Class 730 LNR & WMR Delivery/test Updates

[xydancer]

I had my first ride on the 730/2s this week, when a pair formed the 1946 Crewe service out of Euston on the two evenings I caught it. First thoughts are that the ambience is great. True, the seats are hard compared to the 350s, but they're far from the worst I've sat in. I found the legroom fine too - and I'm 179cm. But at speed they are incredibly noisy and the ride is far from the best.

 

[james_the_xv]

Are the 730s planned to be on any EUS-BHM diagrams long term?

 

[wythallpaul]

(Source RTT).

1Y20 did not Get Another 730 Added to it at Northampton this Morning - are they in Short Supply?

Clarification 1Y20 07-36 Birmingham New Street (BHM) to London Euston (EUS).

 

[mansonlo49]

another unit drag today from old dalby

 

[rogercov]

another unit drag today from old dalby

Reported elsewhere as 730222

 

[mansonlo49]

Reported elsewhere as 730222

cheers thanks

 

[wythallpaul]

730207 Arrived at Bletchley on 24th October 2025 & Entered Service on 5th November 2025.
Hopefully they can beat that with 730222 which Arrived Today (10th November 2025).

 

[finwoah]

730/2s also having SDO issues at crewe - rear 2 coaches do not open on Crewe platform 6 (Southbound only)

 

[185]

730/2s also having SDO issues at crewe - rear 2 coaches do not open on Crewe platform 6 (Southbound only)

RFID beacon (aka balise) was (wrongly) mounted on the side of the the north end of platform 6, however trains from Liverpool usually only join that platform halfway along via the points. Beacon needs sticking halfway along just after the points... been four months now, with nothing done yet.

 

[wythallpaul]

Significant delay (43 Minutes to join 2 - 5 Car Units) incurred by 1Y20 Yesterday (11/11/25) at Northampton to make the Train into a 10 Car (730232 being added to 730233) Northampton Arrive 0837 Depart 0920 - 32 Minutes Late.

Clarification :- 1Y20 0736 Birmingham New Street (BHM) to London Euston (EUS).

This has today Resulted in 2Y05 & 1Y20 being formed of a 10 Car unit (2Y05 Always a 5 Car Previously) meaning that 1Y20 (730213+730223) is already the Complete Train when Leaving Birmingham New Street (BHM).

Clarification:- 2Y05 0606 Northampton (NMP) to Birmingham New Street (BHM).

Has someone taken a Rapid Decision to Mitigate the Risk of Delaying the Train when Joining Class 730/2 Together at Northampton in Service?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

There has been issues turning 730/2 into multiple sets, so likely this has been something under consideration. There are issues with the Saturday ECS move Crewe - Lime St (2x730/2 splits into first 2 services off Lime St)

 

[Snow1964]

I have put this in usage thread, but copying here for info as it refers to the new 730 trains.

West Midlands Trains have issued a Press Release highlighting their growth, they also mention a Manchester Airport service hopefully from December 2026

However there is a mathematical potential problem with the numbers, they are saying numbers have risen 12% and expected to increase from 67.7m to 80m (another 18%), but then they say new trains only have 20% more capacity. Wonder if they meant to say expecting 30% more passengers but only increasing capacity by 20%

Rail operators West Midlands Railway (WMR) and London Northwestern Railway (LNR) have reported a huge jump in passenger numbers following the publication of official industry figures.

A recent report from the Office of Rail Road showed a massive 12% year-on-year increase in the number of people using the sister operators’ services in the first quarter of 2025/26, equating to more than two million extra journeys.

In total WMR and LNR carried a combined 67.7 million passengers in 2024/25 and this figure is forecast to rise to more than 80 million journeys in 2025/26.

The increase follows the introduction of more LNR services in December 2024, the rollout of two brand new train fleets and increased demand for leisure travel across the network, particularly at weekends. The introduction of contactless payment to more stations in south-east has contributed to an increased number of journeys on London commuter routes.

The figures put WMR and LNR, operated by Transport UK, in the top five rail operators nationally for passenger growth.

Ian McConnell, WMR and LNR managing director, said: “Demand for travel on our services has sky-rocketed over the past year, particularly on our longer-distance routes to and from London Euston where we are attracting new customers to rail.

