Class 730 LNR & WMR Delivery/test Updates

[SCDR_WMR]

During the day (Off-peak), I would imagine a solo 730/2 is more than enough for the London - Tring /Milton Keynes stopping services (other than maybe between London & Watford Junction).

That is what the DfT suggest. Also, it's clear that the decision is also based on cost savings - see Avanti reducing off-peak services at DfT request

 

[40029 Saxonia]

According to RTT 730236 is in service for the first time today.
Currently on 2T10 (with 218).

Thanks. So 4 to go. 201 & 202 last reported at Derby LL and 204 & 227 last reported at Gascoigne Wood

 

[Peter Sarf]

Thanks. So 4 to go. 201 & 202 last reported at Derby LL and 204 & 227 last reported at Gascoigne Wood

Correct afaikt and it seeemes to be taking forever to get through the last six 730/2s - why ?.

 

[45076]

Correct afaikt and it seeemes to be taking forever to get through the last six 730/2s - why ?.

Could it be that they don't need them yet?

 

[CDM Transport]

Hello all. Just a quick question... how long until the Gas Wood drags finally finish for good? I'm assuming it's soon unless I'm missing something.

 

[40029 Saxonia]

Hello all. Just a quick question... how long until the Gas Wood drags finally finish for good? I'm assuming it's soon unless I'm missing something.

I'm not sure it will be soon. It appears as though a lot of 730s are going back to g wood for some sort of rectification which takes a week or so. I haven't counted how many have cycled through so far but i don't think its all. Two of the 'yet to enter service' 730s are also still there i think. Best to keep checking Realtime Trains to look for scheduled drags. Search on Gascoigne Wood Sidings.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jun 2026 ==

According to RTT, there is a 5Q77 09:29 from Gascoigne Wood to Bletchley tomorrow. Could it be 730204 or 227??

 

[Joel_1902]

I believe 730204 is actually at Derby, it moved 12/1/26 Gascoigne-Derby Litchurch Lane. Just 227 at Gascoigne Wood.

 

[40029 Saxonia]

I believe 730204 is actually at Derby, it moved 12/1/26 Gascoigne-Derby Litchurch Lane. Just 227 at Gascoigne Wood.

Thanks. Another drag today from GW to BY 5Q77. Does anyone know what was moved last week snd what's planned for today?

 

[alm37]

Thanks. Another drag today from GW to BY 5Q77. Does anyone know what was moved last week snd what's planned for today?

Nothing was moved to Bletchley last week. Problem with the brakes on the unit to be moved apparently. Loco went back to Derby light engine. So looks like today will be another attempt with 730227.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Jun 2026 ==

Nothing was moved to Bletchley last week. Problem with the brakes on the unit to be moved apparently. Loco went back to Derby light engine. So looks like today will be another attempt with 730227.

Cancelled again.

 

[317 forever]

I understand that the 730s with LNWR (as against WMT) only operate examples of Euston services, and not the Stafford - Crewe or Birmingham - Liverpool shuttles. They did briefly operate to Liverpool late last year but I believe no more.

 

[Class15]

That is what the DfT suggest. Also, it's clear that the decision is also based on cost savings - see Avanti reducing off-peak services at DfT request

How does running a 5-car instead of 10-car cut costs when the unit is just spare anyway?

 

[DavidGrain]

I understand that the 730s with LNWR (as against WMT) only operate examples of Euston services, and not the Stafford - Crewe or Birmingham - Liverpool shuttles. They did briefly operate to Liverpool late last year but I believe no more.

Just to clarify as I understand it
The Class 730s in WMR livery currently working in London are 730/0s and just operate the Tring/Milton Keynes and possibly Northampton services. This was always understood to be a temporary measure.
For a few months last year 730/2s operated the Birmingham to Liverpool services to keep the train crews current on these vehicles preparatory for them to be fully operational on the Trent Valley services from the beginning of this year. Class 350s have now returned to serving the Birmingham to Liverpool services

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jun 2026 ==

How does running a 5-car instead of 10-car cut costs when the unit is just spare anyway?

