Class 730 LNR & WMR Delivery/test Updates

[rogercov]

It looks like two have appeared at Camden C.S.D, possibly as 5C99 from Bletchley yesterday (22 Aug). Maybe this was to make space for the arrival of 214 and 224.
Does anyone know which ones are now at Camden?

 

[KT550]

It looks like two have appeared at Camden C.S.D, possibly as 5C99 from Bletchley yesterday (22 Aug). Maybe this was to make space for the arrival of 214 and 224.
Does anyone know which ones are now at Camden?

Don't know if they were the units on 5C99 but 730232 and 730233 were on the western side at Camden 12:10 yesterday.

 

[rogercov]

Don't know if they were the units on 5C99 but 730232 and 730233 were on the western side at Camden 12:10 yesterday.

Thanks. They must be the ones as those sidings were empty earlier in the week.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is there a problem with the 730/2s? They look not to have been out yesterday or today, and there are a load of 4 cars out when there are very few 4 car diagrams south of Northampton? Or is it just that Realtime Trains has a bug and so is not showing them?

 

[nigelsporne]

There have been no details of the 730/2s on RTT for the past couple of days at the Euston end. Why I don't know. This morning it was 230 and 205 and later 211 and 231.

 

[rogercov]

Is there a problem with the 730/2s? They look not to have been out yesterday or today, and there are a load of 4 cars out when there are very few 4 car diagrams south of Northampton? Or is it just that Realtime Trains has a bug and so is not showing them?

2 x 10-car were on the usual services yesterday but RTT didn't report the unit numbers. I suspect that this information was not shared by the ToC. It looks like it may be the same today.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Aug 2025 ==

It was the same on the Liverpool-Birmingham services. There were 6 730/2s out yesterday but only 3 were reported on RTT. Today it looks like none are being reported. It looks like London Northwestern have stopped providing this information (hopefully only temporarily).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Aug 2025 ==

UPDATE: It looks like the London Northwestern allocations for yesterday and today mysteriously appeared on RTT at around 10am today. Problem solved!

 

[mansonlo49]

besides，5Q77 today 730209 delivered from Gascoigne wood to Bletchley。but strangely pathed as 800 tonnes

 

[Russel]

Got to try a LNWR 730 on Tuesday night, only from Crewe to Stafford unfortunately, I have to say I do like them and I'll personally be glad to seem them enter service on the Trent Valley in place of the 350/2s.

Is there any recent updates on when they will start to appear on Trent Valley services?

 

[mansonlo49]

Got to try a LNWR 730 on Tuesday night, only from Crewe to Stafford unfortunately, I have to say I do like them and I'll personally be glad to seem them enter service on the Trent Valley in place of the 350/2s.

Is there any recent updates on when they will start to appear on Trent Valley services?

been on many journeys of them which quite impressed me, would definitely want to see them on Trent services too

 

[FrontSideBus]

The declassified "first class" compartment certainly has better seats than the standard but I'd say it would not be worth the price of an upgrade!
I'll certainly be sitting here from now on when I do the Liverpool to Birmingham run rather than the bolt-upright normal ones which are horrific!

 

[Bletchleyite]

The declassified "first class" compartment certainly has better seats than the standard but I'd say it would not be worth the price of an upgrade!

That area (like SWR's sham first) is just a reasonably high quality Standard environment. It's basically the same as the Class 197 interior bar that it has window blinds, or slightly better than the standard IET interior. It has acceptable Standard legroom (unlike the Standard centre sections) but is nothing that special. Oh for the whole train being to that standard!

It's certainly where I'm going to sit (unlike the 350s where "first class" is inferior to the Standard end sections). I'd not pay extra for it though, if I was going to pay extra it'd be to go on Avanti and get there faster as well as in more comfort.

 

[MalaiseForever]

The declassified "first class" compartment certainly has better seats than the standard but I'd say it would not be worth the price of an upgrade!
I'll certainly be sitting here from now on when I doo the Liverpool to Birmingham run rather than the bolt-upright normal ones which are horrific!

Had my 1st journey in the "first class" section and agree it was a big improvement (and should be what the whole train is fitted out with). What was very poor was the broken announcements, constantly telling people to move forward and causing a lot of confusion and worry with passengers. No sign of a guard or any announcements from staff to counter this.

 

[Bletchleyite]

No sign of a guard or any announcements from staff to counter this.

Bletchley guard perchance?

 

[FrontSideBus]

That area (like SWR's sham first) is just a reasonably high quality Standard environment. It's basically the same as the Class 197 interior bar that it has window blinds. It has acceptable Standard legroom (unlike the Standard centre sections) but is nothing that special. Oh for the whole train being to that standard!