“Following the pandemic we saw a slow but steady return to rail but in the last 12 months we have seen record increases on some routes as even more customers take advantage of our excellent value fares and additional services. A thriving railway is good for passengers and taxpayers alike.

“With our recently-introduced new electric train fleet now providing 20% more capacity to and from London Euston, we look forward to continuing this trend and welcoming even more passengers on board in 2026.”

Next year passenger growth is expected to continue with five brand new stations due to open on the West Midlands Railway network and the continued introduction of London Northwestern Railway’s popular new Class 730 electric fleet on more services.

London Northwestern Railway also hopes to begin running services to Manchester Airport for the first time from December 2026, providing a direct link to the international airport from major cities including Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Stoke-on-Trent.

One in ten journeys between Manchester and London Euston is already made in part using LNR services, despite the operator not currently serving Manchester directly

Millions more passengers using West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway services – official report

Rail operators West Midlands Railway (WMR) and London Northwestern Railway (LNR) have reported a huge jump in passenger numbers following the publication of official industry figures.A recent report from the Office of Rail Road showed a massive 12% year-on-year increase in the number of people...

www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk

 

[rogercov]

I believe this is the first day when we have had 22 x 730/2 in passenger service (6 x 5-car on Liverpool services and 8 x 10-car on Euston services). Earlier this week some of the Euston services were only 5-car.
In addition, 730216 is continuing to do training runs between Soho and Crewe.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I believe this is the first day when we have had 22 x 730/2 in passenger service (6 x 5-car on Liverpool services and 8 x 10-car on Euston services). Earlier this week some of the Euston services were only 5-car.
In addition, 730216 is continuing to do training runs between Soho and Crewe.

There's more than that... There's five pairs out on the Euston / Tring / Milton Keynes diagrams today.

 

[BucksBones]

I was pleased to find a 10 coach 730 on the 2239 out of Euston last night! It seems this service no longer calls at Bushey - due, presumably, to the train being too long for the down fast platform. Anyone know if this is a permanent arrangement?

 

[Russel]

These are now forming part of my daily commute home from work, the 14:46 off Euston to Crewe seems to be a daily diagram for the 730s, when I join it at Tamworth, it is consistently a few minutes late, is there any reason they seem to loose time?

As for the units themselves, I like them, no complaints so far.

 

[DannyMich2018]

These are now forming part of my daily commute home from work, the 14:46 off Euston to Crewe seems to be a daily diagram for the 730s, when I join it at Tamworth, it is consistently a few minutes late, is there any reason they seem to loose time?

As for the units themselves, I like them, no complaints so far.

Whenever I travel on 350 north of Nuneaton it almost always is a few mins late leaving Nuneaton, must be a tight path or something causing trains to lose time. Was on time arriving Crewe though on Saturday. (08.46 off Euston)

 

[Bald Rick]

Whenever I travel on 350 north of Nuneaton it almost always is a few mins late leaving Nuneaton, must be a tight path or something causing trains to lose time. Was on time arriving Crewe though on Saturday. (08.46 off Euston)

There is very little in the way of timetable allowances on these services. They are consistently 1-2 minutes late (at least) at Milton Keynes. The timetable assumes departing Euston on time to the second, the train being driven hard, one short running brake test, no TSRs and no signal checks. To be fair there are rarely TSRs on the WCML south of MK, but departing bang on time is variable (even with the signal off well in advance of time), and driving styles vary quite considerably.

Recently, it has not been helped by xx43 paths most of which are 807s and thus losing time to MK and Rugby due to the linespeed profile issues. This is often knocking the xx46 path with adverse signals.

 

[Russel]

Whenever I travel on 350 north of Nuneaton it almost always is a few mins late leaving Nuneaton, must be a tight path or something causing trains to lose time. Was on time arriving Crewe though on Saturday. (08.46 off Euston)

Can't say I've noticed it with 350s, but then, I've been checking RTT a lot more recently looking for the 730s, so maybe I'm just picking up on it more.

 

[GadgetMan]

Whenever I travel on 350 north of Nuneaton it almost always is a few mins late leaving Nuneaton, must be a tight path or something causing trains to lose time. Was on time arriving Crewe though on Saturday. (08.46 off Euston)

It is impossible for a 350 to get to MKC on time unless it departs Euston straight onto Line E, has the perfect run and gets routed into platform 6 at MKC.

