Class 730 LNR & WMR Delivery/test Updates

[mansonlo49]

hello everybody just noticed this today is it a 730? Thanks

 

[800001]

hello everybody just noticed this today is it a 730? Thanks

730211

 

[mansonlo49]

730211

ok thanks

 

[Peter Sarf]

hello everybody just noticed this today is it a 730? Thanks

I asked on non urgent TOPs

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37884 and 730211

Just to add it was 37884 and I saw a video at Long Marston showing the cab scntre window of the 37 with a different frame (unpainted shiny). Was that the 37 that suffered a broken window recently ?.

 

[nigelsporne]

Whilst at New St. On Saturday I noticed that at least two of the Cross City services were single 730s. Is this the norm or are these the ex 323 diagrams now that they have finished? I saw two 323s at Soho.

 

[Kite159]

Whilst at New St. On Saturday I noticed that at least two of the Cross City services were single 730s. Is this the norm or are these the ex 323 diagrams now that they have finished? I saw two 323s at Soho.

I guess until more of the 730/0s enter service or get transferred from working WCML services there will be the odd 3 coach diagram short formation.

 

[Merle Haggard]

When I travelled on the 323s I noticed how quickly the doors released at stations - within a few seconds of stopping - and how quickly the doors opened once the button was pressed. Travelling on the 730s door release seems painfully slow - on a morning peak train at New Street it took about a minute - and the doors themselves open more slowly.
Is the door release delay just 'how it is' ? With the number of station calls it must affect timekeeping.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I

When I travelled on the 323s I noticed how quickly the doors released at stations - within a few seconds of stopping - and how quickly the doors opened once the button was pressed. Travelling on the 730s door release seems painfully slow - on a morning peak train at New Street it took about a minute - and the doors themselves open more slowly.
Is the door release delay just 'how it is' ? With the number of station calls it must affect timekeeping.

Indeed the 730 doors take an age to open at Harrow and Wealdstone. I actually have to wait so long that I start wondering if the doors I am at have been disabled !.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I

Indeed the 730 doors take an age to open at Harrow and Wealdstone. I actually have to wait so long that I start wondering if the doors I am at have been disabled !.

WMT are very much up for what one of the Modern Railways writers calls "the ceremony of the doors", so release is slow on all their units at most stations.

 

[Kite159]

Just shows the best method is driver release, guard close. One less thing for guards to have to worry about when carrying out station duties.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Just shows the best method is driver release, guard close. One less thing for guards to have to worry about when carrying out station duties.

Too many stop shorts on WMT for driver release to be considered. 730s suffer from poor door release method of working due to being ordered as DOO and then bodging conductor door panels in (same with 196s).

Doors will not be being done by drivers in the short to medium term.

 

[TheTallOne]

The 730 door opening method appears to be train manager opens the local door, step onto the platform, walk away from the train (e.g. to be able to see the entire length of the train), go back onto the train, open the rest of the doors, step back onto the platform.

I guess they're making sure the train is on the right place, perhaps longer than the 323s?, making sure it's not hanging off the edge of a platform (so to speak!)

So all that does take a bit of time. And if they're not near a door, even longer.

 

[trundlewagon]

There was a special method of working for 323s on the Cross City. As long as the middle cab was stopped next to the green line on the platform, doors could be released without the guard stepping down to check - that's why they were a lot quicker when it came to door release.

 

[Tester]

The 730 door opening method appears to be train manager opens the local door, step onto the platform, walk away from the train (e.g. to be able to see the entire length of the train), go back onto the train, open the rest of the doors, step back onto the platform.

I guess they're making sure the train is on the right place, perhaps longer than the 323s?, making sure it's not hanging off the edge of a platform (so to speak!)

So all that does take a bit of time. And if they're not near a door, even longer.

They are making sure that the platform has not been removed since they last stopped at it, as they are required to do.

 

[Peter Sarf]

730003 & 73011 have gone back to Gascoigne Wood from Crewe on 5Q16,

Realtime Trains | 5Q16 1217 Crewe C.S. to Gascoigne Wood Sidings | 01/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q16 1217 departure from Crewe C.S. to Gascoigne Wood Sidings on 01/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Gleaned from the Non-Urgent TOPS Requests thread (with thanks to @alm37 & @swidnod).

I would have thought by now the 730/0s would have been fully accepted and needed on the Cross City Line ?.

 

[mansonlo49]

730003 & 73011 have gone back to Gascoigne Wood from Crewe on 5Q16,

Realtime Trains | 5Q16 1217 Crewe C.S. to Gascoigne Wood Sidings | 01/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q16 1217 departure from Crewe C.S. to Gascoigne Wood Sidings on 01/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Gleaned from the Non-Urgent TOPS Requests thread (with thanks to @alm37 & @swidnod).

I would have thought by now the 730/0s would have been fully accepted and needed on the Cross City Line ?.

That’s really strange, don’t they needed them now, how come gone back to store?

