West Midlands Trains

West Midlands Trains (WMT) is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates passenger trains on the West Midlands franchise between Euston and the English Midlands under two trade names: West Midlands Railway (WMR) (within the West Midlands region) and London Northwestern Railway (LNR) (outside the West Midlands region).

It is owned by a consortium of three companies: Abellio, JR East and Mitsui Group.

History
In April 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced the shortlist of bidders for the West Midlands franchise, comprising the incumbent operator Govia, MTR Corporation, and West Midlands Trains: a consortium of Abellio (70%), JR East (15%) and Mitsui (15%). In July 2016, MTR Corporation withdrew from the bidding process.

The invitation to tender was issued in August 2016. In August 2017, the West Midlands Trains consortium was awarded the franchise. It took over from London Midland on December 9th, 2017.

Management
Unlike the previous London Midland franchise, which was solely accountable to the DfT, West Midlands will also be accountable for services that operate wholly within the West Midlands region to West Midlands Rail Executive, a group of 16 local authorities. However, the DfT will still need to approve any changes West Midlands Rail wish to make until the franchise is relet, by which time West Midlands Rail will award the future franchise for services wholly within the West Midlands region.

Branding
WMT services are split into two businesses which operate under two distinct sub-brands. Longer-distance train services running on the West Coast Main Line, including those running to/from London Euston, Liverpool Lime Street and Crewe operate under the London Northwestern Railway brand. This name was chosen in tribute to the former London & North Western Railway (LNWR), the company that operated services on the route between 1846 and 1922. Branding of trains and associated publicity use a green colour scheme with a logo composed of the letters L, N and W.

Services running in Birmingham and the West Midlands region — previously operated by under the London Midland City brand — are operated by WMT under the West Midlands Railway brand. These services bear an orange and purple colour scheme and are branded with a hexagonal "WM" monogram. WMT have chosen to operate these services as a distinct business unit in order to facilitate a possible future devolution of these services from the national DfT to the West Midlands Combined Authority. The hexagonal "WM" logo has been adopted as part of a shared branding initiative under Transport for West Midlands, in which other transport modes in the West Midlands have been branded with a common identity to emphasise integrated transport. Each mode bears a coloured variant of the "WM" logo: West Midlands Buses use a red logo, West Midlands Metro trams use a blue logo, cycling initiatives are branded with a green logo, West Midlands Trains bears an orange logo, and the West Midlands Rail Executive is in turquoise.

Services
West Midlands Trains operate all train services previously run by London Midland. Trains operate under one of the company's two brand names depending on route.

London North Western Railway
WMT's medium- and long-distance services along the West Coast Main Line rail corridor are operated under the London Northwestern Railway brand. These services include:.


 * suburban and regional services out of London Euston;
 * services between Birmingham and Liverpool;
 * services on rural lines that branch off the West Coast main line.

Oyster card and contactless card payments can be used on London North Western Railway at Watford Junction, Bushey, Harrow & Wealdstone, Wembley Central and Euston stations.

As of May 19th, 2019, the typical off-peak weekday London North Western Railway service pattern, with frequencies in trains per hour (tph).

West Midlands Railway
In the West Midlands region, WMT's train services are operated under the West Midlands Railway brand. These services include:


 * suburban services centred around Birmingham;
 * regional services between Birmingham and Shrewsbury/Hereford;
 * the Leamington to Coventry and Coventry to Nuneaton branch lines.

Services on the short Stourbridge Town branch line are run by the independent operator Pre Metro Operations, who operate services on behalf of WMT under the West Midlands Railway brand name.

As of May 19th, 2019, the typical off-peak weekday West Midlands Railway services, with frequencies in trains per hour (tph).

Future
Future changes include:


 * extension of the Birmingham to Wolverhampton service to Crewe via Stoke-on-Trent. This will replace the Euston to Crewe service via Stoke-on-Trent that will operate directly from Stafford to Crewe via the West Coast Main Line. The change of this service has angered councillors in Staffordshire as to the loss of the direct service (although Avanti West Coast will continue to operate a London-bound service through Stoke-on-Trent). The change of service is necessitated by West Midlands Trains increasing the number of carriages up to twelve in peak hours, which makes stopping at Alsager, Stone and Kidsgrove impossible due to the platforms not being long enough to take 12-car trains. West Midlands Rail have since stated these stations will retain a direct service to London taking a slower route via Birmingham and Northampton.
 * reintroduction of calls at Barlaston and therefore closure of Wedgwood. This will mean the end of the long-standing rail replacement bus service. From 10 December 2017, the Stafford – Stoke-on-Trent rail replacement bus was cut back to run only between Stoke-on-Trent and Norton Bridge, via Wedgwood, Barlaston and Stone.

Rolling stock
WMT inherited a fleet of Class 139, 150, 153, 170, 172, 319, 323 and 350 units from London Midland, but as the newer units come on stream, some will be returned to the leasing companies that own them.

Class 139 Parry People Movers
The concept of using the lightweight railcar dates from 2006 when a year-long pilot scheme began on the Stourbridge Town branch line on Sundays, using a Parry People Movers PPM50 unit constructed in 2002 and numbered as 999900 under TOPS. The success of this trial led to the provision of regular services using the technology in the franchise plans for the new West Midlands Franchise. Following the award of the franchise to London Midland, they placed an order for two PPM60 units with Parry People Movers, through Porterbrook, with the service itself operated for them by Pre Metro Operations.

These two units are 139 001 and 139 002, composed of vehicle numbers 39001 and 39002 in the British carriage and wagon numbering and classification system. The vehicles are mechanically similar to 999 900, but are approximately one metre longer. They were intended to start operating on the Stourbridge Town branch in 2008. In January 2009 it was confirmed that 139001 was still undergoing testing at Chasewater Railway and 139002 was still not completed.

Despite the difficulties in the commissioning of the two Class 139 units, London Midland consistently outlined its faith that they would be ready to enter service. In March 2009, it was announced that the first unit had received its passenger certification from Network Rail, allowing it to carry passengers. London Midland stated that they would begin a phased entry into service, starting with weekend operation in April, leading up to a full service by the timetable change in May 2009. Until then, London Midland temporarily returned a Class 153 to operating the branch service. 139 002 officially entered service on 29 March 2009 as part of the type's phased entry. This unit had previously worked in full service, including all-day on Monday 11 May 2009 and previously had worked all morning services during February/March 2009. In May 2009 the first unit, 139 001 was finally delivered to Stourbridge, with 999 900 removed at the same time. Test unit 999 900 had been on the branch line between 2005–2009. At the point of introduction, they displaced a single Class 153 DMU that was previously allocated to the branch line. By December 2009, the 200,000th passenger had been carried by the railcars.

Class 153, 170 and 172 DMUs
West Midlands Trains operate a total of 35 two-car and three-car Class 172 units, 27 of which had been ordered by predecessor London Midland, who originally planned for them to enter service by the end of 2010 on services to and from Birmingham Snow Hill, replacing Class 150s. The original 27 sets have revised front ends with end gangways which make the trains look like the Electrostar family of units.

From 1 September 2011, the Class 172s started operating on the Snow Hill Lines with some weekend work from Birmingham - Hereford. When first used in service, the units suffered a fault with engine vibration in the passenger cabin, which has since been rectified.

The units were originally meant to replace all of the Class 150s, however three were retained until 2019 and moved on to Northern after the Class 172/0 and Class 230 units entered service. Between late 2018 and early 2019 West Midlands Railway inherited the London Overground 172/0s to replace the remaining Class 150s and Class 153s operating on the Coventry–Leamington line, the Coventry to Nuneaton line and Birmingham- Hereford. All had entered service by May 2019.

Class 230 D-Train
West Midlands Trains are also the first operator of the Class 230, a new class of diesel electric multiple unit that are upcycled London Underground D78 Stock. WMT placed an order for three two-car units, which entered service in April 2019 on the Marston Vale Line.

Class 319, 323, and 350 EMUs
The Class 319, 323 and 350/2 units will not be replaced after the arrival of Class 350/4 units from Transpennine Express and brand new Class 730 units.

17 of the Class 323 units will be transferred to Northern Trains to work with the existing 323 units already in service with them.

The Class 350/4 units can run on the Transpennine Express line, even though they are wearing a London North Western Railway suit.

Future fleet
West Midlands Trains has ordered 26 new CAF Civity diesel multiple units (80 carriages) and 81 electric multiple units based on Bombardier Transportation's Aventra platform (333 carriages), giving a total of 107 new trains for the operator. The new trains are set to be delivered to West Midlands Trains between 2020 and 2021.

In October 2017, details were announced of planned new rolling stock for West Midlands Trains.

Class 196 Civity
WMT plans to still use the 23 Class 170/5/6 Turbostars and 8 Class 153 units, which operate on West Midlands Railway services but use 26 Class 196 Civities.

The Class 153 units will be returned off-lease and the Class 170 units will be copied to East Midlands Railway, with the exception of the centre cars of the 170/6s moving to Cross Country to lengthen its 170/5s.

Class 730 Aventra
81 Class 730 Aventras sets are to be purchased. They will be built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works.

Past fleet
Former units operated by West Midlands Trains include a Class 150.