British Rail Class 196

British Rail Class 196
Civity
Orange and black train stationary at a platform
Class 196 at Coventry
Train carriage interior with dark grey seats backed with a plastic shell in a 2+2 layout
Class 196 interior
In service17 October 2022 – present
ManufacturerCAF
Built atNewport, Wales (final assembly)
Family nameCivity
ReplacedClass 170/5
Constructed2019–2022
Number built
  • 26
  • (12 x 196/0, 14 × 196/1)
Formation
  • 2 cars per 196/0 unit:
  • DMSL-DMS
  • 4 cars per 196/1 unit:
  • DMSL-MS-MSL-DMS
Fleet numbers
  • 196001–196012
  • 196101–196114
Capacity
  • 196/0: 141 seats
  • 196/1: 311 seats
Owners
  • Current:
  • Porterbrook
  • Former:
  • Corelink Rail
Operators
Depots
Lines served
Specifications
Doors
  • Double-leaf sliding plug
  • (2 per side per car)
Maximum speed100 mph (160 km/h)
Prime movers
  • 2 or 4 × MTU 6H 1800 R85L
  • (one per car)
Engine typeInline-6 turbo-diesel
Displacement12.8 L (780 cu in) per engine
Power output
  • 196/0: 780 kW (1,050 hp)
  • 196/1: 1,560 kW (2,090 hp)
  • (390 kW (520 hp) per engine)
Safety systems
Coupling systemDellner
Multiple workingWithin class (max. 8 cars)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 196 Civity is a class of diesel multiple unit built for West Midlands Trains by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF. A total of 26 units have been built; 12 two-car units and 14 four-car units.

They are the first train of the Civity family to feature end gangways.

History

Shortly after the announcement that a consortium of Abellio, Mitsui and JR East had been awarded the West Midlands franchise, West Midlands Trains confirmed they had placed an order for 26 diesel multiple units based on CAF's Civity platform.

The first completed unit started testing at the Velim railway test circuit in December 2019.

The first vehicle arrived at Tyseley TMD in Birmingham on 17 April 2020, having travelled by ship from Cuxhaven to Hull. Revenue services using the new fleet began on 17 October 2022, on services between Shrewsbury and Birmingham.

Operators

West Midlands Trains

West Midlands Trains use the Class 196 fleet to replace their 23 Class 170/5 Turbostar units on services between Birmingham and Shrewsbury via Telford. They also run on Birmingham to Hereford services from 2023, the Leamington-Nuneaton line. and have occasional appearances on the Snow Hill Lines (Dorridge & Stratford-upon-Avon to Worcester). Since 2026, they also run the Camp Hill line.

Chiltern Railways

Chiltern Railways Class 196 at Milton Keynes Central

Six 2-car units will be allocated to the initial services operated on the East West Rail route between Oxford and Milton Keynes. The service was planned to start in 2025 but has since been delayed.

Fleet details

Class Operator Qty. Year built Cars per unit Unit nos.
196/0 West Midlands Trains 12 2019–2022 2 196001–196012
196/1 14 4 196101–196114

Named units

Some units have received names:

  • 196001: Graiseley Wolves
  • 196002: Jess Carter
  • 196004: Sir Edward Elgar
  • 196101: Charles Darwin
  • 196102: The Shropshire Flyer

See also