1. The second unit is not drawing electricity to power the motors, lighting etc.
2. Electric motors moving parts, contact points etc not enduring wear an tear
3. Maintenance schedules depending on miles travelled or hours in service get spaced out over a longer time.
4. Wear and tear on track and wheel tyres with 40 wheels in a 5 car set not running.

 

[Intercity_225]

This may have already been mentioned, but there seems to be a 9 car 730 set on this today:

Realtime Trains | 2T29 1224 London Euston to Tring | 13/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 2T29 1224 departure from London Euston to Tring on 13/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Russel]

How does running a 5-car instead of 10-car cut costs when the unit is just spare anyway?

The Crewe-Euston service I use to get to work and back have both been cut down to 5 car services and I was sceptical at first, I'm not sure what the capacity difference is between an 5 car 730 and an 8 car 350 but I've not struggled to get a seat since the change to 5 cars so it's possible it was actually a sensible decision.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

This may have already been mentioned, but there seems to be a 9 car 730 set on this today:

Realtime Trains | 2T29 1224 London Euston to Tring | 13/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 2T29 1224 departure from London Euston to Tring on 13/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There's been booked 9 car workings - I think two diagrams a day - on the Euston / Tring / Milton Keynes circuit since the recent timetable change.

Is this the first time one has shown up on a Saturday? I normally only get out and about on a weekday...

 

[1D54]

This may have already been mentioned, but there seems to be a 9 car 730 set on this today:

Realtime Trains | 2T29 1224 London Euston to Tring | 13/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 2T29 1224 departure from London Euston to Tring on 13/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Saw it arrive at Euston with very few people on it, why they would need a 9 car set is anyone's guess but i suppose there must be a reason for it.

 

[mansonlo49]

This may have already been mentioned, but there seems to be a 9 car 730 set on this today:

Realtime Trains | 2T29 1224 London Euston to Tring | 13/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 2T29 1224 departure from London Euston to Tring on 13/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 2T31 1254 London Euston to Tring | 13/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 2T31 1254 departure from London Euston to Tring on 13/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

there’s another service that’s also using a 9 car set 730

 

[Russel]

I was on the 0713 Crewe - Euston service this morning complete with no working toilets, not good considering it had only done one run from Northampton so far in the day, this suggests it probably entered service no or limited toilet facilities.

I hope there is a long term plan to deal with this issue on what is an otherwise decent fleet from a passenger perspective.

 

[Wolfie]

I was on the 0713 Crewe - Euston service this morning complete with no working toilets, not good considering it had only done one run from Northampton so far in the day, this suggests it probably entered service no or limited toilet facilities.

I hope there is a long term plan to deal with this issue on what is an otherwise decent fleet from a passenger perspective.

That seems to be happening far too often.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

That seems to be happening far too often.

Happening far less than the previous 9 months or so. There has been plenty of work going on behind the scenes to make sure this is now a rarity. Unfortunately, sometimes there will be trains running like this as the company will state that it will run in service until it can get to a terminus where is can be resolved - in the case it worked NMP-CRE-EUS then swapped out.

 

[Wolfie]

Happening far less than the previous 9 months or so. There has been plenty of work going on behind the scenes to make sure this is now a rarity. Unfortunately, sometimes there will be trains running like this as the company will state that it will run in service until it can get to a terminus where is can be resolved - in the case it worked NMP-CRE-EUS then swapped out.

I've been on at least two 730 formed services in the last three or four months which had to stop for a toilet break at Rugby, ran into Euston and were then promptly turned around and sent back out. Frankly unacceptable.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I've been on at least two 730 formed services in the last three or four months which had to stop for a toilet break at Rugby, ran into Euston and were then promptly turned around and sent back out. Frankly unacceptable.

Indeed, however back in the winter, there were many running on just 1 or zero toilets daily. Personally, I've not worked a train with less than 5 working toilets (10 car) for around 5 weeks, so from a staff point of view it is massively improved and we feel like we have been listened to regarding it.

