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Class 730 LNR & WMR Delivery/test Updates

crosscity

crosscity

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nigelsporne said:
Now that the 730/0s are in control of the local Brum services are there any moves to put them on the Liverpool service? In theory how many spare units are there after taking in the London pool? Enough to make a start on Liverpool?
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Has a 730/0 ever been to Liverpool? They've ran on their own from Crewe to Birmingham since 2021, but I haven't heard of them going further North.
Do TOC staff who sign 730/0's work any Liverpool services? I'd be surprised if they do.

I'm not an insider but I'd be surprised if the plan for 730/2's to Liverpool is going to be changed.
 
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SCDR_WMR

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crosscity said:
Has a 730/0 ever been to Liverpool? They've ran on their own from Crewe to Birmingham since 2021, but I haven't heard of them going further North.
Do TOC staff who sign 730/0's work any Liverpool services? I'd be surprised if they do.

I'm not an insider but I'd be surprised if the plan for 730/2's to Liverpool is going to be changed.
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Not that I'm aware of, /2s have been that way for clearance and platform testing only.

No 730s have been north of Wolverhampton in passenger service unless I'm mistaken.

Both Wolves and New St (Drivers and Guards) sign up to Liverpool and sign 730/0s, but all diagrams are for 350s on that route.

Will definitely be 730/2 single units on that route, no /0s
 
nigelsporne

nigelsporne

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If it's going to be /2s on the Liverpool run then what will the 730/0s from the London pool be used on once they are released?
I have seen 730/0s on test north of Crewe but whether they went to Liverpool or not I don't know.
 
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wickham

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5Q68 1113 Derby to Gascoign Wood has run today (MON 27/01) top and tailed by 57310 & 57305, might this be conveying a class 730 ?
 
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Peter Sarf

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nigelsporne said:
If it's going to be /2s on the Liverpool run then what will the 730/0s from the London pool be used on once they are released?
I have seen 730/0s on test north of Crewe but whether they went to Liverpool or not I don't know.
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I thought all the 730/0s were to be concentrated on work round Birmingham.
The 730/0s used on the South WCML was/is just a temporary thing until 730/2s are available.
I am sure there was fairly good info on what would be used where up-thread somewhere.
Needless to say we cannot really have units in Sainsburys livery (ie West Midlands) straying from the West Midlands can we !.

Birmingham does not have enough depot capacity for EMUs so perhaps when the new EMU depot at Bescot depot is completed things will settle down.
Furthermore we are awaiting Bletchley depot to be ready for EMUs - presumably 730/2s.
 
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SCDR_WMR

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nigelsporne said:
If it's going to be /2s on the Liverpool run then what will the 730/0s from the London pool be used on once they are released?
I have seen 730/0s on test north of Crewe but whether they went to Liverpool or not I don't know.
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There's not many units down on the WCML South anyway, but they could extend up to Rugeley TV or act as spares for exams etc.
 
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Peter Sarf

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SCDR_WMR said:
There's not many units down on the WCML South anyway, but they could extend up to Rugeley TV or act as spares for exams etc.
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Indeed it is four pairs of 730/s on South WCML last time I paid attention. That is the maximum it ever was iirc.
 
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SCDR_WMR

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Peter Sarf said:
Indeed it is four pairs of 730/s on South WCML last time I paid attention. That is the maximum it ever was iirc.
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Don't suppose you know how many 350s were in daily use compared to total available as a comparison. Be interesting to know how many units aren't used on a day to day basis
 
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Peter Sarf

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SCDR_WMR said:
Don't suppose you know how many 350s were in daily use compared to total available as a comparison. Be interesting to know how many units aren't used on a day to day basis
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I don't know details.
I know the purpose of the first two (iirc or three ?) pairs of 730/0s was to allow the 319s to be got rid of.
There is the 350/2s to come of lease. Some flood damaged 350s (at Northampton, fixed yet ?).
I suspect the indicative number of 350s might be screwed up by pre and post Covid comparisons.
 
