Class 730 LNR & WMR Delivery/test Updates

[Merle Haggard]

I think you are right. When I spent whole days at Tamworth I think I kept seeing the same 304.
The Trent valley has gone from being a service that perhaps BR did not want cluttering up that section of the WCML to a proper service as indicated by the 730s (and 350s before). Of course the superior acceleration of the 730s will mean less cluttering up of the slow lines.

Don't forget that in those days there was still the 2 track bottleneck Armitage to Rugeley (now 4) and most of Rugby - Nuneaton had been reduced to 2. For a period the T.V. services only ran Nuneaton - Stafford and there were no expresses that called at both Rugby and Nuneaton making it was very difficult to get from South of Rugby to local stations North of Nuneaton (apart from Euston).

 

[Omnishambles]

Don't forget that in those days there was still the 2 track bottleneck Armitage to Rugeley (now 4) and most of Rugby - Nuneaton had been reduced to 2. For a period the T.V. services only ran Nuneaton - Stafford and there were no expresses that called at both Rugby and Nuneaton making it was very difficult to get from South of Rugby to local stations North of Nuneaton (apart from Euston).

Yes, the big enabler in 2008 was the completion the Trent Valley 4 tracking allowing firstly the introduction of the 'local' Londons which now basically run at the equivalent of 350 12 cars with the configuration and vehicle lengths, and a near hourly Avanti service in top of this !!

 

[nigelsporne]

Does this mean a Stanier/Fairburn/ Fowler 2-6-4T with 3 coaches no longer works?
It's good to see a success story and with WM/LMR providing an attractive ticketing policy the new 730/2s should ensure a bright future. It will be interesting to see if the new service generates additional patronage and a more frequent service.
Would it be possible to add an additional coach to a 730/2?

 

[Merle Haggard]

Does this mean a Stanier/Fairburn/ Fowler 2-6-4T with 3 coaches no longer works?
It's good to see a success story and with WM/LMR providing an attractive ticketing policy the new 730/2s should ensure a bright future. It will be interesting to see if the new service generates additional patronage and a more frequent service.
Would it be possible to add an additional coach to a 730/2?

It certainly is. Looking at about a month in advance (15th January) for Stafford - Euston there's a £9 fare on the 13.32 LNw; the rest of the day it's about £24.
Compare this with Northampton - Euston (about half the distance) on the same day; always £20.80.
LNw have a monopoly here, and it shows.

 

[TheTallOne]

Be nice if they sort the door problem out on the 730

Guessing this train I'm on now is affected. Delays leaving each station, the doors closed. Then the re-opened. Then eventually they closed again (like 2 mins later).

Last time I was on a train like this they took the broken door out of service.

 

[Tubeboy]

First ride on a 730/2 today from Tamworth to London. They look good. Lots of bays of four sets. Downsides, and this is personal taste. Seat pitch seems to be tighter to me, resulting in slightly less legroom. Seats are not as comfy as a Class 350/1, but ok for a 90 minute journey. The electronic displays showing how crowded/quiet each carriage is a great addition.

 

[Russel]

Does this mean a Stanier/Fairburn/ Fowler 2-6-4T with 3 coaches no longer works?
It's good to see a success story and with WM/LMR providing an attractive ticketing policy the new 730/2s should ensure a bright future. It will be interesting to see if the new service generates additional patronage and a more frequent service.
Would it be possible to add an additional coach to a 730/2?

These really will make a big difference, the fares have always been reasonable in my opinion, but the service has outgrown even double 350's on a lot of journeys, so the extra capacity will make a big difference, to top that, when a double 350/2 turned up, it wasn't a pleasant journey.

So yeah, an improvement all round.

Platform space could possibly be an issue if an extra coach was added into the 730/2's, at places like Atherstone, you'd have more of the train off the platform than on it! That said, I'd love to see it happen one day though, a real success story.

My only gripe is with the small toilets, they really are small, I took my rucksack in with me yesterday and it was tight, I believe they are the same as on the 720s though.

 

[bnsf734]

Not a good start to the Trent Valley service today. The 0813 Crewe - Euston service is starting from Rugby at 0927 after the Northampton - Crewe service that forms it was cancelled due to a problem with the train. Presumably said problem was fixed to enable the empties to get to Rugby.

The 0913 Crewe - Euston service is only a single 5 car set so that one will be cosy, with 2 trainloads of passengers in a single unit!

 

[sad1e]

Now that quite a few 730/2's are in service any ideas when 730/0's will be withdrawn from Euston services ?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Now that quite a few 730/2's are in service any ideas when 730/0's will be withdrawn from Euston services ?

Possibly not for the short term. Allow the /2s bedding in time and the lower speed isn't an issue on the stoppers

 

[nigelsporne]

Can someone remind me please what will happen to the 730/0s once the /2s take over on the Euston runs?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I think they just support currently West Mids operations once Camp Hill and Willenhall/Darlaston go live.

Have been mooted for the Stoke knuckle but with that going to Manchester Airport next December that may not be the case

 

[nigelsporne]

This may be the case. The Camp Hill will I assume be 196s.
Once Willenhall comes live it may make more sense to turn the Walsall to Wolverhampton into a circular route or divert some of the Wolverhampton to Brum trains that way as they do now.
The Cross City lines appear, since COVID, to be able to cope with the double units however peak times may benefit.
Either way there would still appear to be surplus 730s on offer.

