A development of the “Sprinter” concept for longer journeys, the Class 156 was introduced in 1988 as part of the Regional Railways investment programme. Built by Metro – Cammel in Birmingham they were seen as the best of the fleets procured, although most parts were common across all fleets. 2 x 2 seating and end doors provide a comfortable environment, although the opening windows mean they could not be said to provide a truly “inter-city” environment. The Cummins NT855 213kW (285 hp) engines, with Voith Transmissio and Gmeinder final drive were used on all the “Sprinter” series because of their reliability and long service intervals. 228 vehicles were built of this steel bodied, 23 metre long design.