrainsmore]

Great vlog and review of the New Class 196s Simon. I honestly overall do like the new trains just a few issues like you mentioned. I didn’t notice the table situation as I only reviewed the airline style seats. It was great to meet you on the return leg too.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thanks Sam and nice to finally meet you on the day

[@harrycritchlow1841]

@@Sim0nTrains you been to work today yes or no

[@Saint_Dan132]

aww its good to see you, hope you are well

[@simondavey7787]

Great video; thanks Simon.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thanks Simon

[@streetrambler134]

Great video and was nice to meet you. Really enjoyed the Class 196, very comfortable seats, was a bit worried myself when I saw the train not in operation digital sign at Brum.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Nice to meet you as well.

[@barrowc]

Excellent video, Cyber! Overall those look like really nice units with just a couple of little annoyances (e.g. the tiny toilet). I'm looking forward to riding a Class 196 one day!

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thanks barrowc

[@MichaelSebastianTodd]

the class 196s look amazing brilliant video

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thanks Michael

[@TravelJackJourneys158]

Fabulous video Thank you for sharing it

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thanks Jack

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

I think new street to Hereford services will be next route for the 196 dmus as well as the snow hill line

[@andrewwilson6240]

Oh please can we have the displaced 170s and 172s over here in the East Midlands!

[@JustClickApprove92]

They’re for New Street - Shrewsbury/Hereford. They’ll allow the class 172 that currently serve the route to Hereford to be used on the Snow Hill line

[@Sim0nTrains]

Hereford meant to be first but changed it to Shrewsbury. Hereford won't see the Class 196s until 2023 as they are focusing on Shrewsbury services first.

[@Sim0nTrains]

The Class 170s are going to East Midlands, the Class 172s will still work services in the West Midlands.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

@@andrewwilson6240 Simon has said yes they are going to East Midlands but the 172s are not so they are continuing with the Hereford and snow hill services and have the 196 dmus joining them

[@TicTacTrolleyServiceTico]

Finally the 196s can replace your Stalker 502 and of course the Class 172s on key routes in the future!! They do look alright and i'm looking forward to having a go myself! Also Toilets talk to you now?! Goose Lord!

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thanks Tico

[@markcf83]

Hopefully I'll see some of them on the line concerned over Christmas when I'm in Birmingham.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Hope you get to see one or two

[@ManicXD]

Unusual to see toilets on trains that rival airline ones for cramptness! Still surprised by the missing armrests, seems like someone goofed there.

[@Sim0nTrains]

The armrests is a compromise in the design but they may make an appearance in the future.

[@arnoldspottingvideos5652]

Nice one Sherlock. Shame about the delays on this train but the 196 look wonderful and sleek 👍👌

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thanks Arnold

[@TransportVloggerIan]

Yeah, the problems were something to do with the GRMS or whatever that thing is, nothing that couldn't have been fixed on the rails

[@TheArkamedBat]

*GSMR.

[@NickBadley]

Awesome video! Shame I couldn't be there, they look proper nice though!

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thanks Nick

[@david-stewart]

Jen at 7:52

[@insignificantaftermathPROJECTS]

With a Costa..

[@Sim0nTrains]

Yes very short cameo appearance

[@TransportTech]

4:25 the tfw class 197

[@Sim0nTrains]

Funny enough I didn't notice that after I finished filming

[@TransportTech]

@@Sim0nTrains I have the eye of a hawk..maybe not..

[@ReubenAshwell]

Brilliant video Cyber, the new class 196's do look nice and I look forward to trying them when I get around to doing it. :)

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thanks Reuben

[@lv-ag6129]

Now we just need the 730 to enter full service. Wondering what the new electric trains will be like compared to the 323’s and 350’s

[@Sim0nTrains]

The Class 730s will enter next year, during the December Timetable change they be moving the Class 350/2s on different services so they can start to phrase them out to introduce the Class 730s, however the WMR ones could enter service sooner on London Euston to Milton Keynes/Northampton to replace the Class 319 till the LNR Class 730s enter service.

[@billmmckelvie5188]

With the Orange colour around the cab you would think they were an Irish service, well almost.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Does look different but with up to date lights no need for yellow ends

[@nathanstrainsandroblox5336]

When’s the 730s gonna enter service?

[@Sim0nTrains]

Could be 2023 at the moment

[@nathanstrainsandroblox5336]

Oh right

[@Rail_Focus]

Great video, I thought the seats were a tad hard, but hopefully the units will be a big improvement over the 170s.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Noticed that at first but I could quickly get comfy on them. Thanks Chris

[@Rail_Focus]

@@Sim0nTrains seats seemed comfortable enough for the hour long trip.

[@seeitsayitdoggo]

Same seats as the 745/755s on GA. They have softened a bit with a few years in service but I find them pretty comfortable for 1-2 hours trip.

