Class 730 LNR & WMR Delivery/test Updates

[TRAX]

Is it just me, or does the side window for the driver on the right look bigger on 730001 than on 730002?

You are right. Also, the camera is located in front of it on 001, and behind it on 002.
It’s one of the few differences between the two units.

 

[Domh245]

It’s one of the few differences between the two units.

I think that it's effectively a whole new lower front end on 001. There's a side window on the offside (plus larger and repositioned on driver's side), as well as a recess around the windscreen wiper mounts which are the most obvious differences to me but it looks fairly subtle all-in-all

It does seem like they've essentially moved the whole lower front end forward (presumably the original cab was too small/cramped?) which explains the modifications in that area and presumably longer anti-ride/crush beams

 

[Liam L]

Is it just me, or does the side window for the driver on the right look bigger on 730001 than on 730002?

Yes. 730002 should look the same soon (most likely already does) as it went back to Derby for new cabs earlier in the year.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Oct 2021 ==

Are any of the units being tested around Birmingham yet?

Only between Crewe - Nuneaton atm I believe.

002 ran multiple tests back earlier in the year through Birmingham.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Ah yes, another useless scrolling mini-display.

To be fair the front ones aren't of that much value in a world of platform PIS at every station they will serve. The ones on the side are more use for a confirmatory check once it's stopped.

Arguably if PRM-TSI didn't require them there'd be no reason to even bother.

Notably the displays on the old WCML 321s didn't work half the time, and to be honest just "Northampton" or "London Euston" doesn't really tell you that much given that that's usually fairly obvious from the direction of travel.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

E-class trams much?

Even the HCMT:

 

[Phillipimo]

New British train fleets to enter service two years late

Two new British fleets that were due to enter traffic in 2020 will start carrying passengers from next year, two years later than planned.

www.railjournal.com

West Midlands Trains (WMT) has 26 CAF class 196 Civity DMUs and 81 Alstom (formerly Bombardier Transportation) class 730 Aventra EMUs on order, a total of 333 vehicles. Abellio has operated WMT since December 2017.

“The delayed introduction of both fleets is down to the impact of Covid-19, both on the manufacturing and testing processes and also on driver training,” says WMT spokesman, Mr Andrew McGill.

WMT has three sub-classes of the Alstom class 730 EMU on order, with 36 three-car sets due to have begun entering service from May 3 2020, followed by two five-car fleets entering traffic from October 18 2020. All should have been service by May 2 2021. These EMUs are from the Aventra design, with the order placed with Bombardier Transportation prior to its sale.

Testing of the class 730s has begun, but from an order of 81 trains only seven have been completed.

“Progress is continuing, and we are expecting the first class 730/0 unit into passenger service towards the end of 2022 / beginning of 2023,” says McGill. “These three-car units will serve the Cross City Line (Lichfield Birmingham – Bromsgrove/Redditch).” He gave no date for the five-car EMUs.

 

[ABB125]

New British train fleets to enter service two years late

Two new British fleets that were due to enter traffic in 2020 will start carrying passengers from next year, two years later than planned.

www.railjournal.com

Surely introduction of the first unit by the end of 2022 can't be right? That's a year away, and they're already being tested now (and have been for some time).

 

[Domh245]

Surely introduction of the first unit by the end of 2022 can't be right? That's a year away, and they're already being tested now (and have been for some time).

It strikes me as realistic - in one year they've got to finish type testing and get them accepted by WMR, build enough units and have them complete fault free running, plus training of enough drivers and other staff. As it notes, only seven trains have been built, across both the WMR and LNWR fleets, with the latter WMR units having a completely different cab to the first unit that emerged. If nothing else, experience at GA and SWR shows that this process will drag on beyond any hope of reasonable-worst-case

 

[Liam L]

Surely introduction of the first unit by the end of 2022 can't be right? That's a year away, and they're already being tested now (and have been for some time).

No they haven’t. They only started mile runs 2 - 3 weeks ago.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Think I saw a 730 at Kings Norton en route to Redditch earlier!

 

[ABB125]

Think I saw a 730 at Kings Norton en route to Redditch earlier!

You did, some test runs are happening today. Unfortunately I'm unable to see them

 

[ValleyLines142]

You did, some test runs are happening today. Unfortunately I'm unable to see them

I didn't know they were happening either, I'm currently on a little bus/train bash around the West Midlands.

 

[01d-and]

RTT gave a "clue" suggesting it was a Class 345 working . LOL.

 

[warwickshire]

730001 today Tuesday 23rd November 2021.
And solo was doing test runs between redditch and bromsgrove and Birmingham new Street in particular.
The 1255 from bromsgrove to gibbet Hill Junction called at barnt green and tested the doors open and close whilst closed in the station.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

It strikes me as realistic - in one year they've got to finish type testing and get them accepted by WMR, build enough units and have them complete fault free running, plus training of enough drivers and other staff. As it notes, only seven trains have been built, across both the WMR and LNWR fleets, with the latter WMR units having a completely different cab to the first unit that emerged. If nothing else, experience at GA and SWR shows that this process will drag on beyond any hope of reasonable-worst-case

Unfortunately I suspect your assessment will probably turn out to be realistic but these should be production run trains that just roll off the line get commissioned and tested at Derby and are straight into traffic. EasyJet send a crew out to Hamburg who fly a 320 back to Luton its in traffic the next day not 10,000miles fault free not even 1 mile thats where the industry needs to get to. This is an issue for GBR to resolve with the operators, unions and the manufacturer and by the time GBR is in the driving seat.

