I am early! I agree about the design looking stunning. The interior looks great (apart from the lack of armrests), and the smart lighting is a great touch. More trains should have this *Cough IET Cough* . The points ride quality is a problem that CAF need to improve though.

I completely agree with you! The lack of arm rests on these units is baffling for me...

Looking back at this video. The suspension issues. They have been improved over time as compared to the 195s. The 170s are alot heavier and its likely easier to make the suspension work better due to bulky bogies with alot of space for additional parts etc.

The issues with ride quality when traveling over points and jointed track also applies to the 197s It seems as though all the CAF Civity units excel in some aspects but have got it completely wrong in others

The hype for these were good but generally I think the 170s are all round better. These trains look stunning though. I don’t like the noise when they brake to. And it’s surprising that they don’t have a armrest. Some journeys are long so you need at least something for your hand to rest!

Transport for Wales has changed the dreadful Fainsa ironing board seats on their class 197 fleet, prior to introduction with something a bit more comfortable at a cost of under £2M. Pity someone didn't pick up on this for the uncomfortable class 196 fleet.

Thameslink have gone without armrest and journey times can be nearly twice as long. But does seems odd and pointless to have a big table but no armrest, I expect it'll get retrofitted in a later time.

1 year later, came to comment that the "squeal" sound is probably something like a hydrodynamic braking unit to save wear on brake pads.

The responsive lighting reminded me of a recent trip on a Voyager - the seat reservation displays actually dim after departure, then go brighter when the train arrives at a station. I had never noticed before. How did I find out? Because of course I had to stand in the aisle and faced one constantly scrolling the seat was available, which of course it wasn't to me, as someone was sat in it, alongside every other seat, just to add insult to injury😅 Do the seats on these collapse as much as the XC 170s? I find the XC ones look plush until you sit down at which point the foam collapses entirely and it's like sitting in an upturned wheelbarrow.

My Hubby 🤣 at 6.55 lol

To me they are alot better than the 170's. They have got alot more legroom and is less noisy than the 170 (Exept for when it brakes when it almost comes toward a stop)

They're good. Quiet and efficient. Those announcements are hilarious 😂

Honestly I don't think the ride quality is that bad although I have no idea about standing as unlike on a turbostar from Shrewsbury to Birmingham I was able to get a seat on my journey

06:10 CAF is usually not spelt, but instead said as a single word. It’s a bit of a shame that their ride quality is poor, since here in Spain it has a decent one, better than the other national manufacturer, talgo.

The same engine as the class 172s. With the squeal of the aventras

I love that livery. It's not "dynamic lines" but it really fits the body. The interior (especially the lighting) is very similar to the class 3000 /4000 on nir

My guess would be that the brake squeal is due to ‘sintered’ friction materials , metallic based compared to other materials used elsewhere. 180’s/80x are similar.

Being CAF let's hope they don't catch fire!

I think they are fairly rated, good trains and aren’t as overrated as the class 195

Great video! I subscribed

Looks like an updated 158

The breaks are not a 196 specific issue, as the 195, a few years later, still make the god awful sound. Still though, I do personally think they are relatively decent trains overall, much like yourself. Great video

How about reviewing the HST IP because they nailed ride quality over 50 years ago.

Another good video GW. One question, how do you record the clips, do you do it secretively or very obviously? Thanks

Leaving Birmingham New Street station. The announcement goes beep.

Their design looks like an omage to the class 317s , which i love alot, instead of trying weird alien designs like the 385s (385s look hideous) They definately accelerate 100× better than 170s for sure.

i was on that train that broke down

I don’t get why the step into the doors are so high, 10-15 cm higher than normal. Internal is cramped, ceiling feels so low. Ride quality is pretty poor, and comfort is awful.

The bogies are weak, that's why the ride is not a patch on the 175s. That centre door is lethal when it comes to severely curved platforms - an example for one is Earlestown station. The cabs are the ugliest in dmu history., and the transmission being mechanical takes you back to the heritage unit days!

this guy really doesnt like seats if they arent literal trampolines like the bakerloo line

The fact that there is no armrest is a bit funny. Otherwise they look ok.

The Class 196 West Midlands Railway are very nice. Not to mention the Class 197 Transport for Wales. CAF should continue on manufacturing new Civity DMU and EMU trains including for Great Western Railway, South Western Railway, ScotRail, Southern and Southeastern. And possibly new Civity trains for East West Rail instead of inheriting the Class 196 from West Midlands Railway.

The ride quality on these CAF units is a joke. BR had this licked on the Sprinter series 30 years back. And the seats !!! DfT are daft! The fire resistant covers are good enough never mind the padding. Millions of passengers are being inconvenienced for something that will never happen. I speak from personal experience of an attempted arson attack on a 313!

The and sounded more like a simple, AA.

Hey at least it's not an aventra

Why do british trains have that small windows for the driver and how is that even safe?

that's quite a bummer they're not electric great train otherwise!

When they come to my line in wostershire they are Gona be better that the 172

Do these have the werid gearbox that the 195 has?

The highly styled front ends will look badly dated by the time that they are half way through through their service life. Bay dimension should be 1.90 metres with 1.5 metre wide windows. There is no excuse for badly profiled seats. The information has been available for sixty years. If the trains are rough riding they are probably track bashers.

Good review but it's funny how people's taste differs as I think this is one of the ugliest looking trains ever made, shape rather than livery. I wonder if the drivers prefer a glass panel across the front?