[@Seiburailway]

This train is amazing.The buttons on the toilets are similar to those on Japanese trains, but where are they made?

[@maimadha]

Great video

[@GLovesTrains]

Glad to see the 196s have baby changing facilities 👍😂

[@TransportTech]

Will you do a video on these?

[@Sim0nTrains]

Got to mention everything about these units G lol

[@robshipway2269]

I think the class 196 units will be a firm favourite with the public. However, from videos I have seen of them the class 196 do not seem to have platform level entry into them, so it still a case that a disabled person in a wheelchair would need to be asking a member of staff to put a ramp down so that they can enter the train. The class 196 doors should have been more like the class 755 unit doors. Maybe in time WMR can look at stations they manage and have the height altered by Network Rail?

[@Sim0nTrains]

Good point, however, it could be possible once the Class 197s enter service for Transport for Wales for most Stations but think that won't happen for Stations on the Stour Valley Lines.

[@legostar752]

Did we ever get to the bottom of those three bells that kept ringing through the journey?

[@samuel9272]

I wish they were also on the snow Hill line :( but we can wait ig

[@EGPFAviation]

Nice one simon, CAF civitys look quite good in my opinion. Out of interest, what is your favourite type of loco/multiple unit in the UK?

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thanks, My favourite type of loco/multiple unit is a hard question to answer as I do like many trains but do love the Class 37s and do love the Class 158

[@EGPFAviation]

Oh yes - both have godly sounds!

[@DavidLancstrainspotting]

Sounded like the engines on the 196 are same as the 195s of Northern

[@Sim0nTrains]

They both built by CAF

[@Andrewjg_89]

The West Midlands Railway Class 196 Civity should also be in service to Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Leamington Spa, Leamington Spa-Nuneaton via Coventry and other routes in the West Midlands. Hopefully the Class 730 Aventras should also enter service by the end of this year.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Not a easy as that. They're focusing on Shrewsbury first and by December there be a 25% increase in seats. The Class 730s will be entering around 2023 so they can change the timetable and phrase the Class 350/2s out. Also in 2023 the Hereford services will be introduced but they also have to give up a few Class 196 DMUs for the Oxford to Bletchley service and some will be used for the Camp Hill Line from Birmingham New Street to Kings Norton.

[@flopyatt2552]

It's not Shersbury it's Shrewsbury

[@andrewwilson6240]

I've come across People who pronounce it Shrooos-burry and other Shrows-burry Shersbury is new!

[@Sim0nTrains]

Can't blame me for butchering Shrewsbury up for being excited about a new train lol

[@Alan_Watkin]

god dam you its shroosbury...... but at least you didn't say the toff way thats worse, nice trains i may have to work out what time i'll get 1 an go Brum your train was Charles Darwin yeah man thats evolution my dude, great stuff

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thank you

[@erichthecat6032]

Can see a costa 😸😸

[@Sim0nTrains]

Costa is cool

[@gazza1858]

My god bring back the good old days

[@Sim0nTrains]

Funny you mention that because they did bring a feature from the good old days back from this train, talking to the Manager Director, he did mention that if a window breaks on the train, they can pop the window out at the next station and quickly replace it which is something they used to do in the British Rail Days

[@ianr]

No armrests? Strange! 🤔

[@TransportVloggerIan]

Yeah, I thought so as well when I saw it but let's not forget that the 172s don't have armrests either

[@Sim0nTrains]

The armrests are a compromise in the design, but they may make an appearance in the future.

[@davidbirdsey6489]

Sorry to say the microphone picked up all the engine noise and chatter from the other passengers. The commentary was drowned out but the pictures were good!

[@Sim0nTrains]

Totally agree with you, i did noticed that when editing and tried to fix it as best I could.

[@Slime.tsunami]

I’m going to be honest they don’t really have that good of a colour scheme the orange and purple do not mix well.

[@Sim0nTrains]

It's a fair comment, also strange to see that livery without yellow ends

[@Slime.tsunami]

@@Sim0nTrains exactly.

[@christopherfox735]

It doesn’t have step free access which is ridiculous for any new train. If Greater Anglia can provide step free access, why can’t West Midlands Rail.

[@matthewbrady146]

Another great video. Unfortunately the train is ugly from the front

[@Sim0nTrains]

Thanks Matthew and does look ugly but it one of the requirements for West Midlands, it was the same with London Midland when the Clas 172 came into service.

[@jaguarlegoanimations9826]

imo the front looks nice

[@davidalt92]

Not gonna lie, you proper butchered the pronunciation of Shrewsbury at the start

[@Sim0nTrains]

Will admit I did

[@JustClickApprove92]

I’d say they’re good, not great. Definitely an improvement on anything else CAF have built recently, and no doubt an improvement on the 170s. I find the ride quality questionable, though it does seem more refined than their northern sisters. The seating is comfy and they are very bright inside, the build quality… is very CAF