The Class 172/0 from the London Overground to the West Midlands Railway

In 2019, West Midlands Railway inherited 8 trains from the London Overground of the Class 172/0. Initially I saw some of them at Tyseley in the old colours, before they were changed inside and out to the orange and purple of WMR. They are now used on the Leamington Spa to Nuneaton via Coventry branch line (replacing the single car Class 153's). Merging the two branch lines to Coventry.

The Class 172 DMU trains were built between 2010 and 2011. London Midland had the Class 172/2 and 172/3 from the autumn of 2011. West Midlands Railway took over the franchise in December 2017. The 172/0 trains were on the London Overground, but only ended up with West Midlands Railway during 2019 (after the LO lines were upgraded and they got new electric trains down there).

West Midlands Railway Birmingham Tyseley

Seen at the Tyseley Diesel Multiple Unit Depot was the former London Overground train now inherited by West Midlands Railway. It was London Overground 172 002. Seen from the Wharfdale Road Bridge in Tyseley during February 2019.

dndimg alt="London Overground 172 002" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Tyseley DMU Depot LO 172 002 (Feb 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The lines in London that they used to run on have been electrified and new trains have been introduced down there. 8 Class 172/0's were inherited by West Midlands Railway. Before they could go into service in the West Midlands they had to of had their liveries changed on the outside, and the seating covers and signs done on the inside.

dndimg alt="London Overground 172 002" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Tyseley DMU Depot LO 172 002 (Feb 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I returned to Tyseley early in March 2019 and saw the former London Overground 172 006 train. This view was from the Warwick Road, not far from the entrance to the Tyseley Locomotive Works. Still in the old LO colours at this point.

dndimg alt="London Overground 172 006" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Tyseley DMU Depot LO 172 006 (March 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The first train I saw in the new West Midlands Railway orang and purple livery was 172003, this was during May 2019. The view from the Warwick Road in Tyseley. Probably one of the first 172/0's that got changed inside and out.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway 172003" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Tyseley DMU Depot West Midlands Railway 172003 (May 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

But 172 006 was still in the old London Overground colours as of May 2019, as you can see here. The view from the Wharfdale Road Bridge. It wouldn't be long before it was transformed into the new West Midlands Railway colours.

dndimg alt="London Overground 172 006" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Tyseley DMU Depot London Overground 172 006 (May 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

By September 2019, I had another look from the Wharfdale Road Bridge near Tyseley Station. This was now West Midlands Railway 172002, and is used on both the Leamington Spa to Nuneaton line and on the Snow Hill lines.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway 172002" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Tyseley DMU Depot West Midlands Railway 172002 (Sep 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Birmingham Snow Hill Station

I actually saw West Midlands Railway 172003 at Birmingham Snow Hill Station during August 2019. This was a zoom in from the Livery Street bridge (near St Paul's Tram Stop). At this point I had yet to travel on one.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway 172003" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Snow Hill Station West Midlands Railway 172003 (August 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Leamington Spa Station

On the 29th February 2020, I got a crowded Chiltern Railways train from Solihull down to Leamington Spa, so I could have a ride on a 172/0 for the first time to Coventry. West Midlands Railway 172003 arrives at the platform which would form the next service towards Nuneaton.

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West Midlands Railway coming into the platform at Leamington Spa Station.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway 172003" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leamington Spa Station West Midlands Railway 172003 (Feb 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The weather was actually nice, got a lovely blue sky in Leamington Spa, before I got on the train towards Coventry.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway 172003" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leamington Spa Station West Midlands Railway 172003 (Feb 2020) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This is what the interior of West Midlands Railway 172003 looks like now. The train would have one stop before Coventry, and that was Kenilworth. When I last had a ride on this line to Kenilworth, they were still using the old Class 153's. This was a much more comfortable ride to Coventry.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway 172003" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leamington Spa Station West Midlands Railway 172003 (Feb 2020) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Coventry Station

After a journey of about 15 to 20 minutes, I was in Coventry. I got off West Midlands Railway 172003 as more passengers boarded towards Nuneaton. The next stop would have been Coventry Arena.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway 172003" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Coventry Station West Midlands Railway 172003 (Feb 2020) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Here you are also seeing passengers getting off the train and heading to the exit at Coventry Station.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway 172003" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Coventry Station West Midlands Railway 172003 (Feb 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The train heading on it's way towards Nuneaton. From platform 4. I had later hoped to get one back to Leamington Spa, but had to go to platform 2. And the first train to Leamington Spa was a Cross Country Voyager (I stood all the way back to Leamington Spa from Coventry).

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway 172003" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Coventry Station West Midlands Railway 172003 (Feb 2020) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Leamington Spa Station

Later back at Leamington Spa Station. Having got off my Cross Country train and went under the subway to the platform back to Solihull, I saw West Midlands Railway 172006 arriving at the station.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway 172006" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leamington Spa Station West Midlands Railway 172006 (Feb 2020) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Where I was sitting at Coventry, I saw a 172/0 heading towards Nuneaton, and would be a long wait. I had 30 minutes waiting to go back to Leamington Spa, when I got Cross Country. Here we see West Midlands Railway 172006 coming to a stop and the passengers getting off.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway 172006" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leamington Spa Station West Midlands Railway 172006 (Feb 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Side of the train with a Leamington Spa sign.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway 172006" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leamington Spa Station West Midlands Railway 172006 (Feb 2020) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Train doors now closed with the next bunch of passengers ready to head towards Coventry and Nuneaton.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Railway 172006" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leamington Spa Station West Midlands Railway 172006 (Feb 2020) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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Birmingham We Are People with Passion award winner 2020