I did at first think they are just the same as TFW's 197 standard seats but then I worked out that the seat bases slide forward so you can sit back a little more.

Also for such new trains, there does seem to be an awful lot of rattles going on when at 110!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I did a first think they are just the same as TFW's standard seats but then I worked out that the seat bases slide forward so you can sit back a little more.

Sorry, yes, forgot the tiny amount of recline!

For those more familiar with that it's not hugely different from Class 700 first class, though the seats are slightly different (they appear to be a newer version of the Fainsa Sophia).

 

[FrontSideBus]

These things have got quite a bit of poke!

 

[Russel]

The declassified "first class" compartment certainly has better seats than the standard but I'd say it would not be worth the price of an upgrade!
I'll certainly be sitting here from now on when I do the Liverpool to Birmingham run rather than the bolt-upright normal ones which are horrific!

Similar to the 350s then, not worth the first class ticket price at all, glad it's been abolished.

 

[MalaiseForever]

Bletchley guard perchance?

Doubt it, this was a New Street - Liverpool service!

 

[rogercov]

Additional 10-car 730/2 diagram today from Bletchley. That's 3 x 10-car in service.

Started as 730215 only:
2N04 0503 NMP-EUS
2K05 0639 EUS-MKC

Then joined at MKC by 730230:
2K06 0800 MKC-EUS
2T23 0924 EUS-TRI
2T24 1015 TRI-EUS
2K23 1109 EUS-MKC
2K24 1230 MKC-EUS
2T41 1354 EUS-TRI
2T42 1445 TRI-EUS
2K41 1539 EUS-MKC
2K42 1658 MKC-EUS
2T65 1824 EUS-TRI
2T66 1916 TRI-EUS
2K59 2009 EUS-MKC
2K60 2127 MKC-EUS
2K73 2309 EUS-MKC

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Birmingham - Euston route should see some 10 car sets (or 12 car 350) working in the not too distant future

 

[778]

Birmingham - Euston route should see some 10 car sets (or 12 car 350) working in the not too distant future

I thought that the 730/2s could not be used on Birmingham - Euston services?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I thought that the 730/2s could not be used on Birmingham - Euston services?

I don't think it was ever said they couldn't. Just that the plan was to stick to 350s, hence working towards 12 car diagrams.

It's definitely in the mix now, confirmed in the latest weekly update from the MD.

 

[nigelsporne]

Once the 730/2s start to operate on the Trent Valley will it be in pairs? I recently tried this service and was surprised at the patronage.
Some one up thread mentioned this was mooted for September.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Once the 730/2s start to operate on the Trent Valley will it be in pairs? I recently tried this service and was surprised at the patronage.
Some one up thread mentioned this was mooted for September.

Mostly pairs, probably some single set diagrams mixed in.

Single unit would be rather cosy for most services

 

[Bletchleyite]

Mostly pairs, probably some single set diagrams mixed in.

Single unit would be rather cosy for most services

The only place where single units would seem to make sense bar Liverpool-Brum and a few of the peak extras which can be a bit quiet (a single set would be fine for the 0656 Bletchley-Euston for instance, though whatever that works back may be busier) is probably the Tring/MKC local circuit during the day, but I don't know if they'd decide to keep them doubled for simplicity just as the 350s mostly are now.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

The only place where single units would seem to make sense bar Liverpool-Brum and a few of the peak extras which can be a bit quiet (a single set would be fine for the 0656 Bletchley-Euston for instance, though whatever that works back may be busier) is probably the Tring/MKC local circuit during the day, but I don't know if they'd decide to keep them doubled for simplicity just as the 350s mostly are now.

I'm thinking there may be a split at Euston for the last Crewe service

 

[778]

It's definitely in the mix now, confirmed in the latest weekly update from the MD

If they do work Euston - Birmingham the maps on the 730/2s will need to be changed as they do not show the Northampton - Birmingham route.

 

[Russel]

Mostly pairs, probably some single set diagrams mixed in.

Single unit would be rather cosy for most services

Single 350s make an occasional guest appearance on the Trent Valley, cosy isn't the word...

 

[Silverlinky]

Plans to introduce 730/2's to Birmingham from w/c 15th September at the weekends, with M-F operation from w/c 29th September. 12 car 350 operation north of Northampton to Birmingham is also planned from this date.

10th November is the date now for planned introduction onto the Trent Valley line, with one of the early morning starters from Northampton switching from 350's.

 

[mansonlo49]

Plans to introduce 730/2's to Birmingham from w/c 15th September at the weekends, with M-F operation from w/c 29th September. 12 car 350 operation north of Northampton to Birmingham is also planned from this date.

10th November is the date now for planned introduction onto the Trent Valley line, with one of the early morning starters from Northampton switching from 350's.

Trent Valley deferred to November??