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 London and the English Midlands under two trade names: West Midlands Railway (WMR) (within the West Midlands region) and London Northwestern Railway (LNR) (outside the region). It is owned by a consortium of three companies: Abellio, JR East and Mitsui & Co. 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, and it took over from London Midland on 10 December 2017. The franchise is scheduled to run until March 2026. In May 2021, the company was criticised after it sent an email to 2,500 employees thanking them for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic and offering a financial bonus; employees who clicked on the link within the email were informed that  there was, in fact, no bonus and that the email had been part of a "phishing simulation test”. Management. Unlike the previous London Midland franchise, which was solely accountable to the DfT, West Midlands is also accountable for services that operate wholly within the West Midlands region to West Midlands Rail Executive, a group of 16 local authorities. However, DfT must still approve any changes West Midlands Rail wish to make until the franchise is re-let. Branding. WMT services are split into two businesses which operate under two distinct sub-brands. Train services running on the West Coast Main  Line, including those running to/from London Euston, and , 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 London Midland under the "London Midland City" brand – are operated by WMT under the "West Midlands Railway" brand. 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. These services bear an orange and purple colour scheme and are branded with a hexagonal "WM" monogram adopted as part of a shared branding initiative under Transport for West Midlands, in which several transport modes in the West Midlands County use similar branding to emphasise integrated transport. Each mode bears a 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 Railway bears an orange logo, and the West Midlands Rail Executive uses a turquoise logo. London Northwestern Railway services. WMT's services along the West Coast Main Line rail corridor are operated under the London Northwestern Railway brand. These services include: As of December 2021, the typical off-peak Monday - Saturday London Northwestern Railway service pattern, with frequencies in trains per hour (tph), includes: Sunday services are similar however: Early morning and late night services have amended calling patterns and usually call at most stations. West Midlands Railway services. In the West  Midlands region, WMT's train services are operated under the West Midlands Railway brand. These services include: Services on the short Stourbridge Town branch line are run by the open access operator Pre Metro Operations, who operate services on behalf of WMT under the West Midlands Railway brand name. As of May 2021, the typical off-peak Monday - Saturday West Midlands Railway service pattern, with frequencies in trains per hour (tph), includes: Sunday services are generally hourly on most routes however: Planned changes. Planned changes included: 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 enter service, some will be returned to the leasing companies that own them. Current fleet. 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, it placed an order for two PPM60 units with Parry People Movers, through Porterbrook. The service itself was operated for London Midland 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 and 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 and 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 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 to Leamington line, the Coventry to Nuneaton  line and Birmingham to Hereford. All had entered service by May 2019. During November and December 2020, the centre vehicles of the Class 170/6 units were removed and transferred to CrossCountry to extend some of their 2-carriage Class 170 units. The Class 170/6 units which remained at West Midlands Trains have been renumbered to reflect them becoming Class 170/5 units, before being moved to East Midlands Railway after the Class 196 units are introduced. In May 2021, Chiltern Railways' fleet of four Class 172/1s transferred to West Midlands Trains. This transfer means that all of the Class 172 units  are operated by West Midlands Trains. The initial sublease contract was until December 2021, the end of Chiltern Railways' franchise agreement, but the units have remained with West Midlands Trains, with Chiltern stating that the 172/1s would not be returning to them. Class 230 "D-Trains". 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, Class 323 and all Class 350/2 units will be replaced by brand new Class 730 units. Seventeen of the Class 323 units will be transferred to Northern Trains to work with the existing 323 units already in service with them. Future fleet. In October 2017, details were announced of planned new rolling stock for West Midlands Trains. 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. Class 196 "Civity . WMT is to replace its fleet of 23 Class 170/5 and 170/6 Turbostar" and eight Class 153 units, which operate on West Midlands Railway services, with 26 new Class 196 "Civity" units. The Class 153 units left West Midlands Trains at the end of 2020, and the Class 170 units will move to East Midlands Railway, with the exception of the centre cars of the 170/6s which moved to CrossCountry to lengthen its 170/5s. Class 730 "Aventra". Eighty-one Class 730 "Aventras" sets are to be purchased. They will be built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works. 36 three-carriage long  trains will replace the Class 323 units. 45 five-carriage long trains will replace the Class 319 & Class 350/2 units. Past fleet. Former units operated by West Midlands Trains include: