Class 730 LNR & WMR Delivery/test Updates

[Russel]

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

Shame to see something so basic being done wrong on a modern unit.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Shame to see something so basic being done wrong on a modern unit.

A fix/upgrade has been mentioned, when is anyone's guess

 

[Russel]

A fix/upgrade has been mentioned, when is anyone's guess

At least the issues are being acknowledged I guess

 

[E B]

I took a short hop on a pair of Class 730s today, and 5 of the 6 toilets were out of use! Ridiculous for such a modern train.

 

[50002Superb]

Anyone heading back to the East Midlands today was routed via Euston and Tamworth, the trains were full at Euston and people were told not to board and wait for the next one.

How on earth can they have thought that five cars would be sufficient to cover both routes?

 

[Russel]

Anyone heading back to the East Midlands today was routed via Euston and Tamworth, the trains were full at Euston and people were told not to board and wait for the next one.

How on earth can they have thought that five cars would be sufficient to cover both routes?

They seriously sent out single 730/2s on the Euston - Crewe's today?

 

[50002Superb]

They seriously sent out single 730/2s on the Euston - Crewe's today?

Yep, the 2.45 from Euston was five cars.

 

[Russel]

Yep, the 2.45 from Euston was five cars.

On a weekend where the MML is closed and they've spend half of the week telling people to postpone their travel until the heatwave is over.

Just unacceptable in so many ways.

 

[Sparks807Evo]

I get an increasing sense the railway is being run on numbers and not taking into account the needs nor comfort of passengers…I have noticed a recent upturn in single workings and it’s not good.

I concur with the comment about the 730/2s heating / cooling systems. It seems worse than the older generation Turbo/Electrostars. Also seem to be finding more units with ride vibration.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Has 730227 worked yet?

 

[wythallpaul]

Has 730227 worked yet?

Not that I have Noticed.

 

[Russel]

The station announcements at Tamworth have started including information on toilet facility availability on the 730s, that's quite telling...

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Not that I have Noticed.

Thanks

 

[moogal]

The station announcements at Tamworth have started including information on toilet facility availability on the 730s, that's quite telling...

Well judging by the number of "Toilet facilities not available on this service" updates on the LNR website today (and a few other days) that may be very necessary! Is there some issue with emptying them?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Has 730227 worked yet?

I do not think so but it (730227) has been to and from Gascoigne Wood maybe more than once.

As for 730206. That last got used on 01/06/2026 when iirc it failed at Lichfield (one of the 730/2s did).

Also never used as far as I can tell are 730201, 730202 & 730304.

 

[Bigvernicus]

I think as regards toilet servicing, this can only be done at Bletchley and Crewe,so those outsabled at Northampton and Euston do not get serviced, some units are merged with others during the day, but went on a unit from Euston in the morning, had no toilets and the floors were covered in crumbs and food, they had litter picked the unit but not a proper clean overnight, also big stains in the vestibule and saloon carpets, not a good impression for a new train. LNWR has a lot of work to do to get on top of this.

 

[Wyrleybart]

LNWR has a lot of work to do to get on top of this.

Who is it these days ?
ISTR that when the last franchise change happened WMT was supposed to split into LNwR and end as two franchises. That never happened - blamed on Covid. Since then WMR has become nationalised, so where does that leave LNwR ?

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Who is it these days ?
ISTR that when the last franchise change happened WMT was supposed to split into LNwR and end as two franchises. That never happened - blamed on Covid. Since then WMR has become nationalised, so where does that leave LNwR ?

It's the same company, the same franchise/management contract. It's never been 2 entities.

 

[59CosG95]

It's the same company, the same franchise/management contract. It's never been 2 entities.

The original plan was that WMR would be separate, to minimise the transition should TfWM follow the leads of TfL & Merseytravel (and now, it seems, TfGM) in taking over direct control of its network (IIRC).

 

[SCDR_WMR]

The original plan was that WMR would be separate, to minimise the transition should TfWM follow the leads of TfL & Merseytravel (and now, it seems, TfGM) in taking over direct control of its network (IIRC).

I am acutely aware of what was in the original franchise plan. However that ceased to be part of the plan in 2020, if not earlier. Depots still cover both sides and there is still only 1 head office and training academy.

 

[Russel]

I am acutely aware of what was in the original franchise plan. However that ceased to be part of the plan in 2020, if not earlier. Depots still cover both sides and there is still only 1 head office and training academy.

Given how much extra cost would be introduced by splitting the two brands and the DFT's lack of appetite for spending money, I think we can say any plan do that is dead in the water!

 

[Wyrleybart]

Given how much extra cost would be introduced by splitting the two brands and the DFT's lack of appetite for spending money, I think we can say any plan do that is dead in the water!

But the new rolling stock was branded WMR or LNWR and presumably stations etc too. Proves how not in control the DfT are of their trainset. But hey. We know that.

 

[Russel]

But the new rolling stock was branded WMR or LNWR and presumably stations etc too. Proves how not in control the DfT are of their trainset. But hey. We know that.

That would have all been arranged before the idea was abandoned, there isn't really much overlap between the two bands anyway so not really causing any harm.

 

[Chriso]

I get an increasing sense the railway is being run on numbers and not taking into account the needs nor comfort of passengers…I have noticed a recent upturn in single workings and it’s not good.

I concur with the comment about the 730/2s heating / cooling systems. It seems worse than the older generation Turbo/Electrostars. Also seem to be finding more units with ride vibration.

Welcome to Great British Railways and the inept idiots running it

 

[St. Paddy]

Reported on the non-urgent tops thread that 37510 moved 730202 from Derby to Soho today

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Found this photo on my social media feed.

Photo shows ROG 37510 dragging LNR 730202.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Reported on the non-urgent tops thread that 37510 moved 730202 from Derby to Soho today

Yes, thanks to @55002. I forgot to post here as I was in a rush.

Now I wonder how long it will take for 730202 to presumably be allowed out for tests and down to Bletchley, then into service ?.

I have noticed 730227 has been Bletchley (since before 20/01/2026) to Gascoigne Wood to Bletchley without entering service - six months !.

Also 730206 failed (in the Trent valley iirc) and has not worked since 01/06/2026 - over one month.

 

[rogercov]

Yes, thanks to @55002. I forgot to post here as I was in a rush.

Now I wonder how long it will take for 730202 to presumably be allowed out for tests and down to Bletchley, then into service ?.

I have noticed 730227 has been Bletchley (since before 20/01/2026) to Gascoigne Wood to Bletchley without entering service - six months !.

Also 730206 failed (in the Trent valley iirc) and has not worked since 01/06/2026 - over one month.

Also 730210 which was involved in the Queen's Park collision on 09/05/2026.
It seems to have made it back to Bletchley T.M.D. later that day, presumably under its own power, but hasn't been seen since.
The damage doesn't look too bad. The picture is on the RAIB website. Are these repairs likely to be done at Bletchley or has it been moved elsewhere?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Jul 2026 ==

And 730202 is currently reported as running tests Soho-MKC (2Q41), MKC-Crewe (2Q42), Crewe-MKC (2Q43), MKC-Soho (2Q44).

 

[Trainman40083]

37512 on the Gasgoigne Wood to Soho, Class 730 move today. A purple and orange 3 car. I'd have got the number had I not been distracted by the 37 in full growl.

 

[alm37]

37512 on the Gasgoigne Wood to Soho, Class 730 move today. A purple and orange 3 car. I'd have got the number had I not been distracted by the 37 in full growl.

Reported on WNXX as 730048.