Could always be better, unfortunately the physical restraints are not going to be overcome in the short term. There are plans to change the type of waste collection systems installed but this isn't likely to be sorted in the short term.

If there are no alternative units to swap with, or control haven't been given the right information by guards, or given enough time to sort out a swap then units will remain in service. Otherwise trains get cancelled which is seen as far worse than having no toilets, especially northbound where half the passengers get off at MKC or Rugby.

 

[Wolfie]

Indeed, however back in the winter, there were many running on just 1 or zero toilets daily. Personally, I've not worked a train with less than 5 working toilets (10 car) for around 5 weeks, so from a staff point of view it is massively improved and we feel like we have been listened to regarding it.

Could always be better, unfortunately the physical restraints are not going to be overcome in the short term. There are plans to change the type of waste collection systems installed but this isn't likely to be sorted in the short term.

If there are no alternative units to swap with, or control haven't been given the right information by guards, or given enough time to sort out a swap then units will remain in service. Otherwise trains get cancelled which is seen as far worse than having no toilets, especially northbound where half the passengers get off at MKC or Rugby.

TY for the insider insight. It all sounds like a difficult balancing exercise given the limitations.

 

[Russel]

Happening far less than the previous 9 months or so. There has been plenty of work going on behind the scenes to make sure this is now a rarity. Unfortunately, sometimes there will be trains running like this as the company will state that it will run in service until it can get to a terminus where is can be resolved - in the case it worked NMP-CRE-EUS then swapped out.

Good to hear, thanks for the info!

 

[Omnishambles]

The Crewe-Euston service I use to get to work and back have both been cut down to 5 car services and I was sceptical at first, I'm not sure what the capacity difference is between an 5 car 730 and an 8 car 350 but I've not struggled to get a seat since the change to 5 cars so it's possible it was actually a sensible decision.

Wasn’t particularly looking forward to the 0749 LTV-Eus once it dropped to 1x5 but having been on it a couple of times in the last weeks was surprised I could comfortably get a table seat to get the laptop out on the way to the office

 

[Russel]

Wasn’t particularly looking forward to the 0749 LTV-Eus once it dropped to 1x5 but having been on it a couple of times in the last weeks was surprised I could comfortably get a table seat to get the laptop out on the way to the office

I agree, I get it as the 0756 off Tamworth, the 730s are surprisingly spacious.

 

[rogercov]

5Q77 1022 Gascoigne Wood Sidings to Bletchley T.M.D. yesterday (19th June), reported as 730227

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Jun 2026 ==

As far as I am aware this is the current status of the 730/2s (unless anyone knows different):

730201, 730202 and 730204 are yet to enter service and are currently at Derby Litchurch Lane.
730227 is now at Bletchley (19/6/26) but has yet to enter service.

The following two units are probably at Bletchley but are currently out of action:
730206 failed on 1/6/26.
730210 damaged on 9/5/26. Collided with two rail handling trolleys at Queens Park.

The remaining 30 are operational with 27 currently on the Mon-Fri diagrams.

 

[Techniquest]

Thank you for that regarding 730206, I’ll stop looking for that one for a while as it, along with 213, are the only two active ones I’ve not been on. Hopefully next month!

 

[Russel]

Have I been unlucky over the last two days or is the air-con on the 730/2s quite poor compared to other modern stock?

While cooler than the outside temp, each set I've used yesterday and today has been uncomfortably warm.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Have I been unlucky over the last two days or is the air-con on the 730/2s quite poor compared to other modern stock?

While cooler than the outside temp, each set I've used yesterday and today has been uncomfortably warm.

It is very poor. Not powerful enough to heat the train when it's cold, hence the awful condensation seen, and not powerful enough to cool on a hot day.

They really don't even manage to even out the temperature within the train so you get hot/cold spots too. Cab air con is good, but almost impossible to find a comfortable temperature