Class 730 LNR & WMR Delivery/test Updates

[800001]

Today seen 730220+730230 paired, is it the first day for 230? Thanks

Yes, first day for 730230.

 

[mansonlo49]

Yes, first day for 730230.

Thank you

 

[AJDesiro]

Is there any news on whether the 730/2 will be starting on the Liverpool’s tomorrow as stated upthread?

 

[rogercov]

Is there any news on whether the 730/2 will be starting on the Liverpool’s tomorrow as stated upthread?

It looks like 730233 + 730234 are currently on the way from Bletchley to Crewe (empty) as 5U30.
Could this be in preparation for them starting on the Liverpool services later this week, or even the EUS-CRE services? Both of these units have already been in passenger service in the London area.

 

[Kite159]

If the union isn't happy about them working to Liverpool due to the guard having to do the doors from the passenger area, wouldn't the same be true for the London - Crewe services for Rugeley & Atherstone with the guard needing to do the doors from the passenger area if the rear of coach 5 is off the platform?

 

[87015]

If the union isn't happy about them working to Liverpool due to the guard having to do the doors from the passenger area, wouldn't the same be true for the London - Crewe services for Rugeley & Atherstone with the guard needing to do the doors from the passenger area if the rear of coach 5 is off the platform?

Only if the platforms have suddenly shrunk, try again with your dig elsewhere!

 

[Kite159]

Only if the platforms have suddenly shrunk, try again with your dig elsewhere!

Can Atherstone take a 5 coach 730 without the need of SDO?

Sadly some LNR guards don't do themselves any favours by hiding away in middle cabs, making zero announcements (even in some cases leaving the passenger information system displaying "we are now approaching London Euston" from the previous journey nor any effort to make themselves known to the customers.

 

[AJDesiro]

Can Atherstone take a 5 coach 730 without the need of SDO?

Sadly some LNR guards don't do themselves any favours by hiding away in middle cabs, making zero announcements (even in some cases leaving the passenger information system displaying "we are now approaching London Euston" from the previous journey nor any effort to make themselves known to the customers.

Atherstone’s shortest platform is 122m, so it can take a full 5 car 730, just.

Generally the Crewe services have some of the best guards on WMT, at least for being seen and doing announcements, I see the guards on those quite frequently.

I believe the 350 PIS screens being frozen is just because the screens added in the refurb are so unreliable, they randomly freeze all the time. As far as the PIS goes, the dot matrix screens and automatic announcements are turned on far more often than they used to be at the start of the franchise.

On a side note, I don’t think I’ve been on a 730 where the PIS wasn’t working.

 

[45076]

It looks like 730233 + 730234 are currently on the way from Bletchley to Crewe (empty) as 5U30.
Could this be in preparation for them starting on the Liverpool services later this week, or even the EUS-CRE services? Both of these units have already been in passenger service in the London area.

they might just be rotating the sets

 

[sonic2009]

When was the plan for the class to appear on London-Crewe services?

 

[AJDesiro]

When was the plan for the class to appear on London-Crewe services?

September.

 

[childwallblues]

It looks like 730233 + 730234 are currently on the way from Bletchley to Crewe (empty) as 5U30.
Could this be in preparation for them starting on the Liverpool services later this week, or even the EUS-CRE services? Both of these units have already been in passenger service in the London area.

Noted them on RTT earlier. The 730s of both versions have been regular visitors to Liverpool on test so it will be good to have them in service at last.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

If the union isn't happy about them working to Liverpool due to the guard having to do the doors from the passenger area, wouldn't the same be true for the London - Crewe services for Rugeley & Atherstone with the guard needing to do the doors from the passenger area if the rear of coach 5 is off the platform?

This dispute has been resolved (temporarily).

Services will start soon on the New St - Liverpool line.

Trent Valley will launch later in the year.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Jul 2025 ==

Can Atherstone take a 5 coach 730 without the need of SDO?

Sadly some LNR guards don't do themselves any favours by hiding away in middle cabs, making zero announcements (even in some cases leaving the passenger information system displaying "we are now approaching London Euston" from the previous journey nor any effort to make themselves known to the customers.

The guards do not set up the PA systems.

 

[sonic2009]

September.

Thanks, flying out of London Heathrow on the 5th October (Sunday) so may choose to take LNWR to London instead of Avanti from Crewe if I can get a 730.

 

[HJ10001]

When will the 730's start on the Liverpool to Birmingham services?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

When will the 730's start on the Liverpool to Birmingham services?

21st July will see 2 of the 8 trains switch to 730/2.
2 more will swap on 4th August.
2 more will swap on 18th August.
2 350s will remain.

All 730/2 will run as single, 5 coach, sets

*Edit*

There will be a 10 car set for ECS moves on Saturday mornings from the 27th, 5F03 Crewe to Lime St. That's the only 10 car due to be out of anyone does want to see a double set.

 

[childwallblues]

21st July will see 2 of the 8 trains switch to 730/2.
2 more will swap on 4th August.
2 more will swap on 18th August.
2 350s will remain.

All 730/2 will run as single, 5 coach, sets

*Edit*

There will be a 10 car set for ECS moves on Saturday mornings from the 27th, 5F03 Crewe to Lime St. That's the only 10 car due to be out of anyone does want to see a double set.

