Class 730 LNR & WMR Delivery/test Updates

[james_the_xv]

Plans to introduce 730/2's to Birmingham from w/c 15th September at the weekends, with M-F operation from w/c 29th September. 12 car 350 operation north of Northampton to Birmingham is also planned from this date.

10th November is the date now for planned introduction onto the Trent Valley line, with one of the early morning starters from Northampton switching from 350's.

New stop markers have gone up on the intermediate stations north of Northampton towards Brum. 8 UDS, and 6-12X added where applicable.

 

[Pumbaa]

So, if I’ve understood correctly, does this mean that 730s on the Birmingham’s are only temporary, and long-term it’ll only be Euston-MK/Tring and Euston-Crewe(/Manchester)?

Regardless, it’s good to see the extra capacity coming to the Birmingham services, be it 730s or 12.350.

Pretty much. There’ll be the odd 730 or 350 on a non 730 or 350 “route” as required for either stock moves or provision of passenger demand.

Intent was to get as many of the longer distance routes out of Euston at full length 240m long, particularly weekends. Not sure yet how close that’ll be to being fully achieved.

 

[childwallblues]

Oh the Stafford crewe shuttle is also added is it there'll be 730 on that route in future

I would not think that it warranted five cars.

 

[Kite159]

I would not think that it warranted five cars.

Indeed, probably a 3 coach 730 would be more than enough for most of the day on that route.

 

[Russel]

Indeed, probably a 3 coach 730 would be more than enough for most of the day on that route.

Problem is you then have WRM trains operating LNWR services, shame the who WMT network couldn't have just remained as London Midland.

 

[mansonlo49]

Problem is you then have WRM trains operating LNWR services, shame the who WMT network couldn't have just remained as London Midland.

although the 730/0 still operating Euston services now, on the other hand

 

[Russel]

although the 730/0 still operating Euston services now, on the other hand

I'd forgotten about them, yet more branding/operator confusion for anyone not a regular traveller.

 

[mansonlo49]

I'd forgotten about them, yet more branding/operator confusion for anyone not a regular traveller.

Yea so I’m wondering when’re those WMR units moving back north, as more LNWR 730s got delivered

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I would not think that it warranted five cars.

That will fully depend on what happens with the route given there are 2 changes being discussed internally where longer trains may be required

 

[The_Train]

730224 out for a first time today

Realtime Trains | 1G54 1312 Liverpool Lime Street to Birmingham New Street | 11/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 1G54 1312 departure from Liverpool Lime Street to Birmingham New Street on 11/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[AJDesiro]

Reported in the Alstom new fleets Facebook group that the 730s will no longer be starting tomorrow on Euston-Birmingham, since further validation checks need to take place.

EDIT: Seems to be wibble, I reckon there must’ve been a breakdown in communication somewhere.

 

[mansonlo49]

@AJDesiro Oh so how about the trent valley services, are those affected?

 

[AJDesiro]

@AJDesiro Oh so how about the trent valley services, are those affected?

No clue, I'm afraid.

 

[Russel]

@AJDesiro Oh so how about the trent valley services, are those affected?

I saw posts mentioning September for the Trent Valley, but has there been anything definite?

 

[InTheEastMids]

BBC Beds/Herts/Bucks have uploaded the video linked below to Facebook that showcases the completion of the Bletchley Depot redevelopment to support the 730 fleet. I don't think an account is necessary to view it.

19K views · 107 reactions | The depot will maintain trains that run on services to and from London Euston, including services to Crewe, Northampton and Milton Keynes. | BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks

The depot will maintain trains that run on services to and from London Euston, including services to Crewe, Northampton and Milton Keynes..

www.facebook.com

Description: Drone footage of a train shed, modular office building and about 9 sidings of differing lengths set into concrete hard standing occupied by LNWR and WMR stock. A solar array is on a triangle of land on the East side of the site.

 

[Bevan Price]

Indeed, probably a 3 coach 730 would be more than enough for most of the day on that route.

3 coach version is limited to 90 mph, so could not match schedules planned for 110 mph maximum of the 5 coach version.

 

[bnsf734]

2Y05 (0606 Northampton to Birmingham New Street) is already allocated as 730226 so let us see how the diagram fills out for the day.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Sep 2025 ==


The next working (1Y20 0736 New Street to Euston) will see 730205 attached

Reported in the Alstom new fleets Facebook group that the 730s will no longer be starting tomorrow on Euston-Birmingham, since further validation checks need to take place.

Well there is already 730226 allocated to 2Y05 (0606 Northampton to Birmingham New Street) and 730205 attached at New Street back to Euston so fingers crossed..

