West Midlands Class 323 - the final countdown

[shinymac]

Just to say thanks v much for all the replies and help re seeing the 323 s tomorrow. Fingers Crossed Buddies !

 

[warwickshire]

Observations Wednesday 07th August 2024

Bromsgrove to Lichfield
323240 323216

Redditch to Four Oaks
323215 solo
323222 solo.

 

[warwickshire]

It will be out in the afternoon, it's off to tyseley for tyre turning https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K17343/2024-08-07/detailed

Been Cancelled, for some unknown reason

 

[crosscity]

Been Cancelled, for some unknown reason

... no loco to haul it?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

... no loco to haul it?

Looks like it, this was probably the loco's path, could be coincidence but it seems likely enough.

Realtime Trains | 0N65 1413 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Soho L.M.D. | 07/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 0N65 1413 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Soho L.M.D. on 07/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

0N65 1413 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Soho L.M.D.
Departing today​

This service is cancelled.​

This service was cancelled due to a request by the train operator (FL).

 

[Liam L]

Paths in 214 move tomorrow

Realtime Trains | 5J70 0854 Soho L.M.D. to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 09/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 5J70 0854 departure from Soho L.M.D. to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 09/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[mansonlo49]

Paths in 214 move tomorrow

Realtime Trains | 5J70 0854 Soho L.M.D. to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 09/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 5J70 0854 departure from Soho L.M.D. to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 09/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

May i please ask is it returning to storage? thanks

 

[Liam L]

May i please ask is it returning to storage? thanks

Storage, 211 is going too.

Down to 2 diagrams from Monday, both should be 6 cars however so no more annoying short forms!

 

[JW4]

323215 is alone on Four Oaks-Redditch

 

[Johnhayworth21]

Do we know what the diagrams will be from Monday by any chance?

 

[warwickshire]

Storage, 211 is going too.

Down to 2 diagrams from Monday, both should be 6 cars however so no more annoying short forms!

Not much give. Though 1 spare unit, should one be in maintenance, and another one fail, then it will be cancellations or disruption galore. Maybe a Redditch to Four Oaks will be a solo 323,

The Bromsgrove to Lichfield remains double, unless the 323s are now restricted to Four Oaks to Redditch, within reason from Monday onwards, One diagram a solo, other a Six car.

Also heard from a wmr staff member, as we get into back end of August 2024, more likely 323, will be standby.

As for Monday, wait and see. However it appears the 323s, are going in number order at the moment to Wolverton.

 

[Liam L]

Not much give. Though 1 spare unit, should one be in maintenance, and another one fail, then it will be cancellations or disruption galore. Maybe a Redditch to Four Oaks will be a solo 323,

Presumably if there 730s sat spare they could step in if any 323s fail which has happened before, however it depends how many are being used for driver training / testing still.

 

[warwickshire]

Presumably if there 730s sat spare they could step in if any 323s fail which has happened before, however it depends how many are being used for driver training / testing still.

True, just await and see, maybe the 323 diagrams x2 from now on, could be standby diagrams, ie if a 730 turns up, don't be disappointed, it could well happen,
Again all we can do is see what happens,

 

[Johnhayworth21]

323216 and 240 on the Lichfield diagram today. Just been stranded outside Shenstone station (signalling issues) and had to reverse wrong line back into the station.

 

[Liam L]

Only 214 made the move down to Wolverton this morning, 211 still with WMT

 

[warwickshire]

Only 214 made the move down to Wolverton this morning, 211 still with WMT

Didn't think it was going, however 214 solo makes sense, because six units left 211 215 216 221 222 240, 22
Hence 4 in Traffic, one spare, if one in service fails, and one maintenance,
Suspect the diagrams could be Alternatively Bromsgrove to Lichfield and Redditch to Four Oaks, ie staying overnight at Four Oaks in Between.
Unless the X2 Redditch to Four Oaks, solo diagrams becomes x2 6 car 323 diagrams.

