NEW trains have started running on the Hereford line.

The new West Midlands Railway train fleet has carried its first passengers on the Hereford Line, with a Class 196 train leaving Birmingham New Street shortly before 6pm on Monday for its maiden journey to Worcester Shrub Hill.

There are a total of 26 trains in the Class 196 fleet, whose features include intelligent air conditioning, plug and USB chargers at every seat and extra storage space. The trains offer 25 per cent more capacity than the fleet they replace.

“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," said Jonny Wiseman, of West Midlands Railways.

“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.”

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The Class 196 is the first new fleet to be introduced to the West Midlands franchise for more than a decade and is part of West Midlands Railway'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.

But it has not all been good news for Herefordshire rail travellers.

Great Western Railway announced last week that there will be no direct trains from Hereford, Ledbury and Colwall to London Paddington. This will continue until June with trains only going as far as Oxford.