 

[childwallblues]

RTT is showing 730210/212/213/215/217/224/232 and 350266/369 on Birmingham to Liverpool services today.

 

[rogercov]

Well there is already 730226 allocated to 2Y05 (0606 Northampton to Birmingham New Street) and 730205 attached at New Street back to Euston so fingers crossed..

730226 made it to Birmingham. Picking up 730205 at Northampton on way back to Euston, then planned to be on Tring/MKC service for rest of the day according to RTT.
However, 730230 later planned to be on 1Y27 1023 EUS-BHM and on Birmingham services for rest of the day, so we'll see what happens.

 

[800001]

730226 made it to Birmingham. Picking up 730205 at Northampton on way back to Euston, then planned to be on Tring/MKC service for rest of the day according to RTT.
However, 730230 later planned to be on 1Y27 1023 EUS-BHM and on Birmingham services for rest of the day, so we'll see what happens.

It was a LNWR guard who posted to say they would not be operating the into Birmingham from today, I wonder if post was meant to refer to multi operation?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Is there a list anywhere of which 730s have entered service ?.
Or even ventured out on test.
Or even stored ?.

 

[Silverlinky]

Does appear that the restriction is on 10 car running north of Northampton, 5 cars are fine and are working services today.

 

[sufian123]

it looks like it will be starting from Bletchley to Birmingham New Street. What's gone wrong?

Realtime Trains | 1556 London Euston to Birmingham New Street | 15/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 1556 departure from London Euston to Birmingham New Street on 15/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Lanley]

it looks like it will be starting from Bletchley to Birmingham New Street. What's gone wrong?

Realtime Trains | 1556 London Euston to Birmingham New Street | 15/09/2025

Real-time train running information for 1556 departure from London Euston to Birmingham New Street on 15/09/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Noted as a tree blocking the railway on National Rail Enquiries

 

[wythallpaul]

730226 made it to Birmingham. Picking up 730205 at Northampton on way back to Euston, then planned to be on Tring/MKC service for rest of the day according to RTT.
However, 730230 later planned to be on 1Y27 1023 EUS-BHM and on Birmingham services for rest of the day, so we'll see what happens.

226 was showing 'No Multi' (Unit cannot be connected to any another Unit to work as one complete multiple Unit) in the cab leading towards London Euston. This would mean that 205 would have had to be driven onto the rear to attach at Northampton. Looks like this move delayed the service. Northampton arrive 0837 on time, departed 0855 - 7 mins late. Station dwell time 18 mins.

 

[Silverlinky]

226 was showing 'No Multi' in the cab leading towards London. This would mean that 205 would have had to be driven onto the rear to attach at Northampton. Looks like this move delayed the service. Northants arr 0837 on time, dep 0855 - 7 mins down. Station dwell time 18 mins.

Thankfully this was noticed on departure from New Street and the order in which the units went into platform 1 at Northampton was hastily swapped around meaning indeed the empty unit attached to the rear. The attachment went fine however there was some trouble with the interconnecting doors and opening them up to create the gangway, one of them couldn't be unlocked without fitters intervention. That is what led to the delay.

 

[sufian123]

Noted as a tree blocking the railway on National Rail Enquiries

Thanks

 

[Silverlinky]

Is there a list anywhere of which 730s have entered service ?.
Or even ventured out on test.
Or even stored ?.

There is an excellent database created by Ben Wright, the address i'm sure I lifted off here a couple of months ago, which gives pretty much the current state of play with regards to which are in service and which are not....

205/10/11/12/13/15/16/17/18/20/24/26/30/31/32/33/34 and 235 are all in service or at least available for service
201/2/3/4/6/7/8/9/14/19/21/22/23/25/27/28/29 and 236 have not yet entered service

 

[Peter Sarf]

There is an excellent database created by Ben Wright, the address i'm sure I lifted off here a couple of months ago, which gives pretty much the current state of play with regards to which are in service and which are not....

205/10/11/12/13/15/16/17/18/20/24/26/30/31/32/33/34 and 235 are all in service or at least available for service
201/2/3/4/6/7/8/9/14/19/21/22/23/25/27/28/29 and 236 have not yet entered service

Thanks

 

[wythallpaul]

There is an excellent database created by Ben Wright, the address i'm sure I lifted off here a couple of months ago, which gives pretty much the current state of play with regards to which are in service and which are not....

205/10/11/12/13/15/16/17/18/20/24/26/30/31/32/33/34 and 235 are all in service or at least available for service
201/2/3/4/6/7/8/9/14/19/21/22/23/25/27/28/29 and 236 have not yet entered service

730223 was in service on the 3rd & 4th September. Birmingham New Street to Liverpool Lime Street. Failed at Crewe on the 4th September - Not worked since.