 

[warwickshire]

Observations Friday 09 th August 2024
Witnessed Tile Hill
5J70 0857 Soho to Wolverton
323214. Solo

Redditch to Birmingham New Street.
Bromsgrove to Birmingham New Street.
Shuttles due to Aston closed due to Lineside fire
323215 Solo
323222 Solo..

Bromsgrove to Lichfield
323216 323240, stuck Shenstone area as reported above, Witnessed very early on at Gravelly Hill.

Subject to change as day goes on.

 

[mansonlo49]

Just please May I ask due to the recent movements of the WM 323s is it there’s a final day of them thank you

 

[Liam L]

Just please May I ask due to the recent movements of the WM 323s is it there’s a final day of them thank you

No date for final day yet, however the fleet is expected to be withdrawn by the end of September I believe

 

[crosscity]

Down to 2 diagrams from Monday, both should be 6 cars however so no more annoying short forms!

So... there are six units now left at Soho. I wonder if there will still be three diagrams tomorrow (Sat 10/8)?

Here is my updated list.

Unit	Name	Last seen in WM service	Source	Note	Date left WM	To
6 STILL WITH WM (FUTURE UNKNOWN)
323201	Duddeston	Thu 18Jul2024	RailUK	Returned to Porterbrook	Mon 22Jul2024	Wolverton
323204	Selly Oak	Mon 08Jul2024	RailUK	Returned to Porterbrook	Mon 22Jul2024	Wolverton
323211	Four Oaks	Tue 06Aug2024	RailUK
323214	Wylde Green	Tue 06Aug2024	RailUK	Moved to Soho from Wolverton 08Jul2024	Fri 09Aug2024	Wolverton
323215	Gravelly Hill	Fri 09Aug2024	RailUK
323216	University	Fri 09Aug2024	RailUK
323221	Northfield. In Centro livery	Mon 05Aug2024	RailUK
323222	Redditch	Fri 09Aug2024	RailUK
323240	Erdington	Fri 09Aug2024	RailUK

Fri 09/08/2024 report
323214 made it's debut on Wednesday and went back to Wolverton on Friday!
Seven units have been out in service since Monday
This week: Three M-S 323 diagrams (1 Bromsgrove-Lichfield, 2 Redditch-Four Oaks)
… and eight Crosscity 730 diagrams (5 Bromsgrove-Lichfield, 3 Redditch-Four Oaks)
Six units left with WM at Soho

 

[Liam L]

So... there are six units now left at Soho. I wonder if there will still be three diagrams tomorrow (Sat 10/8)?

Here is my updated list.

Unit	Name	Last seen in WM service	Source	Note	Date left WM	To
6 STILL WITH WM (FUTURE UNKNOWN)
323201	Duddeston	Thu 18Jul2024	RailUK	Returned to Porterbrook	Mon 22Jul2024	Wolverton
323204	Selly Oak	Mon 08Jul2024	RailUK	Returned to Porterbrook	Mon 22Jul2024	Wolverton
323211	Four Oaks	Tue 06Aug2024	RailUK
323214	Wylde Green	Tue 06Aug2024	RailUK	Moved to Soho from Wolverton 08Jul2024	Fri 09Aug2024	Wolverton
323215	Gravelly Hill	Fri 09Aug2024	RailUK
323216	University	Fri 09Aug2024	RailUK
323221	Northfield. In Centro livery	Mon 05Aug2024	RailUK
323222	Redditch	Fri 09Aug2024	RailUK
323240	Erdington	Fri 09Aug2024	RailUK

Fri 09/08/2024 report
323214 made it's debut on Wednesday and went back to Wolverton on Friday!
Seven units have been out in service since Monday
This week: Three M-S 323 diagrams (1 Bromsgrove-Lichfield, 2 Redditch-Four Oaks)
… and eight Crosscity 730 diagrams (5 Bromsgrove-Lichfield, 3 Redditch-Four Oaks)
Six units left with WM at Soho

Diagrams reduce to 2 from Monday so should be still 3 tomorrow unless the cross city north is still playing up.

