LM 350/2 on Cross City Line

[sprinterguy]

At 9:16am on Monday morning, I saw a London Midland 350/2 pass through Aston station on the northern half of the Birmingham Cross City line, heading towards New Street. This is the first time that I have seen a 350 on the Cross City line, and I'm just curious to know if this was an ordinary ECS move, or something a bit more peculiar; a trial for a potential 350/3 order to replace the 323s perhaps? If anyone has any info, I'd love to know.

 

[the sniper]

At 9:16am on Monday morning, I saw a London Midland 350/2 pass through Aston station on the northern half of the Birmingham Cross City line, heading towards New Street. This is the first time that I have seen a 350 on the Cross City line, and I'm just curious to know if this was an ordinary ECS move, or something a bit more peculiar; a trial for a potential 350/3 order to replace the 323s perhaps? If anyone has any info, I'd love to know.

Interesting. Are you sure it didn't come off the line from Walsall/Wolverhampton instead of the Cross City line though?

I'd love to see 350/2's running on the cross city line, I was only thinking about it on Monday while waiting for my train out of New Street. It'll be somewhat ironic if a 350/2 was running on the Cross City line that day!

 

[sprinterguy]

It could have come from the Walsall line, I was actually walking along Aston Road, at the south end of the station, so didn't see which line it had come into Aston on unfortunately. Even if it did come from the Walsall line I am still curious to know what it was up to, I haven't seen a 350 coming from either line round the Aston area before.

 

[thewolf]

I suspect it was probably coming from Walsall...

I know there is one scheduled Desiro service in the early morning (giving a 'direct' Walsall - Liverpool train at about 7am), but I've seen them pop up during the daytime on a few occasions, presumably in place of a broken 323.

 

[blue87]

The 0901 Walsall - New St is often a 350

 

[TDK]

At 9:16am on Monday morning, I saw a London Midland 350/2 pass through Aston station on the northern half of the Birmingham Cross City line, heading towards New Street. This is the first time that I have seen a 350 on the Cross City line, and I'm just curious to know if this was an ordinary ECS move, or something a bit more peculiar; a trial for a potential 350/3 order to replace the 323s perhaps? If anyone has any info, I'd love to know.

I have seen 350 on a regular basis on this route, I never bother looking at the destination, I'll have a look next time. You sometimes get them running Aston - Stechford - International as well I think these are ECS moves

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I think you'll find it's the Birmingham International service...

 

[The Planner]

I think you'll find it's the Birmingham International service...

Via Aston ? I hope not !!

 

[BlythPower]

It's from Walsall to New Street (dunno where it goes after that...), it's a nailed on 350 Mon-Fri and is usually (tho not quite always) a /1.

 

[bnsf734]

From the diagrams (available on UK modern EMU Yahoo group)

It works the 08:17 New Street - Walsall arr 08:44
09:01 Walsall - New Street arr 09:28
09:36 New Street - Liverpool Lime Street

Mon - friday

Calv (LM 350's seem popular this morning....)

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Via Aston ? I hope not !!

I've often seen 321s and 350s running a service off peak that starts / terminates at International and runs via Aston; never really bothered to find out where it goes to though - I'd thought it was Walsall?

 

[Geezertronic]

I've often seen 321s and 350s running a service off peak that starts / terminates at International and runs via Aston; never really bothered to find out where it goes to though - I'd thought it was Walsall?

I thought they used to run this but stopped the service a while back?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

How long ago were they supposed to have stopped it? I'm sure I saw a 321 or a 350 ( can't remember which now! ) at International with the destination saying "International" earlier this year.

 

[Geezertronic]

How long ago were they supposed to have stopped it? I'm sure I saw a 321 or a 350 ( can't remember which now! ) at International with the destination saying "International" earlier this year.

Not saying you're wrong but LM do terminate and start some services from International

 

[sprinterguy]

Thanks for the info guys, one personal mystery solved!

 

[Old Hill Bank]

At 9:16am on Monday morning, I saw a London Midland 350/2 pass through Aston station on the northern half of the Birmingham Cross City line, heading towards New Street. This is the first time that I have seen a 350 on the Cross City line, and I'm just curious to know if this was an ordinary ECS move, or something a bit more peculiar; a trial for a potential 350/3 order to replace the 323s perhaps? If anyone has any info, I'd love to know.

I catch it most mornings at 08 04 from Galton Bridge on it's way to Walsall, it's a 350/1 most days

 

[Mojo]

There is an hourly New Street to International service calling all stops except Marston Green, so LM services do terminate there, but there is no direct Aston - International service.

 

[Old Hill Bank]

There is an hourly New Street to International service calling all stops except Marston Green, so LM services do terminate there, but there is no direct Aston - International service.

Thanks for that, but the question has been answered.
PS three 350's/hour from NS to inter and beyond.