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SCDR_WMR

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Peter Sarf said:
I don't know details.
I know the purpose of the first two (iirc or three ?) pairs of 730/0s was to allow the 319s to be got rid of.
There is the 350/2s to come of lease. Some flood damaged 350s (at Northampton, fixed yet ?).
I suspect the indicative number of 350s might be screwed up by pre and post Covid comparisons.
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Fair enough, I believe the flood damaged 350s have started to be used again.
 
nigelsporne

nigelsporne

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Before Xmas I saw 11 pairs on the Cross City services, there may be at least one further diagram but I'm not sure, and a further 11 single units on Walsall and Rugeley services. So that is 33 units plus potentially 8 units for London which leaves a few for maintenance and stand by. So once the London pool becomes free what will they be used on? There is only the Liverpool service left unless the Walsall/Rugeley are to be doubled up or services enhanced. Are the Cross City services being improved?
 
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Bletchleyite

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SCDR_WMR said:
Fair enough, I believe the flood damaged 350s have started to be used again.
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Does that mean the diagram starting with the 0656 off Bletchley of a morning is back to a solid 350 turn? If so it might influence what train I get tomorrow morning :)

Edit: Yes, back to 350 and short formed to 4, leaving people behind at Harrow. Oh dear...
 
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crosscity

crosscity

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nigelsporne said:
Before Xmas I saw 11 pairs on the Cross City services, there may be at least one further diagram but I'm not sure, and a further 11 single units on Walsall and Rugeley services. So that is 33 units plus potentially 8 units for London which leaves a few for maintenance and stand by. So once the London pool becomes free what will they be used on? There is only the Liverpool service left unless the Walsall/Rugeley are to be doubled up or services enhanced. Are the Cross City services being improved?
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11 diagrams are required for the weekday Cross City service.
On the South side there are four trains per hour rather than the six there were a few years ago. The two 'missing' ones will be filled by the new half-hourly Camp Hill DMU service when it finally starts.

There might be scope on the North side to run two additional services per hour and/or extend the Four Oaks terminators to Lichfield. There used to be four trains per hour to Lichfield.

My own view is the Cross City timetable is a mess, and it isn't planned to get much better. The 10-20-10-20 timetable is Ok for the leaf fall period, but its permanent adoption means it has lost its 'walk-up' and go value.
 
Mordac

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crosscity said:
11 diagrams are required for the weekday Cross City service.
On the South side there are four trains per hour rather than the six there were a few years ago. The two 'missing' ones will be filled by the new half-hourly Camp Hill DMU service when it finally starts.

There might be scope on the North side to run two additional services per hour and/or extend the Four Oaks terminators to Lichfield. There used to be four trains per hour to Lichfield.

My own view is the Cross City timetable is a mess, and it isn't planned to get much better. The 10-20-10-20 timetable is Ok for the leaf fall period, but its permanent adoption means it has lost its 'walk-up' and go value.
Click to expand...
As a X-City line user I'm still not over it.
 
rogercov

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3973EXL said:
730227

Realtime Trains | 5Q42 1049 Old Dalby to Crewe C.S. | 28/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q42 1049 departure from Old Dalby to Crewe C.S. on 28/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk
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I'm guessing that this is the unit running around the West Midlands today on 2Q31-2Q39.
If so, it's currently at Euston

Realtime Trains | 2Q34 1319 London Euston to Birmingham New Street | 29/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 2Q34 1319 departure from London Euston to Birmingham New Street on 29/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk
 
Liam L

Liam L

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crosscity said:
My own view is the Cross City timetable is a mess, and it isn't planned to get much better. The 10-20-10-20 timetable is Ok for the leaf fall period, but its permanent adoption means it has lost its 'walk-up' and go value.
Click to expand...
I believe there a few points along the line which restrict it from going back to 6 trains a hour.

I believe once kings Norton gets remodeled (which has gone really quiet) which is one of the main bottlenecks then they should be able to reintroduce 6tph
 
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Does anyone know what the 730/2s are still parked up at Doncaster Belmont Yard are please,a and when these may be starting to be moved for use?
 
AJDesiro

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730003 seemed to be having issues at University today. The guard couldn’t get the cab door to open, so had to dispatch from the GOP, but the interlock lights remained on. Ended up leaving about 10 minutes late as a result.
 
Liam L

Liam L

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AJDesiro said:
730003 seemed to be having issues at University today. The guard couldn’t get the cab door to open, so had to dispatch from the GOP, but the interlock lights remained on. Ended up leaving about 10 minutes late as a result.
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Seems to be quite common for them to have door issues. Witness one set a couple weeks at Selly Oak with similar issue. Had to detrain passengers and run empty to New Street.
 
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