Departing onto Line X, loses time as Line speed is slightly slower.

Arriving onto platform 5 at MKC loses time as although the approach has flashing yellows, the junction signal steps up from a single yellow really late, so instead of passing it at 95ish mph, you have to be down to 60mph in case it remains at a single yellow.

With the new flashing yellow set up at Rugby, you can make 2 mins up between MKC and Rugby.

There used to be 3 mins of additional make up time between Rugby and Nuneaton, however they have moved that 3 mins to between Rugeley and Stafford.

 

[Russel]

It is impossible for a 350 to get to MKC on time unless it departs Euston straight onto Line E, has the perfect run and gets routed into platform 6 at MKC.

Departing onto Line X, loses time as Line speed is slightly slower.

Arriving onto platform 5 at MKC loses time as although the approach has flashing yellows, the junction signal steps up from a single yellow really late, so instead of passing it at 95ish mph, you have to be down to 60mph in case it remains at a single yellow.

With the new flashing yellow set up at Rugby, you can make 2 mins up between MKC and Rugby.

There used to be 3 mins of additional make up time between Rugby and Nuneaton, however they have moved that 3 mins to between Rugeley and Stafford.

Doesn't this indicate that the timetables are unrealistically tight then?

 

[Bald Rick]

It is impossible for a 350 to get to MKC on time unless it departs Euston straight onto Line E, has the perfect run and gets routed into platform 6 at MKC.

Departing onto Line X, loses time as Line speed is slightly slower.

I reckon it will be easier to achueve when the running brake test is removed.

 

[Railperf]

I reckon it will be easier to achueve when the running brake test is removed.

Are running brake tests being removed? And how does the flashing yellow set up differ at Rugby and how does it differ from before in that it can save two minutes?

Does anyone know the next Euston to Crewe diagram likely to go over to 730 operation and when?

 

[GadgetMan]

And how does the flashing yellow set up differ at Rugby and how does it differ from before in that it can save two minutes?

Previously, to be routed into Platform 1 or 2 at Rugby, you had to approach the signal protecting the station at Red as it would step up on final approach.

They've now altered the system so it gives flashing yellows on approach, meaning a much faster approach.

 

[Russel]

Todays 14:46 Euston - Crewe double 730 left Euston 36 late then skipped the Trent Valley stops, was this a train fault?

 

[D1511]

Todays 14:46 Euston - Crewe double 730 left Euston 36 late then skipped the Trent Valley stops, was this a train fault?

There were some significant delays and cancellations today due to a failed train at Runcorn on a Liverpool (a 730?) and some OHE problems on the TVL somewhere....11.13 to Euston started at Rugby and the 12.13 was about 30 late, so they were maybe trying to get stock to Crewe quickly

 

[Russel]

There were some significant delays and cancellations today due to a failed train at Runcorn on a Liverpool (a 730?) and some OHE problems on the TVL somewhere....11.13 to Euston started at Rugby and the 12.13 was about 30 late, so they were maybe trying to get stock to Crewe quickly

Ah fair enough, I was waiting for it at Atherstone, it was 30+ minutes late, disappeared off the departure board then passed through on the fast lines!

 

[Bald Rick]

Are running brake tests being removed?

The requirement for them has bee;removed from the Rulebook following research by RSSB. It is up to each operator to remove them from their Driving policies, and I expect they will do so. When - no idea.

There were some significant delays and cancellations today due to a failed train at Runcorn on a Liverpool (a 730?) and some OHE problems on the TVL somewhere....11.13 to Euston started at Rugby and the 12.13 was about 30 late, so they were maybe trying to get stock to Crewe quickly

The OLE problem was at Kings Langley this morning. However it was cleared up very quickly.

 

[D1511]

Ah fair enough, I was waiting for it at Atherstone, it was 30+ minutes late, disappeared off the departure board then passed through on the fast lines!

Someone on the operational side may confirm later.....that's just my guess what happened, based on the earlier disruption at Runcorn......that I was stuck in the middle of at Crewe. Arrived on 9M50 at 10.05 and left on 9M52 at 12.05, two cancelled Liverpool-Eustons later.....

 

[D.K.TAYLOR]

730235 was the culprit that failed