Class 730 LNR & WMR Delivery/test Updates

[185]

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

Amateur lol... 2 extra coaches added mid-train from one of their large pile of redundant 350/2s...

But seriously, would be unsurprised if a 730 gets taken out and this ("new") wonderful leasing company sends out a dodgy green seated monstrosity in it's place...

 

[alex17595]

Amateur lol... 2 extra coaches added mid-train from one of their large pile of redundant 350/2s...

But seriously, would be unsurprised if a 730 gets taken out and this ("new") wonderful leasing company sends out a dodgy green seated monstrosity in it's place...

At least the green seated monstrosity will have some decent heating in them.

 

[Russel]

At least the green seated monstrosity will have some decent heating in them.

Never really noticed heating being an issue on the 730/2s and I use them twice a week to commute.

I do like how they feel so much more spacious and open though, not just compared to the green seated monstrosities, but compared to their /1, /3 and /4 variants.

 

[778]

Are all 36 730/2s now in service?

 

[wythallpaul]

Are all 36 730/2s now in service?

No. 29 out of the 36 have.

730201, 730202, 730203, 730204, 730206, 730227 & 730236 have not been in Service.

 

[40029 Saxonia]

No. 29 out of the 36 have.

730201, 730202, 730203, 730204, 730206, 730227 & 730236 have not been in Service.

Trawling back through these messages the last reported locations were;
201/2/3/4/6 - Gascoigne Wood
227 - Bletchley (its been there a while, surprised its not yet in service)
236 - Old Dalby

 

[Russel]

No. 29 out of the 36 have.

730201, 730202, 730203, 730204, 730206, 730227 & 730236 have not been in Service.

Why have these still not entered service?

Given the last of the 350/2s have now gone, will the remaining 730/2s result in a net gain overall in unit fleet size?

 

[40029 Saxonia]

Why have these still not entered service?

Given the last of the 350/2s have now gone, will the remaining 730/2s result in a net gain overall in unit fleet size?

I noticed some 730/0s still operating out of Euston. Maybe some of those will be released back to the W Midlands when the remaining 730/2s are delivered

 

[Russel]

I noticed some 730/0s still operating out of Euston. Maybe some of those will be released back to the W Midlands when the remaining 730/2s are delivered

Maybe yeah, I'd forgotten about the /0s operating at the wrong end of the WCML.

 

[rogercov]

Trawling back through these messages the last reported locations were;
201/2/3/4/6 - Gascoigne Wood
227 - Bletchley (its been there a while, surprised its not yet in service)
236 - Old Dalby

Post #3855 on here reported the following moves on 23rd December:
730227 moved from Old Dalby to Bletchley
730217 was hauled from Bletchley to Gascoigne Wood

In addition, I have no record of 730226 since 9th November when I believe it ended up at Crewe, but it might have moved since.

 

[mansonlo49]

Post #3855 on here reported the following moves on 23rd December:
730227 moved from Old Dalby to Bletchley
730217 was hauled from Bletchley to Gascoigne Wood

In addition, I have no record of 730226 since 9th November when I believe it ended up at Crewe, but it might have moved since.

whats 217 doing up there at Gascoigne wood?

 

[Peter Sarf]

whats 217 doing up there at Gascoigne wood?

I think they go there for modifications.

 

[40029 Saxonia]

I note there is a light loco move from Bletchley to Gascoigne Wood in progress 0Z16, returning to BY tonight presumably with a 730

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jan 2026 ==

I note there is a light loco move from Bletchley to Gascoigne Wood in progress 0Z16, returning to BY tonight presumably with a 730

Credit to RTT, left BY at 11:10

 

[rogercov]

I note there is a light loco move from Bletchley to Gascoigne Wood in progress 0Z16, returning to BY tonight presumably with a 730

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jan 2026 ==


Credit to RTT, left BY at 11:10

Looks like it was supposed to collect a unit from Bletchley and drag it to Gascoigne Wood as 5Q16, but that was cancelled and the loco returned as 0Z16.

It remains to be seen whether tonight's drag to Bletchley (5Q77) will actually happen.

 

[40029 Saxonia]

Looks like it was supposed to collect a unit from Bletchley and drag it to Gascoigne Wood as 5Q16, but that was cancelled and the loco returned as 0Z16.

It remains to be seen whether tonight's drag to Bletchley (5Q77) will actually happen.