 

[mansonlo49]

No date for final day yet, however the fleet is expected to be withdrawn by the end of September I believe

thanks，appreciate

 

[Liam L]

Another unit going off lease on Monday

Realtime Trains | 5J70 0854 Soho L.M.D. to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 12/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 5J70 0854 departure from Soho L.M.D. to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 12/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[alex756024]

Are we sure they will remove all from service? I mean, the 730's have had their issues since the get go, so it would be surprising to have them all gone by September. I'm not criticising any information that has been posted, I just feel there will be a bit more of these 323's for a while.

 

[DaveyJones]

Are we sure they will remove all from service? I mean, the 730's have had their issues since the get go, so it would be surprising to have them all gone by September. I'm not criticising any information that has been posted, I just feel there will be a bit more of these 323's for a while.

Id be pretty confident they'll rush the last few off as soon as possible. Maintaining small fleets is an operational nightmare, both for maintenance staff and operational staff

 

[warwickshire]

Observations Saturday 10th August 2024.
Bromsgrove to Lichfield
323216 323240.

Redditch to Four Oaks
323222 solo
323215 solo.

 

[crosscity]

Sat 10Aug
Popped round to Kings Norton at six-ish to see if the diagrams still held.
It all looked a bit chaotic with cancellations due to staff shortages, and trains turning round at Longbridge because of a signalling failure.

2R49 (Diagram1) turned up more or less on time with 323215 (17:16 Four Oaks-Redditch)
2P51 (Diagram5) ran 18m late with 323216 & 323240 (17:29 Bromsgrove-Lichfield). It only ran from Longbridge to New St.
I didn't wait to see if Diagram2 was a 323, although 2R51 (17:46 Four Oaks-Redditch) looks as though it started from New St approximately 20m late.

 

[Liam L]

Sat 10Aug
Popped round to Kings Norton at six-ish to see if the diagrams still held.
It all looked a bit chaotic with cancellations due to staff shortages, and trains turning round at Longbridge because of a signalling failure.

2R49 (Diagram1) turned up more or less on time with 323215 (17:16 Four Oaks-Redditch)
2P51 (Diagram5) ran 18m late with 323216 & 323240 (17:29 Bromsgrove-Lichfield). It only ran from Longbridge to New St.
I didn't wait to see if Diagram2 was a 323, although 2R51 (17:46 Four Oaks-Redditch) looks as though it started from New St approximately 20m late.

323222 was on the diagram 2 when I saw it this afternoon

 

[mansonlo49]

So... there are six units now left at Soho. I wonder if there will still be three diagrams tomorrow (Sat 10/8)?

Here is my updated list.

Unit	Name	Last seen in WM service	Source	Note	Date left WM	To
6 STILL WITH WM (FUTURE UNKNOWN)
323201	Duddeston	Thu 18Jul2024	RailUK	Returned to Porterbrook	Mon 22Jul2024	Wolverton
323204	Selly Oak	Mon 08Jul2024	RailUK	Returned to Porterbrook	Mon 22Jul2024	Wolverton
323211	Four Oaks	Tue 06Aug2024	RailUK
323214	Wylde Green	Tue 06Aug2024	RailUK	Moved to Soho from Wolverton 08Jul2024	Fri 09Aug2024	Wolverton
323215	Gravelly Hill	Fri 09Aug2024	RailUK
323216	University	Fri 09Aug2024	RailUK
323221	Northfield. In Centro livery	Mon 05Aug2024	RailUK
323222	Redditch	Fri 09Aug2024	RailUK
323240	Erdington	Fri 09Aug2024	RailUK

Fri 09/08/2024 report
323214 made it's debut on Wednesday and went back to Wolverton on Friday!
Seven units have been out in service since Monday
This week: Three M-S 323 diagrams (1 Bromsgrove-Lichfield, 2 Redditch-Four Oaks)
… and eight Crosscity 730 diagrams (5 Bromsgrove-Lichfield, 3 Redditch-Four Oaks)
Six units left with WM at Soho

thank you very much for the updated list

 

[TheTallOne]

Going through university on a 323 this morning and the electronic sign said "this train will have more carriages than usual"