Class 730 LNR & WMR Delivery/test Updates

[800001]

I noticed today that whilst on my 730 to Crewe we stopped at Penkridge. Normally on a 350 they would announce to move up the train to get off because the train doesn't fit the platform. On the 730 today there was no announcement due to platform length.

Have they extended Penkridge station to suit the 730s or not? Why was there no announcement?

Were you in the coach that would not fit the platform?
On new trains that announcement would only play in the affected carriage, ie carriage 8 might play the announcement.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Were you in the coach that would not fit the platform?
On new trains that announcement would only play in the affected carriage, ie carriage 8 might play the announcement.

I was in Carriage 1 of 5. It only plays in certain Carriages then?

 

[800001]

I was in Carriage 1 of 5. It only plays in certain Carriages then?

Yes, it will only play in the carriage where the doors will not open.

Same as class 345 and on London Underground.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Yes, it will only play in the carriage where the doors will not open.

Same as class 345 and on London Underground.

I've learnt something new then. Thank you very much.

 

[JonathanH]

When are the 730/0s expected to leave WCML local services?

At present they seem to fulfil a useful purpose of being able to fit in platform 10 at Euston and not being only 5 coaches long. They also don't seem to be needed right now in the West Midlands.

 

[Kite159]

I see what people meant about the 'artwork' on the side of 730228, looks horrible.

The occupancy loading displays are a bit ropey, in saying a coach is 'full' when it's barely half full

 

[Peeled Apples]

I noticed today that whilst on my 730 to Crewe we stopped at Penkridge. Normally on a 350 they would announce to move up the train to get off because the train doesn't fit the platform. On the 730 today there was no announcement due to platform length.

Have they extended Penkridge station to suit the 730s or not? Why was there no announcement?

I'm at Stafford waiting for a 730 to take me to the latest disaster at Molineux the monitor says front three coaches for Penkridge. The announcement on the train says front four coaches.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

I'm at Stafford waiting for a 730 to take me to the latest disaster at Molineux the monitor says front three coaches for Penkridge. The announcement on the train says front four coaches.

Not great giving you mix messages.

 

[Bald Rick]

I'm at Stafford waiting for a 730 to take me to the latest disaster at Molineux the monitor says front three coaches for Penkridge. The announcement on the train says front four coaches.

You should have alighted at Penkridge

 

[Pumbaa]

I'm at Stafford waiting for a 730 to take me to the latest disaster at Molineux the monitor says front three coaches for Penkridge. The announcement on the train says front four coaches.

Both are right. ASDO can be by door. For Penkridge it is, so 3 full carriages and the first set of doors on the fourth open.

 

[Peeled Apples]

Both are right. ASDO can be by door. For Penkridge it is, so 3 full carriages and the first set of doors on the fourth open.

Thanks for that I forgot that they had ASDO. I’m that used to 350s round here and it being front four carriages at short platforms.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Oct 2025 ==

You should have alighted at Penkridge

I was in coach five so there was no way to escape

 

[Bigvernicus]

As regards Liverpool services it seems one 730/2 service to Birmingham NS then runs empty to Soho early evening, another 730/2 service arrives at Brimingham NS later and this forms back to a 10 car with the same 730/2 unit returning from Soho the 730/2 10 car then runs empty to Birmingham International to stable overnight, and then forms as 2 x 5 cars subsequent services empty to BNS to then go to Liverpool in the morning, this is how the early Birmingham to Liverpool get the 730/2 into service

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Both are right. ASDO can be by door. For Penkridge it is, so 3 full carriages and the first set of doors on the fourth open.

Incorrect. The SC can open doors from the rear door of coach 4 in each direction, the whole of coach 4 will open when another GOP is used.

There are many announcements that have been flagged as incorrect, hopefully be removed in a future software update.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Nov 2025 ==

As regards Liverpool services it seems one 730/2 service to Birmingham NS then runs empty to Soho early evening, another 730/2 service arrives at Brimingham NS later and this forms back to a 10 car with the same 730/2 unit returning from Soho the 730/2 10 car then runs empty to Birmingham International to stable overnight, and then forms as 2 x 5 cars subsequent services empty to BNS to then go to Liverpool in the morning, this is how the early Birmingham to Liverpool get the 730/2 into service

Crewe depot has 730s for that route also

 

[Snow1964]

730201/202 have completed their fault free running, the final pair to do so.

Am I correct in thinking there is still about a dozen that have not been used in service (I checked master list on page 1 but that hasn't been updated for over 3 weeks).

There are still 12 older 350/2 in use, but will they complete fleet changeover by timetable change in 7 weeks time?

 

[wythallpaul]

Am I correct in thinking there is still about a dozen that have not been used in service (I checked master list on page 1 but that hasn't been updated for over 3 weeks).

There are still 12 older 350/3s in use, but will they complete fleet changeover by timetable change in 7 weeks time?

Class 730/2 yet to work in Passenger Service are:-
730201, 730202, 730203, 730204, 730206, 730207, 730219, 730222, 730227 & 730236. Total of 10.

730207 Worked in Passenger Service on 5th November 2025.

 

[45076]

Am I correct in thinking there is still about a dozen that have not been used in service (I checked master list on page 1 but that hasn't been updated for over 3 weeks).

There are still 12 older 350/3s in use, but will they complete fleet changeover by timetable change in 7 weeks time?

Don't you mean 350/2?

 

[mansonlo49]

Don't you mean 350/2?

I think he meant 350/2s, and there's two went ti long marston today

 

[Silverlinky]

730207 entered passenger service this morning, coupled to 232 for its first runs.

730222 was booked to move to Bletchley as 5Q77 today, but for some reason that move has not taken place.

 

[mansonlo49]

5Q58 heading to old Dalby, 730/2xx?

 

[Covshire1]

5Q58 heading to old Dalby, 730/2xx?

37501 + 730201...

 

[mansonlo49]

37501 + 730201...

finally heading to old Dalby after a few deferred

 

[wythallpaul]

Had a ride on 730207+730221 Today on 1U39 from Rugby to Nuneaton.

Clarification:- 1U39 1446 London Euston (EUS) to Crewe (CRE).

Approaching Nuneaton we get the Short Platforms Announcement about being in the front 7 Coaches to alight & the herd starts to move. Elderly, People with enough Suitcases to make you think they are moving house, a woman with a Kiddie still sat in his/her Buggie threading between the Armrests with a Centimetre to spare on either side. Platform 2 was easily long enough for ALL doors to open & the same Herd comes back down the Platform having alighted from Coach 7 to exit the Station via the Footbridge & Lifts Adjacent to the last Coach. Now I know this 'Glitch' will be sorted on a Software Update but surely the Senior Conductor can Announce to the whole Train to ignore the Message about Short Platforms at Nuneaton.

 

[AJDesiro]

Had a ride on 730207+730221 Today on 1U39 from Rugby to Nuneaton.

Clarification:- 1U39 1446 London Euston (EUS) to Crewe (CRE).

Approaching Nuneaton we get the Short Platforms Announcement about being in the front 7 Coaches to alight & the herd starts to move. Elderly, People with enough Suitcases to make you think they are moving house, a woman with a Kiddie still sat in his/her Buggie threading between the Armrests with a Centimetre to spare on either side. Platform 2 was easily long enough for ALL doors to open & the same Herd comes back down the Platform having alighted from Coach 7 to exit the Station via the Footbridge & Lifts Adjacent to the last Coach. Now I know this 'Glitch' will be sorted on a Software Update but surely the Senior Conductor can Announce to the whole Train to ignore the Message about Short Platforms at Nuneaton.

It just depends on the guard, really. Some will make an announcement telling you to ignore it, but some don't.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Had a ride on 730207+730221 Today on 1U39 from Rugby to Nuneaton.

Clarification:- 1U39 1446 London Euston (EUS) to Crewe (CRE).

Approaching Nuneaton we get the Short Platforms Announcement about being in the front 7 Coaches to alight & the herd starts to move. Elderly, People with enough Suitcases to make you think they are moving house, a woman with a Kiddie still sat in his/her Buggie threading between the Armrests with a Centimetre to spare on either side. Platform 2 was easily long enough for ALL doors to open & the same Herd comes back down the Platform having alighted from Coach 7 to exit the Station via the Footbridge & Lifts Adjacent to the last Coach. Now I know this 'Glitch' will be sorted on a Software Update but surely the Senior Conductor can Announce to the whole Train to ignore the Message about Short Platforms at Nuneaton.

Yes they should, but only once the possibility of heading into platform 1 has passed. We have requested this announcement be removed but it's like the Crewe announcement - don't override if it's still possible. At least all the doors open there!

 

[rogercov]

Had a ride on 730207+730221 Today on 1U39 from Rugby to Nuneaton.

Clarification:- 1U39 1446 London Euston (EUS) to Crewe (CRE).

Approaching Nuneaton we get the Short Platforms Announcement about being in the front 7 Coaches to alight & the herd starts to move. Elderly, People with enough Suitcases to make you think they are moving house, a woman with a Kiddie still sat in his/her Buggie threading between the Armrests with a Centimetre to spare on either side. Platform 2 was easily long enough for ALL doors to open & the same Herd comes back down the Platform having alighted from Coach 7 to exit the Station via the Footbridge & Lifts Adjacent to the last Coach. Now I know this 'Glitch' will be sorted on a Software Update but surely the Senior Conductor can Announce to the whole Train to ignore the Message about Short Platforms at Nuneaton.

I guess this is part of the same problem. I thought it was quite funny when I saw this on the display. I think there were announcements too.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I guess this is part of the same problem. I thought it was quite funny when I saw this on the display. I think there were announcements too.View attachment 191886

Yep, 2 platforms don't fully accommodate the train, and the train has no idea which platform it's going into until it passed the relevant RFID tag.

It's a shame, as you'd like to think the signaller won't make such a mistake. Negating the need for the announcement at all

 

[Nippy]

Yep, 2 platforms don't fully accommodate the train, and the train has no idea which platform it's going into until it passed the relevant RFID tag.

It's a shame, as you'd like to think the signaller won't make such a mistake. Negating the need for the announcement at all

Unfortunately a few have been routed into Platform 10 in error.

 

[87015]

Unfortunately a few have been routed into Platform 10 in error.

But the same could happen with a 12-car 350 and they don’t give out terribly incorrect announcements

 

[SCDR_WMR]

But the same could happen with a 12-car 350 and they don’t give out terribly incorrect announcements

Because they don't have ASDO - it's automated. Unlike UDS which is a manual control function.

* Just to clarify - 350s will change over to ASDO at some point, but currently working using UDS

 

[The_Train]

Did a 730/2 on a Stafford to Crewe hop on Wednesday as my first on the Trent Valley services and I don't know if it was just because I was sat over the bogie but the ride quality on that stretch was truly terrible. It started badly but as we approached Crewe it just got worse and worse