 

[Wyrleybart]

730001 today Tuesday 23rd November 2021.
And solo was doing test runs between redditch and bromsgrove and Birmingham new Street in particular.
The 1255 from bromsgrove to gibbet Hill Junction called at barnt green and tested the doors open and close whilst closed in the station.

That is a bit strange. Gibbet Hill Jn wasn't wired the last time I went over it. Might it be Coventry South yard where the unit changes ends ?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Unfortunately I suspect your assessment will probably turn out to be realistic but these should be production run trains that just roll off the line get commissioned and tested at Derby and are straight into traffic. EasyJet send a crew out to Hamburg who fly a 320 back to Luton its in traffic the next day not 10,000miles fault free not even 1 mile thats where the industry needs to get to. This is an issue for GBR to resolve with the operators, unions and the manufacturer and by the time GBR is in the driving seat.

Pretty sure that a plane has plenty of flying hours in testing prior to being delivered to the client. Not as if it's rolled out of the factory, received it's paint job and given to EJ to fly.

 

[warwickshire]

That is a bit strange. Gibbet Hill Jn wasn't wired the last time I went over it. Might it be Coventry South yard where the unit changes ends ?

Yes that's correct it was only what the move on www.realtimetrains.co.uk was showing for reference.

 

[mightyena]

Is it not about the left window? I think I can just about make out ‘Not in Service’.

Don't you mean:

Not in servic
e

 

[K.o.R]

Another day, another hideous black-fronted train. At least make the corridor panel orange to match!

 

[Chiltern006]

002 been branded up

 

[Mollman]

Unfortunately I suspect your assessment will probably turn out to be realistic but these should be production run trains that just roll off the line get commissioned and tested at Derby and are straight into traffic. EasyJet send a crew out to Hamburg who fly a 320 back to Luton its in traffic the next day not 10,000miles fault free not even 1 mile thats where the industry needs to get to. This is an issue for GBR to resolve with the operators, unions and the manufacturer and by the time GBR is in the driving seat.

https://thepointsguy.co.uk/news/service-with-new-plane-model/

As the assembly line ramps up and each new aircraft destined for an airline or corporate customer rolls out, it undergoes production and customer flight tests that conclude with the granting of an Airworthiness Certificate that’s unique to each new plane.

 

[Covshire1]

Yes that's correct it was only what the move on www.realtimetrains.co.uk was showing for reference.

It ran to ground signal 1525, then back into Coventry via the cross over. Didn't get anywhere near Gibbet Hill Jct thankfully!

 

[warwickshire]

Today Friday the 10th December 2021.
Saw 37510 and 37611 with the rail operations group barrier vehicles on the
537G 1119 old dalby to oxley car md sidings move take 730003 back to oxley from old dalby.

 

[dereksingh291]

will the 730s be maintained at oxley and soho depots when they enter service between 2022 and 2023?

 

[Liam L]

will the 730s be maintained at oxley and soho depots when they enter service between 2022 and 2023?

I think they are just at Oxley for testing, I think Soho will be there main base

 

[Wyrleybart]

will the 730s be maintained at oxley and soho depots when they enter service between 2022 and 2023?

Good question. Duddeston was chosen then abandoned, then Bescot was chosen, but since then nothing.
Need to remember that Soho cannot manage two different fleets and look at what happened at Crown Point Norwich when GA tried to manage the withdrawal of Mk3 stock and locos, 150s 153s 170s etc AND accept 755s. They had to build the Mid Norfolk railway some new sidings for a start.

My guess is that Oxley will have some involvement, possibly temporarily until the 323s have been handed back.

 

[warwickshire]

Good afternoon 543H 1155 old dalby to oxley car md move today was 37611 Van's with 730101 lnwr livery 22 early leaving old dalby coming through melton mowbray earlier on.
However 730101 back at oxley.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Dec 2021 ==

Good afternoon another move today 592H 1155 old dalby with 37611 and same barrier vehicles saw 730103 being delivered to oxley 25 minutes late at Wolverhampton.
730103 now at oxley as well.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Dec 2021 ==

Ie 592h 1155 old dalby to oxley car md Depot.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Dec 2021 ==

Tuesday 14th December 2021 for 730103.

 

[childwallblues]

Good afternoon 543H 1155 old dalby to oxley car md move today was 37611 Van's with 730101 lnwr livery 22 early leaving old dalby coming through melton mowbray earlier on.
However 730101 back at oxley.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Dec 2021 ==

Good afternoon another move today 592H 1155 old dalby with 37611 and same barrier vehicles saw 730103 being delivered to oxley 25 minutes late at Wolverhampton.
730103 now at oxley as well.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Dec 2021 ==

Ie 592h 1155 old dalby to oxley car md Depot.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Dec 2021 ==

Tuesday 14th December 2021 for 730103.

730001 + 730003 were on test today between Crewe and Nuneaton. Saw them at Stafford three times were they were using P1 and P3 to dest the doors

 

[warwickshire]

730001 + 730003 were on test today between Crewe and Nuneaton. Saw them at Stafford three times were they were using P1 and P3 to dest the doors

Yes. 730001 saw at barnt green also approximately 3 weeks ago on test on solo workings also called and tested the doors.
Just maybe possible and potentially we could also just see 730101 and 730103 on test maybe? Very soon in lnwr green now they are at oxley.
Especially as 730003 only arrived Friday the 10th December 2021. And straight into testing.