Saturday is 26th. 5F03 according to RTT is 0459 off Crewe into Lime Street 0533 P10. These no doubt will form the 0607 and 0633 to Birmingham New Street.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Saturday is 26th. 5F03 according to RTT is 0459 off Crewe into Lime Street 0533 P10. These no doubt will form the 0607 and 0633 to Birmingham New Street.

Apologies, early morning post. Saturday 26th is correct. Yes those of the services formed from 5F03

 

[mansonlo49]

21st July will see 2 of the 8 trains switch to 730/2.
2 more will swap on 4th August.
2 more will swap on 18th August.
2 350s will remain.

All 730/2 will run as single, 5 coach, sets

*Edit*

There will be a 10 car set for ECS moves on Saturday mornings from the 27th, 5F03 Crewe to Lime St. That's the only 10 car due to be out of anyone does want to see a double set.

will this be temporarily or long term? As I remember somewhere in this thread said it was short term

 

[SCDR_WMR]

will this be temporarily or long term? As I remember somewhere in this thread said it was short term

It's on a trial basis until December pending feedback/reports. Supposedly going back to 350s but I doubt they will.

 

[mansonlo49]

It's on a trial basis until December pending feedback/reports. Supposedly going back to 350s but I doubt they will.

thanks so this means long term use

 

[The_Train]

Can Atherstone take a 5 coach 730 without the need of SDO?

Sadly some LNR guards don't do themselves any favours by hiding away in middle cabs, making zero announcements (even in some cases leaving the passenger information system displaying "we are now approaching London Euston" from the previous journey nor any effort to make themselves known to the customers.

Surely Atherstone being able to take 5 coaches is a moot point anyway as they will be operating as 10 car trains on the Crewe-Euston's anyway?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Surely Atherstone being able to take 5 coaches is a moot point anyway as they will be operating as 10 car trains on the Crewe-Euston's anyway?

If they can fit a full 5 car, them the guard has a cab on the platform if it's a 10 car.

 

[The_Train]

If they can fit a full 5 car, them the guard has a cab on the platform if it's a 10 car.

Oh, is that all they are bothered about? Having to come out of the cab to open doors

It's a tough life working on the railway

 

[Bletchleyite]

Oh, is that all they are bothered about? Having to come out of the cab to open doors

It's a tough life working on the railway

These services are often a hive of antisocial behaviour, to be fair, and staff want to be able to stay safe away from it. This is a bit different from the Bletchley depot "hiding in the cab" issue where ASB during the day is pretty much unknown and even the evening services aren't that bad.

Edit: also as below, hadn't realised it was so bad they couldn't even get to the saloon if they wanted to!

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Oh, is that all they are bothered about? Having to come out of the cab to open doors

It's a tough life working on the railway

The issue on the Liverpool route is that the current 4 car 350s are that overcrowded regularly that the conductor can't physically get from the cab to the saloon.

This isn't a problem with UDS operation as if the train is a double set and suitably rammed (football/Aintree/etc) they can operate the doors no issue.

As the 730s use ASDO, the requirement changes to being at a door with a GOP that is occupied on the platform rather than in the cab. For stations such as Winsford there is the very real possibility that the conductor cannot get to that door and release the train doors. This is what has taken time to work through.

The end point being a decision is taken at Crewe or Runcorn whether it will be possible to open doors at the stations with shorter platforms than the train.

It's very easy to sit here and say boo hoo to the conductors who raised valid safety points, especially as the company now agree and have put in place a new process, it's very different when working such trains given the generally very poor behaviour onboard on that line, the staff assaults and alcohol fuelled aggression witnessed by nigh on every train crew member at my depot.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The end point being a decision is taken at Crewe or Runcorn whether it will be possible to open doors at the stations with shorter platforms than the train.

If the decision is made not to and it is a late evening train, what is put in place for passengers for those stations? I assume a taxi would be provided from the following station?

 

[childwallblues]

If the decision is made not to and it is a late evening train, what is put in place for passengers for those stations? I assume a taxi would be provided from the following station?

Winsford is the big problem on the line. A 350 just fits and the use of /2 units does not help.

 

[setdown]

The issue on the Liverpool route is that the current 4 car 350s are that overcrowded regularly that the conductor can't physically get from the cab to the saloon.

This isn't a problem with UDS operation as if the train is a double set and suitably rammed (football/Aintree/etc) they can operate the doors no issue.

As the 730s use ASDO, the requirement changes to being at a door with a GOP that is occupied on the platform rather than in the cab. For stations such as Winsford there is the very real possibility that the conductor cannot get to that door and release the train doors. This is what has taken time to work through.

The end point being a decision is taken at Crewe or Runcorn whether it will be possible to open doors at the stations with shorter platforms than the train.

It's very easy to sit here and say boo hoo to the conductors who raised valid safety points, especially as the company now agree and have put in place a new process, it's very different when working such trains given the generally very poor behaviour onboard on that line, the staff assaults and alcohol fuelled aggression witnessed by nigh on every train crew member at my depot.

If behaviour on this line is an issue, why was strike action threatened when London Midland (as was back then) tried putting additional security staff on the train? I would have thought that would be welcomed by onboard staff.

 

[The_Train]

In other 730 news, 730231 is showing as being on https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L33507/2025-07-16/detailed later.

A first outing, I believe