The worst timetable changes.. ever!? | West Midlands Trains - a success?

Hello & welcome to the fourth episode of my WCML operators mini-series where I look at the local operators of the West Coast Mainline. Today we will look at the second and current operator of the West Midlands franchise; West Midlands Trains! In today's video we will look at whether WMT have been a success since taking over operations in December 2017!
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[@Vanmanyo]

Apologies to headphone users for the jump in volume during the intro - hopefully your ears are still intact! My mistake in the audio editor there so sorry for that (unfortunately cannot be rectified in KZbin editor!!!). Anyways, do consider subscribing or even joining the channel if you enjoyed this video, it means so much to me so thank you!

[@maimadha]

@@Vanmanyo Your videos are the best

[@JenOnTheMove]

I feel like including the joyful sounds of a 323 within the first minute is just Jen bait! 🤣

[@Vanmanyo]

I have to get you to keep watching somehow!!

[@Awws1e]

The class 323. 323221 is still in service as I write this, which is nice. It feels like a 'So glad I grew up with this, but damn this is better' scenario I will MISS THOSE GLORIOUS AC TRACTION MOTORS SO MUCH. Honestly when the last 323 leaves us I will CRY! I feel like some of the 350s are beginning to show their age. I get that some are being replaced with the 730s but even still some will not. I'm still waiting for the line to pineapple road. Will be a good day if it ever opens. Great video too!

[@azzawba928]

yup, I live near dudley Port & heard thier unique noises many times in my childhood 😂 shame we don't get them anymore, all on XC line or what's left

[@davepearson3992]

Well camp hill not open, no Wolverhampton to Walsall line 196 took ages to put on 730 finally on but nothing but issues from day one of wmt. I live on Chase line and service been a joke when it did the London and it took hours as stopped too many times plus that new steet couple up/de couple joke. Settling down a bit now. Too much focus been on Camphill while promised metro suffers.

[@gerardtohill9597]

As someone who uses West Midland Trains, my impression is that they view the timetable more as a suggestion rather than an instruction.

[@Axolotl-25]

mum wake up vanmanyo uploaded

[@Vanmanyo]

Not just your mum, wake up your entire family 🙏

[@dawezer]

I absolutely love every single episode of this it is a fantastic series with amazing research and your voice is very easy listening. My only fear is when you will run out of franchises ! Maube then we get a history of units 😊

[@Vanmanyo]

Im sure I can still make educational content even after I run out of franchises!

[@bethieandbooks]

They’ve had some big problems, but as someone who commutes on the Shrewsbury line, I think there’s been significant improvements the last couple of years with more frequent services and the new trains. The Euston line is a bit grim but at least it’s cheap!

[@oliverfurnival6030]

Big fat disagree. I also commute on this line and this has got far far worse, as the trains just run 2 carriages, which never happened before. They only care about making a few quid and not the services they run, but they'd make more if they ran a proper service!

[@pannierfan6412]

I honestly think that WMT are a mixed bag. WMR are one of my favourite operators, (along with TPE) and the 172s, 196s and 323s* fly their flag well. LNWR are a different story, whilst the 350s are very nice, I have had a couple of overcrowded experiences aboard them. Great video as always!! *730 not included as I dislike it with passion

[@Leicestercityrules24]

As someone who lives in London but has family between Nuneaton and Leicester the cost difference between the two is immense. Going with West Midlands/London Northwestern vs East Midlands train means the a ticket at half the price often

[@MisterIvy]

WMR does indeed have its issues but the staff are absolutely lovely. ive not had any issues with them and have had a few opportunities to have a good chat with them. the 730s are also a good improvement to the cross city, though I do love the 323s for their character.

[@willhouse2321]

Another awesome vid can’t wait to see southwest trains pop up one day. My favourite TOC by a long shot x

[@ethmister]

150s are so good they replaced the trains sent to replace them

[@Ryan1992channel]

I would love to see the Walsall to Lichfield line be reopened.

[@masonlawson649]

Excellent broadcast. Thank you

[@michaelkeeley8594]

Would love to see a Scotland failed franchise series

[@Sim0nTrains]

I think this was perfectly spot on, especially the 2019 timetable change. Did look good on paper but the results were bad, it going to be interesting IF the plans in 2026 do go ahead as they could extend the Euston to Crewe service to Manchester Victoria. The Stafford to Crewe via Stoke-on-Trent service also being planned to be extended to Manchester Airport, On paper I could see the Manchester Airport service work but the Manchester Victoria service not so much that would work. Just had to wait and see, great video

[@Vanmanyo]

Thank you Simon! I am glad you agree with me and glad you enjoyed!