5Q77 is on its way to BY - presumably towing a 730

 

[FrodshamJnct]

5Q77 is on its way to BY - presumably towing a 730

730217

 

[Silverlinky]

I noticed some 730/0s still operating out of Euston. Maybe some of those will be released back to the W Midlands when the remaining 730/2s are delivered

Easy to forget that the 730/0's were replacements for the 319's originally. An allocation of 730/0's is planned to remain on the WCML South until at least December with further plans for them to potentially run as 9 car formations from May.

Post #3855 on here reported the following moves on 23rd December:
730227 moved from Old Dalby to Bletchley
730217 was hauled from Bletchley to Gascoigne Wood

In addition, I have no record of 730226 since 9th November when I believe it ended up at Crewe, but it might have moved since.

The WMT stock system shows 227 at Old Dalby now.

226 is shown at Crewe TMD (Electric)

 

[Chris172]

Is Bescot depot still happening? With nearly all the 730s arrived. Surely Soho and Bletchley can't have them all between them

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Is Bescot depot still happening? With nearly all the 730s arrived. Surely Soho and Bletchley can't have them all between them

Unknown at this point. Though given how badly the 730s coped without maintenance during the recent Hanslope closure, a depot in the Midlands is an absolute must!

 

[31160]

Forgive a question that may have been already answered but is the long term plan to send the WMT ones off the southern bit of the WCML and send them back to Brum and replace the Tring diagrams with the 350s and 730 5/10 everything else?

 

[Kite159]

I guess the issue with the 730/0s being sent back to Birmingham is there being no need for them to be in Birmingham unless more services get introduced (direct Walsall to Wolverhampton via those two new stations, or the extra Birmingham - Lichfield services).

Pretty much all the Crosscity line services are 6 coaches with 730s on the Chase & Wolverhampton -Brum - Walsall stoppers

 

[Peter Sarf]

Where exactly is 730227 these days ?.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Jan 2026 ==

I guess the issue with the 730/0s being sent back to Birmingham is there being no need for them to be in Birmingham unless more services get introduced (direct Walsall to Wolverhampton via those two new stations, or the extra Birmingham - Lichfield services).

Pretty much all the Crosscity line services are 6 coaches with 730s on the Chase & Wolverhampton -Brum - Walsall stoppers

It does appear the plans for 730s seem to have changed yet again then ?.

I am remembering the original order was a different mix of 3car and 5car with three subclasses.

 

[800001]

Where exactly is 730227 these days ?.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Jan 2026 ==


It does appear the plans for 730s seem to have changed yet again then ?.

I am remembering the original order was a different mix of 3car and 5car with three subclasses.

730227 is Bletchley yet to enter service.

 

[Peter Sarf]

730227 is Bletchley yet to enter service.

Thanks, is 730227 in the depot area or hanging around in the sidings nearer the WCML ?.

 

[800001]

Thanks, is 730227 in the depot area or hanging around in the sidings nearer the WCML ?.

That I do not know.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

That I do not know.

730 227 wasn't visible on Friday last week, so if it's been there longer than that it's inside the depot.

 

[50002Superb]

According to post #3887 it is at Old Dalby

 

[800001]

According to post #3887 it is at Old Dalby

I have it 23rd December moving Old Dalby to Bletchley, so if it's moved back, I've seen no record of it moving.

 

[XCTurbostar]

My first time trying the 730/2s today - I tried both Standard and Ex-First Class (can you call it that if it’s never been first class?) As many others have said, the seats are definitely harder and the (faux?) leather headrests are not as comfortable as they appear. The interiors seem bright and airy with a very similar feel to 720s.

Acceleration is very impressive with us easily able to make up time on the 350 schedules. I found that cabin pressure in tunnels felt much heavier than I remember in the 350s especially Kilsby Tunnel. Whilst the interior did get louder as we reached 100MPH, I didn’t find the riding sound to be any louder than the air conditioning.

My only criticism so far is the location of the info screens, whilst this is also the same in the 350s, you don’t always have visibility of a screen depending on where you sit.

 

[Russel]

My first time trying the 730/2s today - I tried both Standard and Ex-First Class (can you call it that if it’s never been first class?) As many others have said, the seats are definitely harder and the (faux?) leather headrests are not as comfortable as they appear. The interiors seem bright and airy with a very similar feel to 720s.

Acceleration is very impressive with us easily able to make up time on the 350 schedules. I found that cabin pressure in tunnels felt much heavier than I remember in the 350s especially Kilsby Tunnel. Whilst the interior did get louder as we reached 100MPH, I didn’t find the riding sound to be any louder than the air conditioning.

My only criticism so far is the location of the info screens, whilst this is also the same in the 350s, you don’t always have visibility of a screen depending on where you sit.

Regarding the comparison to the 720s these are worlds apart, the 730 is a far superior product from a passenger perspective.