Class 730 LNR & WMR Delivery/test Updates

[Bletchleyite]

1W51 appears to not be going anywhere...

I noticed that, Tiger showed "expected 1629" from 1623 so possibly awaiting crew.

It's gone off the board now so I guess will depart shortly.

Edit: And indeed they're off! Departed 10 late.

 

[E B]

I noticed that this morning. I suspect it's just that Realtime Trains only has one picture for the 730s and it's the WMR colours - no doubt they will fix that soon. You can't do a 10 car out of /0s so it's not those.

Slightly off topic but this is common across realtime trains.

 

[toppington]

Hello from Car 1. Delay was for awaiting crew from a previous late running working.

It’s a jaunty ride so far, and there appear to be LNWR flags that have been given out to the enthusiasts on the trip!

 

[507016]

Do the /2s sound the same as the /0s? In terms of motor sound, does it take a while longer for the motors to really be audible?

 

[AJDesiro]

Do the /2s sound the same as the /0s? In terms of motor sound, does it take a while longer for the motors to really be audible?

They seemed very quiet in all honesty. Ride quality felt better too, but that might just be the WCML fasts.

 

[Bletchleyite]

They seemed very quiet in all honesty. Ride quality felt better too, but that might just be the WCML fasts.

The fast lines really are excellent quality - best track in the UK I would say. At night in a 350 or 805/807 you can barely tell you are moving at times.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Just asked a Senior Conductor who will work these units. This is there reply about 730/2s calling at Bushey on down Fast:-

Automatic selective door opening will be used.
So we just move to any GOP (guard operating panel) located between coach 1 and 4 release doors as normal and it automatically opens the correct ones.
As well as make the relevant announcements in rear coaches

There is a notice in the notice case which states 10 car formations of 730 are not permitted on the Down Fast at Bushey.

No idea why, but that's the current order.

 

[E B]

Anyone know when they are coming to the Trent Valley ?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've started a Trip Reports thread for people to post views on the /2s having given them a try:

Class 730/2 (LNR) experiences and opinions

Starting this one off having made a last-minute decision (helped by the slight delay) to go to Northampton and back this evening to try out the 730/2. I did have quite high hopes for these, and indeed by appearance they look quite good - the livery really suits them (though you can tell it's...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[SCDR_WMR]

Anyone know when they are coming to the Trent Valley ?

Around August. No date set just yet but pretty much all train crew training is due to be finished at my depot by then.

 

[AJDesiro]

Anyone know when they are coming to the Trent Valley ?

I had a lovely chat with a WMT director on board who said it was pencilled in for September.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I had a lovely chat with a WMT director on board who said it was pencilled in for September.

Excellent. Good to see execs onboard

 

[Bletchleyite]

Excellent. Good to see execs onboard

I saw them but they didn't seem particularly talkative - if I'd had chance I would definitely have made my views known about the legroom plus the discriminatory nature of having given all the priority seats (bar the two rows in First Class which I guess are the best seats in the house bar the one right at the front) a blank wall.

I hate to think what the /1s would have been like had they happened. Well, I guess they would have been like the 720, which is to me the worst train on the whole network.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

I saw them but they didn't seem particularly talkative - if I'd had chance I would definitely have made my views known about the legroom plus the discriminatory nature of having given all the priority seats (bar the two rows in First Class which I guess are the best seats in the house bar the one right at the front) a blank wall.

I hate to think what the /1s would have been like had they happened. Well, I guess they would have been like the 720, which is to me the worst train on the whole network.

That's a shame, there's a few who are usually very chatty if you engage with them. I'll try and point out leg room when they got up to the north end! Hopefully the ride is decent up here too.

 

[800001]

That's a shame, there's a few who are usually very chatty if you engage with them. I'll try and point out leg room when they got up to the north end! Hopefully the ride is decent up here too.

The chatty one will most likely or been John Doughty, very interesting man to chat too. He is the Engineering Director.

 

[AJDesiro]

I saw them but they didn't seem particularly talkative - if I'd had chance I would definitely have made my views known about the legroom plus the discriminatory nature of having given all the priority seats (bar the two rows in First Class which I guess are the best seats in the house bar the one right at the front) a blank wall.

I hate to think what the /1s would have been like had they happened. Well, I guess they would have been like the 720, which is to me the worst train on the whole network.

I just started with something like "Sorry to bother you" and I had a lovely chat with a director.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jun 2025 ==

The chat one will most likely or been John Doughty, very interesting man to chat too. He deals with the fleet.

John Doughty seemed quite busy doing some work whilst on board.

