A new fleet of 26 trains fitted with a host of creature comforts aimed at improving the passenger experience are being brought into service as part of a £690 million investment by West Midlands Railway.
The first of the trains, known as Class 196s, will enter service on the line between Shrewsbury and Birmingham in the coming weeks, serving stops including New Street, Wolverhampton and Telford. The diesel fleet, consisting of 80 carriages in total, has been constructed by manufacturer CAF at its factories in South Wales and Spain.
Among the new features are more seats and tables with improved under-seat storage, improved accessibility, including at least one accessible toilet per train, and space for up to three bikes to be carried.