 

[mansonlo49]

There’s been two movements from old Dalby towards Bletchley and Gascoigne wood on 22nd and 23rd respectively, any ideas which sets been moved, thanks

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 0957 Old Dalby to Bletchley T.M.D. | 23/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 0957 departure from Old Dalby to Bletchley T.M.D. on 23/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q16 0859 Old Dalby to Gascoigne Wood Sidings | 22/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q16 0859 departure from Old Dalby to Gascoigne Wood Sidings on 22/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[alm37]

There’s been two movements from old Dalby towards Bletchley and Gascoigne wood on 22nd and 23rd respectively, any ideas which sets been moved, thanks

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 0957 Old Dalby to Bletchley T.M.D. | 23/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 0957 departure from Old Dalby to Bletchley T.M.D. on 23/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q16 0859 Old Dalby to Gascoigne Wood Sidings | 22/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q16 0859 departure from Old Dalby to Gascoigne Wood Sidings on 22/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

730227 was the move from Old Dalby to Bletchley on the 23rd.

730201 and 202 were hauled from Old Dalby to Gascoigne Wood on the 22nd.

And to complete the picture, 730217 was hauled from Bletchley to Gascoigne Wood on the 23rd.

 

[mansonlo49]

730227 was the move from Old Dalby to Bletchley on the 23rd.

730201 and 202 were hauled from Old Dalby to Gascoigne Wood on the 22nd.

And to complete the picture, 730217 was hauled from Bletchley to Gascoigne Wood on the 23rd.

Great, thanks, any ideas what 730217 doing back there?

 

[Bald Rick]

Have been mooted for the Stoke knuckle but with that going to Manchester Airport next December that may not be the case

cant see that Manchester Airport thing happening

 

[Liverpool 507]

I think they just support currently West Mids operations once Camp Hill and Willenhall/Darlaston go live.

Have been mooted for the Stoke knuckle but with that going to Manchester Airport next December that may not be the case

I would have thought 350s would be used on these services? I believe they will be going through to Birmingham New Street as well?

cant see that Manchester Airport thing happening

It’s already confirmed happening

 

[Bald Rick]

It’s already confirmed happening

Really? Where?

 

[800001]

730204/206 to Gascoigne Wood.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

cant see that Manchester Airport thing happening

We're due to start training plans in spring/summer. All signed off supposedly.

That came from head of onboard this week.

 

[778]

We're due to start training plans in spring/summer. All signed off supposedly.

That came from head of onboard this week.

Will these be handled by 350s?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Will these be handled by 350s?

Currently they would have to as 730s don't operate on the Stoke knuckle. It would have to be either a single 350 or a 730/0 due to Stone

 

[sonic2009]

Currently they would have to as 730s don't operate on the Stoke knuckle. It would have to be either a single 350 or a 730/0 due to Stone

Does a 730/2 foul the junction by a lot?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Does a 730/2 foul the junction by a lot?

At the current stop board, I'd say there's just about 4 carriages on the platform.

Thinking about it, I'm not sure if a 730/2 would fit at Kidsgrove platform 4 either. Certainly wouldn't fit at Alsager without fouling the crossing, but that's acceptable.

 

[Silverlinky]

We're due to start training plans in spring/summer. All signed off supposedly.

That came from head of onboard this week.

Manchester Airport happening, Manchester Victoria not. Crewe and Wolves drivers to be trained

Now that quite a few 730/2's are in service any ideas when 730/0's will be withdrawn from Euston services ?

Not until Dec 2026. Plans for fewer actual 730/0 services on the WCML South in May '26, but those services that still use them will be strengthened to 9 cars.

 

[Cowley]

Manchester Airport happening, Manchester Victoria not. Crewe and Wolves drivers to be trained

Not until Dec 2026. Plans for fewer actual 730/0 services on the WCML South in May '26, but those services that still use them will be strengthened to 9 cars.

Just to keep this one on topic, there’s a separate thread here now:

Potential new service from Birmingham to Manchester Airport

Manchester Airport happening, Manchester Victoria not. Crewe and Wolves drivers to be trained mods note - split from this thread As in a WMR service from Birmingham to Manchester Airport?

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The 730s ( and the 196s ) have been sold from Corelink to Porterbrook; this was announced on LinkedIn this morning:

Today, we have completed a deal to acquire 404 vehicles owned by Corelink Rail Infrastructure Limited.

The fleet of 324 Class 730 Aventra electric and 80 Class 196 diesel units, operated by West Midlands Trains (WMT), serve passengers on regional and long-distance routes between London, Birmingham and Liverpool. Together, they account for 60% of WMT’s network operations.

Mary Grant, Porterbrook CEO, said: “West Midlands Trains has been one of our largest customers for over 15 years and this latest transaction solidifies that partnership for the future. It also completes a programme of more than £1bn of capital deployed during the last five years in new trains, fleet upgrades, traction innovation and rail infrastructure.”

Today, we have completed a deal to acquire 404 vehicles owned by Corelink Rail Infrastructure Limited. The fleet of 324 Class 730 Aventra electric and 80 Class 196 diesel units, operated by West… | Porterbrook

Today, we have completed a deal to acquire 404 vehicles owned by Corelink Rail Infrastructure Limited. The fleet of 324 Class 730 Aventra electric and 80 Class 196 diesel units, operated by West Midlands Trains (WMT), serve passengers on regional and long-distance routes between London...

www.linkedin.com

 

[Peter Sarf]

deleted

 

[Northerngirl]

Cant wait for a 730 windup / pedal power tri mode conversion to be announced in the next few days