 

[TheTallOne]

They are making sure that the platform has not been removed since they last stopped at it, as they are required to do.

Can't trust anyone these days eh, platforms "going missing"

Or is it a maintenance issue, platforms crumbling at the edges.

I guess the green line idea works well, but only if they're near the middle of the train when they open the doors. Given they can open any door now, they might not necessarily be in the middle of the train, especially if they've been checking tickets or helping someone with something.

 

[Merle Haggard]

They are making sure that the platform has not been removed since they last stopped at it, as they are required to do.

A bit like those on-train announcements waiting outside Euston 'We are waiting for a platform'. It was there last night .

 

[Kite159]

Given they can open any door now, they might not necessarily be in the middle of the train, especially if they've been checking tickets or helping someone with something.

Considering that the majority of services I was on last weekend had the gangway doors locked out of use (when it wasn't a single unit), the guards are still very much middle-cab dwellers.

Although I can't blame them due to how close some of the stations are, won't be able to do much in the way of revenue in between stations. Similar to SWR metro guards (and in a way like Merseyrail is)

 

[185]

Just shows the best method is driver release, guard close. One less thing for guards to have to worry about when carrying out station duties.

It should be noted that the issue causing delays seems to be ASDO set up wrongly in the programming stage, and driver having to override it or acknowledge the guards door release request. Has also happened at a couple of Greater Anglia stations which are DOO, therefore suggesting Muddern Railways are talking out of their a... See More

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Considering that the majority of services I was on last weekend had the gangway doors locked out of use (when it wasn't a single unit), the guards are still very much middle-cab dwellers.

Although I can't blame them due to how close some of the stations are, won't be able to do much in the way of revenue in between stations. Similar to SWR metro guards (and in a way like Merseyrail is)

If you're on about double 730s that's due to the unfriendly setup of the cabs which means that to operate doors from the middle cab, the gangway has to be shut otherwise the guard is limited to standing in a tiny gap between the folded forward drivers seat and the rear wall. It is really tight and not particularly pleasant for more than a few minutes, never mind several hours on a X-City diagram!

They have been told they are not allowed to have the gangway closed but clearly that is the option many are choosing currently.

 

[DavidGrain]

WMT require the guards to get off the train before opening the doors. At stations like University with curved platforms the guard needs to be in a middle cab. Last time i caught a train from University, this did not happen as I saw the guard open and get off the train through a passenger door and she almost got swamped by the crowd of passengers getting off and the passengers on the platform waiting to get on.
I have seen Cross Country guards from the rear cab having to go right to the back of the platform at University before closing the doors.

 

[wickham]

Ref Post 2446: I suspect (but can not confirm) that these units are going/have been going to Gascign Wood for some work, probably by contractors and not for store.
Additionally:
5Q70 1233 Derby to Old Dalby ran today (Tues 2.10.24) Possibly another 730 ?? - and again I suspect that the same applies to the recent moves to and from here - modifications or completion work, not testing as has been usual in the past at this location.

 

[800001]

Ref Post 2446: I suspect (but can not confirm) that these units are going/have been going to Gascign Wood for some work, probably by contractors and not for store.
Additionally:
5Q70 1233 Derby to Old Dalby ran today (Tues 2.10.24) Possibly another 730 ?? - and again I suspect that the same applies to the recent moves to and from here - modifications or completion work, not testing as has been usual in the past at this location.

701502 was the unit that moved to Dalby today.

 

[mansonlo49]

Today seen 730203 at Crewe around 1pm on test, some cables attached to one of the driving carriages

 

[kennythelad]

Not sure when it moved up from the Euston stoppers, but 730029 was on the Cross City services this afternoon. Don’t know if any others have moved up?.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Not sure when it moved up from the Euston stoppers, but 730029 was on the Cross City services this afternoon. Don’t know if any others have moved up?.

Generally the 730/0s seem to do their first passenger work on the Southern WCML then migrate North to Birmingham as "newer" 730/0s arrive. The 730/0s have been delivered and started use in no particular order. Less often 730/0s come back down to the Southern WCML. Two recently headed back to Gascoigne Wood !.

 

[Geeves]

I was thinking it might be to get some kind of Mileage in but Cross City miles soon add up. You can only assume the diagrams are slightly more forgiving in London (most of the day parked) Vs the 590 stops a day in Birmingham!

 

[Peter Sarf]

I was thinking it might be to get some kind of Mileage in but Cross City miles soon add up. You can only assume the diagrams are slightly more forgiving in London (most of the day parked) Vs the 590 stops a day in Birmingham!

That's a thought. And a lot more changing ends in Birmingham too.

 

[mansonlo49]

hello noticed this move yesterday from Loughborough to Derby LL, is this a 730? Thanks

Realtime Trains | 5Q57 1228 Loughborough Brush to Derby Litchurch Lane | 04/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q57 1228 departure from Loughborough Brush to Derby Litchurch Lane on 04/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk