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Class 730 LNR & WMR Delivery/test Updates

Halish Railway

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I see. So less units out of Euston and more in the midlands. Typical levelling up. I’m really looking forward to the cramped suburban trains out of Euston (not)!
But the 730/0s in the West Midlands will be used to displace 350s for work out of Euston. It’s most likely that the Walsall to Wolverhampton and Rugeley Trent Valley to Birmingham International services will see their 350s replaced by 730s.
 
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AJDesiro

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But the 730/0s in the West Midlands will be used to displace 350s for work out of Euston. It’s most likely that the Walsall to Wolverhampton and Rugeley Trent Valley to Birmingham International services will see their 350s replaced by 730s.
If I recall correctly, last time I heard, the 730s that LNR are getting will be used on the Euston-Tring/MKC stoppers and Euston-Crewe, with some 350s supplementing them at peak times.

Euston-Crewe requires 5 diagrams, so will likely need 10 units (1x5.730 would be a very bad idea, 8.350 can be full and standing on that route regularly).

Euston-Tring/MKC requires around 5 diagrams, off peak, I don't know the exact number, but that's what I made out after a look on RTT, (if anyone could quote the exact number that'd be a hude help!), so will likely need 10 units too, leaving 16 units spare each day.
If they were to be used on Birmingham-Liverpool services that'd be another 3 diagrams, though I don't know if the platform lengths are suitable for 10.730, and 5.730 may be too short, Birmingham-Crewe could be another possibility, and would require a similar number of diagrams, maybe one less. I spoke to a WMT manager a few months ago, but can't remember what he said other than Trent Valley, WCML South Stoppers and something else that I can't quite recall.

In any case, their use around Crewe comes with a few issues, most notably that none of the southbound bay platforms at Crewe can accomodate a 10 car 730 as far as I'm aware, so would most likely have to use a through platform.
 
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45076

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Does anyone know what the next unit to be built will be? Will it be 730037 or will it be an LNR unit? Just wondering since the original order was for 36 730/0s, and 730036 was built recently, of course there's now 48 /0s. But I'm just wondering whether a /2 will come out next since perhaps the production line couldn't have been changed that soon on?
When you drive by the back of the works, along Osmaston Road, you can see a lot of orange coach ends. So I would presume that the remaining WMR units will be built first. However you can never really tell.
 

Skymonster

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There was a driving coach numbered 730.04 (I didnt catch the 4th digit) outside the works late last week.
 

AJDesiro

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When you drive by the back of the works, along Osmaston Road, you can see a lot of orange coach ends. So I would presume that the remaining WMR units will be built first. However you can never really tell.
Ah, that's helpful then.
 

The_Train

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730038 was sighted yesterday on it's way to Oxley but does anyone know if 037 is complete and whether it has departed Litchurch Lane? They've tended to roll these out in numerical order in the past
 

Wyrleybart

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730038 was sighted yesterday on it's way to Oxley but does anyone know if 037 is complete and whether it has departed Litchurch Lane? They've tended to roll these out in numerical order in the past
AIUI 730037 onwards are the "new units" converted from the original order for 730201-730216
 

The_Train

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AIUI 730037 onwards are the "new units" converted from the original order for 730201-730216
That was my understanding although I have yet to see confirmation that 037 onwards are replacing 201 onwards so could the 730/2's still be built and 037 onwards be extra units added to the order?
 

AJDesiro

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That was my understanding although I have yet to see confirmation that 037 onwards are replacing 201 onwards so could the 730/2's still be built and 037 onwards be extra units added to the order?
My understanding from reading modern railways and speaking to various staff is that 48 730/0s are now being built, with 36 730/2s being built, with the 3 existing 730/1s being converted to 730/2s.
 

RealTrains07

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My understanding from reading modern railways and speaking to various staff is that 48 730/0s are now being built, with 36 730/2s being built, with the 3 existing 730/1s being converted to 730/2s.
i find it odd that wmt chose to change the numbering from /1 to /2 and not have just 730/0s and have LNRs as /1s not /2s
 

The_Train

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My understanding from reading modern railways and speaking to various staff is that 48 730/0s are now being built, with 36 730/2s being built, with the 3 existing 730/1s being converted to 730/2s.
Interesting, I suspect it will be a case of updating my records as they come of the production line :D
 

AJDesiro

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i find it odd that wmt chose to change the numbering from /1 to /2 and not have just 730/0s and have LNRs as /1s not /2s
Presumably it’s since the order was changed to all 2+2 units for LNR (and hopefully it stays that way), and the 730/2s were going to have those interiors, maybe there’s some reason within TOPS?
 

315801

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Can I ask please are there any differences between the original 730/0 and the 730/1 & 730/2 variants and if so, what are they please ?
 

Bletchleyite

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Can I ask please are there any differences between the original 730/0 and the 730/1 & 730/2 variants and if so, what are they please ?

The obvious one is 3+2 seating in the /1, though this, I understand, is to be converted to 2+2 per the /2.

/0 3 car, /1 and /2 5 car.

Top speeds also different, /1 and /2 110mph, I forget what the /0 is but it's lower - 90?
 
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AJDesiro

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The obvious one is 3+2 seating in the /1, though this, I understand, is to be converted to 2+2 per the /2.

/0 3 car, /1 and /2 5 car.

Top speeds also different, /1 and /2 110mph, I forget what the /0 is but it's lower - 90?
/0 is indeed 90. The /2 also has tables and armrests, while the /0 only has tables.
 

trundlewagon

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Do the 90mph /0s have differing traction equipment/gearing/whatever to the 110mph units - presumably giving them a faster acceleration - or is it more of a paper exercise?
 

SCDR_WMR

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Do the 90mph /0s have differing traction equipment/gearing/whatever to the 110mph units - presumably giving them a faster acceleration - or is it more of a paper exercise?
Yes, I believe it's different gearing. Improved acceleration and lower high speed on the /0 as they are for lines with short distances between stops (and lower line speed).

The /2s are for mainline working on 110mph speed lines so need the extra top speed to compete with current traction
 

3973EXL

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37510 730037

37510 730024/034
 
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Chiltern006

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There was a pair at Camden on Tuesday, couldn’t tell you the number but was around 07:50
 

AJDesiro

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I think they’ll need to be 9 on the Euston suburban lines!
That was my thinking, a 6 car 730/0 is ~16m shorter than an 8 car 350, though with the greater standing space, it wouldn’t surprise me if we saw people getting crushed on and forced to stand.

I know that the /0s have authorisation for service as 6 car units, but I’m unsure as to whether they’re authorised for running as 9 cars, I think I may have seen it happen, but I’m not fully sure.
 
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That was my thinking, a 6 car 730/0 is ~16m shorter than an 8 car 350, though with the greater standing space, it wouldn’t surprise me if we saw people getting crushed on and forced to stand.

I know that the /0s have authorisation for service as 6 car units, but I’m unsure as to whether they’re authorised for running as 9 cars, I think I may have seen it happen, but I’m not fully sure.
Looks like the ORR approved 9 car running in November: https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/defaul...ation-orr-authorisation-letter-2022-11-18.pdf
 

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