services to and from Liverpool Street and Kings Cross. They had been transferred from the Western region with a view to running a Kings Cross - Cambridge all DMU service. A delay in introducing new trains to the London region from the Chiltern area saw the 116 pressed into service to fill the gap. Later use The 116 fleet and its variants were extensively refurbished in the late 1970s. The carriages were renovated with new interiors including gangways, improved lighting and improvements to the onboard heating. The work was awarded to BR Swindon. The type was subsequently seen in use everywhere from Tyneside to Devon. Still in extensive use across the West Midlands during the 1980s, eventually the 116s were joined by brand new Class 150 trains beginning in 1984, with the aim of phasing out the older DMU. By the early 1990s, the 116 units had aged to the point where hybrid sets were created from available serviceable stock. The 116 had originally been designed for short-distance commuter services, so did not have a toilet. Hybrid sets usually had a toilet to overcome this problem. They stayed in regular service until 1990, when they began to be withdrawn from traffic along with other first generation types. The age of the trains along with concerns about corrosion and the asbestos used during the initial building and subsequent renovations were the reasons given. They were gradually replaced on regional services by the new "Sprinter" derivative units, or by Class 323 electric multiple units on services around Birmingham, with several units still being used until the final day of diesel running before electrification. The remaining units in use were transferred to Tyseley depot to partially replace the retired 114 and their workings in Lincolnshire. The final units lasted in traffic until around June 1995. However, a few saw further use in departmental service, as sandite or route-learner units. Several of this class have been saved for preservation. Accidents and incidents On 16 November 1960, W50083/W59033/W50125 which was operating a journey from Neath to Treherbert when the leading car, W50125 was struck by a runaway coal train headed by ex-GWR pannier tank 9737, on the single line track at Pontrhydyfen Junction. The driver was killed. On 11 June 1974, Set 152 was involved in a fatal accident at Pollokshield East when it was in collision with Class 311 EMU no 108. The cab