A BRAND new train fleet has made its first journey to a train station in Worcester on Monday.
New West Midlands Railway (WMR) trains left Birmingham New Street and made their way to Worcester Shrub Hill.
The new trains mean the fleet will be able to pick up passengers from Worcester, Droitwich and Bromsgrove.
And the new fleet is being rolled out onto West Midlands Railway's Hereford Line.
Class 196 has a total of 26 trains with air conditioning, plug, and USB sockets at every seat and storage space.
The new trains are part of WRM's £690m investment in new trains and infrastructure.
Initially, a small number of journeys on the Hereford Line will be run by Class 196s as the new trains are drip-fed into service over the coming months.
A spokesperson from WMR said the trains offer 25 per cent more capacity than the fleet they replace.
READ MORE: Worcester to London trains cancelled - How your journey is affected
Jonny Wiseman, WMR customer experience director, said: “I am delighted that even more passengers are now able to take advantage of our newest train fleet with the rollout of the Class 196s onto the Hereford Line.
“With smart air conditioning, power points at every seat and extra space on board, I am certain these trains will prove a hit with our passengers in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.”
One of the trains in the fleet called 196004 was officially named 'Sir Edward Elgar' by the High Sheriff of Worcestershire Andrew Manning-Cox at a special ceremony last month.
The train was named after Sir Edward Elgar at a ceremony held at Worcester Shrub Hill railway station on Friday morning (March 24).
READ MORE: Train named after Sir Edward Elgar to mark new fleet
Trains to Worcester to London Cancelled
However, there will be no direct trains between Worcester and London until June in order for repair works to take place.
Train users heading up to London should expect busier trains than usual between Oxford and London Marylebone from Monday (April 17).
Great Western Railway is unable to operate any trains between Oxford and Didcot Parkway until June 10 in order for Network Rail repairs on a bridge to take place.
This means Chiltern Railways will be the sole option for passengers hoping to travel to London or Oxford.
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