[@chrismcintyre2145]

Class wake up vanmanyo just uploaded

[@stephenreardon2698]

Two trips down to Worcestershire in the last two months. Both ran fine on Avanti in New street for a change, but WMR let me down on the Hereford bound trains. One service being cut short to Worcester Shrub Hill, only announced 2 minutes before departing New Street, forcing a twenty minute cross platform connection on a station that is not disability friendly, further delayed by a trespasser in Oxfordshire delaying the forced connecting service by GWR. The other was cancelled at New Street as I was going to make an unusually quick connection, leaving me stranded for over an hour.

[@Andrewjg_89]

The rest of the West Midlands Railway Class 323s are to be cascaded to Northern since the Class 730/0 have slowly entered service on the Cross-City Line. And London Northwestern Railway to introduce the Class 730/2 sometime before the end of 2024.

[@OMJT027]

the cross city line with never sound the same again

[@WestMidlandstrainspotting]

11:17 the 153s on the wmr network, gone but not forgotten, they were my favorite trains in the wmr network and are my favorite trains followed by class 60s and mk3 dvts

[@chaoringmeister]

I spend a couple of years commuting with LNR into Euston. Got to say on the whole it was reasonably reliable. A lot of issues with high winds on the ECML over winter/spring 23/24 though.

[@pauledwards2817]

We really got sent to the cleaners wirh the Crewe London service. It's a deprived area and being told you have a wonderful fast regular serices does not cut it with a standard weekday day time return fare of can be as much as £160. Many would hardly notice the extra 50min and it gave direct access to all the towns on the Trent Valley line. Now it just hopeless Crewe to Stafford with a good chance the low cost stopping train had already gone from Stafford to London. Hopeless for the poor Stoke-on-Trent and why no trains continuing on further north to Liverpool for example?

[@PeterTOrganist]

As a daily commuter on the Snow Hill lines I can't say that overall I am very impressed with them. They have a couple of good months then it all goes wrong. August was very poor and just yesterday three trains in a row during rush hour were cancelled. They seem more interested in their trains being in the right place rather than their passengers. I am not convinced the 172's are very reliable either. The new timetable introduced in May has made commuting less convenient for me as I commute to one of the smaller stations. The smaller stations are the first to suffer when trains are cancelled. Some of the decisions the mystical "control" make when there are problems are certainly not to benefit passengers waiting on stations. I have seen many complaints about the Cross City and Shrewsbury lines. Having a couple of times now ridden on class 196's, I am glad I don't have to sit on one of those regularly, they make a class 172 seem like a first class mark 3 carriage! The staff are certainly very friendly I will say.

[@lovefive5733]

A fantastic video, Thank you 😊😊

[@IDeltic]

Despite living in the West Midlands and my dad actually driving for them (based out of Leamington, has been there since the Central days in the early 00s), I've very rarely used their services. Chiltern just run much more frequently between Leamington and Birmingham. I do think the purple and orange is one of the best liveries in the country though.

[@Vanmanyo]

I've probably been driven by your dad at some point haha! But yes, I rarely catch WMR up to Birmingham because they only run a few trains a day at silly o'clock!

[@cmtrains]

Cool. I’m a conductor based out of Leamington too.

[@DKS225]

@13.08 others would describe that as a cruel joke by WMT.

[@Vanmanyo]

Indeed, how someone didnt realise sending fake bonuses is a bad thing I will never know!

[@shazrahman8556]

The reduction from 6 trains an hour to 4 made the cross city line more reliable and the 730s are much better than the 323s. Annoyingly the four trains are not evenly split so 20 minute gaps between some trains. It is better than london midland and their ghost trains.

[@shazrahman8556]

I say this but west midlands railway have given up on running a Sunday service.

[@AndrewSvonja]

thank god i have a job WFH now, i had to get a train from Hinckey to Lichfiled (trent valley) using a fold up bicycle to get to and from stations to work/home 3 times per week at the cost of 20 quid per day... why do they only have 3 carriges from b'ham to cambridge train at peak home time ? always rammed..

[@SoldierBoy-YT123]

There's also a new station between rugby and long buckby being proposed yo accommodate the new housing areas being built. Dunno if it'll go ahead or not

[@Vanmanyo]

Rugby Parkway? If so, Warks county council recently purchased the land for the station so that one seems to be going ahead!

[@michaelbushell4356]

No mention of the Cross City Line moving from six trains an hour to four. I really like the 730s though.

[@Vanmanyo]

I think I mentioned it on the Camp Hill line section as that will mean it can never be reinstated back to 6tph! However apologies if not

[@bottledit5379]

They have seemed to finally got there act together but so far for me a failure. London midland had a decent run in the end and got there stuff together while West Midlands railway has been nothing but misery for me. Hopefully they can finish this year strong now they don’t have Covid and things out off there control

[@TheRealMallardURA]

Their new trains are very spacious I must say.

[@Vanmanyo]

Went on the first 196 and one of the first 730 services and I really like them both!

[@TheRealMallardURA]

@@Vanmanyo Yeah definitely an upgrade.

[@sr6424]

What about service cuts on the Cross City Line? Cut from 6 to 4 trains an hour. This won’t return to 6 due to the Camp line.

[@Vanmanyo]

I think I mentioned this towards the end but perhaps I didn't!

[@RandomUsername3040]

Good Video and that why i joined and your discord too

[@Vanmanyo]

Thank you so much! I am glad you enjoy the video and I appreciate your membership hugely! You should have access to the members lounges in the discord. Thanks again!!!!

[@WestMidlandstrainspotting]

One thing i hate about LNWR is they run 350/1s from Wolverhampton - Walsall and 350/2s from Birmingham to Liverpool & London other than that wmr does its job when im getting on a service on the snow hill line i know im going to board a 172 and the train will be at the station within 30 minutes, the seats are a bit ironing boardish but the max time you're going to be on a 172 is an hour and thirty minutes from Worcester - Leamington Spa

[@Vanmanyo]

Yeah annoyingly it's just random each day where 350/2s work and it seems they work Euston services quite a lot!

[@arnoldspottingvideos5269]

​@Vanmanyo True and plus 350/2s also work on the Rugeley Trent Valley route, which is not a good sign for passengers.

[@thatuktrainguy]

Yes I was wating for this!!!

[@jameswright7284]

I believe 323s are going to be extinct from the West Midlands by the end of the month I'll probably be in Birmingham next week to ride them for the first and last time

[@gymnasiast90]

0:35 gave me a jumpscare. That footage of the train departing was about 10 times louder than your intro. You might want to check that next time :')

[@Vanmanyo]

Yep I'll accept that one! I think it doesn't help that the 323 motors are also just quite loud 😲

[@BBS7523]

A bit too nice to WMR, uncalled cancellations and poor relability, London midland was far better

[@shazrahman8556]

Good riddance to the 323 on the cross city line. The 730s are much better.

[@Vanmanyo]

Agreed! Lots of people seem to love the 323s but compared to the 730s they are no match! Aircon, plugs, tables, increased of capacity - what's not to love?

[@shazrahman8556]

@@Vanmanyo the 730s are also much quieter

[@masonlawson649]

Highly intelligent broadcast. Awful train company, thd Rugeley service is just rubbish. Additionally, the company are extremely poor and awful to disabled customers. We blame the senior leadership team for this.

[@kriss_b]

Love the videos, tho I do have a big bear, I can cope with you saying two thousand and sixteen like that but saying two thousand and twenty/ twenty two etc instead of 2020 etc just sounds weird pal. I'm not sure why this is, Its not your fault it's just a weird bug that makes my brain hurt every time you do it 😂. This is said with peace and happiness and absolutely no malice or bad vibes 😊

[@Vanmanyo]

Haha yeah I think I just say it either way depending on how I feel! Both are correct so I'll probably continue saying them in both ways.. sorry to your brain 😅

[@EdgyNumber1]

Camp Hill won't be open until summer or Christmas 2025. Progress is so deftly slow.

[@Vanmanyo]

Yes very annoying!

[@bottledit5379]

That’s ridiculous I was hoping it will be open by the start off the year. Then again looking at station progress I shouldn’t be surprised

[@EdgyNumber1]

@@bottledit5379 Well consider how long it took to open University station. Thar was supposed to be open by the Commonwealth games in 2022! Even after the coof virus barely anyone was working on it at all. And now they are talking of expanding Moor Street with extra terminating capacity!

[@lolfunnyusername]

vanmanyo you used a London Midland map instead of the WMT map in 2:05 lol

[@Vanmanyo]

Well spotted! There is no joint WMR and LNWR map (at least one I could find!), so I just used the same LM from last video because it's the easiest to display the whole franchise!!

[@IDeltic]

@@Vanmanyo There is one difference, albeit a small one. The LM map doesn't include Leamington to Coventry as part of their network, and still has it as a "connecting service".

[@IDeltic]

@@Vanmanyo Oh and the complete omission of Kenilworth station on that section.

[@Vanmanyo]

@@IDeltic The WMR one still has "Kenilworth opening 2018" if I remember correctly!

[@IDeltic]

@@Vanmanyo That sounds on brand haha

[@MidlandTrainReviews-u7y]

omg the timetables suck i have to wait nearly 50 minutes for my train afterschool

[@WestMidlandstrainspotting]

There are a few schools along the line such as Hagley and it makes it a absolutely pain to travel from 3pm - 4pm because the trains always become packed and start to run late i think there should be a extra services around 3pm on all lines to reduce overcrowding

[@arsenalfantv1001]

​@@WestMidlandstrainspotting find the crew, rolling stock and path for it then and it'll run.

[@MidlandTrainReviews-u7y]

@@WestMidlandstrainspotting Yes i go to school in hagley, it is a pain honestly as a fast train comes through before on a platform rammed with kids.

[@thomas8692]

​@@arsenalfantv1001 These spotters have no idea how it all works lol.

[@cmtrains]

196s are awful trains. Not very powerful and always problems with them.