 

[778]

Similar to the 805/807 thread, I've managed to make a 95% accurate seating plan for the 730/2s, the accessible/cycle area may not be fully accurate, and there may be slightly more priority seats. The total number of seats is identical to the 406 figure stated in the factsheet.

I figured it'd be of use to some people on here if you're into that sort of thing!

Did your seating plan turn out to be correct?

I hate to think what the /1s would have been like had they happened. Well, I guess they would have been like the 720, which is to me the worst train on the whole network.

The /1s probably would have happened if it wasn't for covid.

That's a shame, there's a few who are usually very chatty if you engage with them

Do execs prefer to speak to rail enthusiasts over normal passengers? Maybe they like to keep a low profile because they are worried about passengers having a go at them.

 

[AJDesiro]

Did your seating plan turn out to be correct?

There's a few differences in the wheelchair/cycle area, but other than that it's pretty much bang on! Seems to be a discrepancy in the seating count, so there must be something wrong, or the four tip-up seats in the wheelchair spaces don't actually count towards the seating count. I've attached my updated seating plan to this post.

 

[778]

There's a few differences in the wheelchair/cycle area, but other than that it's pretty much bang on! Seems to be a discrepancy in the seating count, so there must be something wrong, or the four tip-up seats in the wheelchair spaces don't actually count towards the seating count. I've attached my updated seating plan to this post.

Do they actually have 410 seats if you include the four tip-up seats in the wheelchair spaces?

 

[AJDesiro]

Do they actually have 410 seats if you include the four tip-up seats in the wheelchair spaces?

If the seating plan is correct, yes. I looked at some of the videos I got walking through the train earlier and it seems to be accurate.

 

[E B]

I saw them but they didn't seem particularly talkative - if I'd had chance I would definitely have made my views known about the legroom plus the discriminatory nature of having given all the priority seats (bar the two rows in First Class which I guess are the best seats in the house bar the one right at the front) a blank wall.

I hate to think what the /1s would have been like had they happened. Well, I guess they would have been like the 720, which is to me the worst train on the whole network.

Were the /1s meant to be like the 350/2?

I had a lovely chat with a WMT director on board who said it was pencilled in for September.

Ok. Thank you.

 

[SCDR_WMR]

The chatty one will most likely or been John Doughty, very interesting man to chat too. He is the Engineering Director.

Indeed, a very nice chap. I wasn't going to mention names haha

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jun 2025 ==

Do execs prefer to speak to rail enthusiasts over normal passengers? Maybe they like to keep a low profile because they are worried about passengers having a go at them.

No idea, if they're on the train and have name badges/lanyards then they're normally open to having a chat, seen John and Ian (the MD) around a fair few times and always been happy to chat. Jonny Wiseman often travels by train so is a good one to spot.

I guess John and Max were deliberately onboard that service so would be looking for feedback anyway.

 

[Snow1964]

Alstom has done a press release too

New Alstom fleet to transform travel for millions of London passengers

London Northwestern Railway introducing 36 new trains built at Alstom’s UK factory Class 730/2 fleet offers a 20% capacity uplift on routes to and from London Euston

www.alstom.com

 

[Bletchleyite]

Were the /1s meant to be like the 350/2?

Yes, 3+2 seating. Similar to the horrible 720s.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Are they out again today?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Are they out again today?

According to Realtime Trains 205 and 220 worked the 0656 Bletchley-Euston, so it appears so!

 

[800001]

Indeed, a very nice chap. I wasn't going to mention names haha

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jun 2025 ==

he was on a lengthy YouTube video that LNWR released talking about the 730s.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jun 2025 ==

Are they out again today?

730205/220 in traffic today

 

[class442]

I noted on the first run yesterday, approaching Northampton the PIS announced that the rear doors would not be open, and to move to the front 7 carriages.
The whole train did fit on the platform, and the rear doors did open as normal.

 

[Class777]

I noted on the first run yesterday, approaching Northampton the PIS announced that the rear doors would not be open, and to move to the front 7 carriages.
The whole train did fit on the platform, and the rear doors did open as normal.

Sorry if I sound stupid. Was it a double unit that was running the service? If not, perhaps the system was setup presuming there was two units running together and accidentally announced that? Our 777s do it up here sometimes when in fact there’s no need to announce it! Just a thought.

 

[800001]

Sorry if I sound stupid. Was it a double unit that was running the service? If not, perhaps the system was setup presuming there was two units running together and accidentally announced that? Our 777s do it up here sometimes when in fact there’s no need to announce it! Just a thought.

Yes it was a double set, 2x5car.