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Class 730 LNR & WMR Delivery/test Updates

3973EXL

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Auto Activated but now over 50 minutes late and no departure.
Given there is a unit known for it I feel it still has a chance.
The 5Q68 for a 720 from Derby due into Willesden the same time looks less likely.
57 late start
 
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Peter Sarf

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3973EXL

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Silverlinky

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730205 was on the first one, both operated by Rail Operations Group

Also, to report that Driver training has started for Northampton Drivers on 3 car units in advance of the 5 car units being introduced onto the Trent Valley services initially. When the 5's are signed off a bolt on conversion from 3 to 5 car will take place.
 

SCDR_WMR

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Also, to report that Driver training has started for Northampton Drivers on 3 car units in advance of the 5 car units being introduced onto the Trent Valley services initially. When the 5's are signed off a bolt on conversion from 3 to 5 car will take place.
Good to hear. Do they not work the Tring services then?

5 car units still going through testing with h&s reps up here at Crewe. Hopefully nearing the end of that phase.
 

Silverlinky

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Good to hear. Do they not work the Tring services then?

5 car units still going through testing with h&s reps up here at Crewe. Hopefully nearing the end of that phase.
Currently the 730 work is contained within a couple of links at Bletchley, not all drivers sign them and none of the outbased Northampton drivers do as there is no work in their links.

As you say its all down to the testing, the cab modifications are done on some units now, the noise issue reduced. Just needing everyone to sign off on them and the plan is for some Trent Valley services to be formed of 730/2's in the summer timetable with a gradual introduction (as the /0's did down south) taking over from 350's with regular diagrammed work from the December one.
 

Peter Sarf

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Silverlinky

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Seems to have got to Nuneaton on time BUT then got stuck or has it gone off route ?.
(as at 13:30).

Standing for two hours plus on the Up Relief line.
 

Peter Sarf

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Standing for two hours plus on the Up Relief line.
Just occurred to me. Reversal would be achieved by having a loco on each end of the unit 730230 normally ?.
But I think there is only 37884 ?.
37884 + 730230
From the Urgent TOPS request thread.

EDIT (14:25)
Update - on the move again - 138m late.
 
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tfw756rider

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As you say its all down to the testing, the cab modifications are done on some units now, the noise issue reduced.
Cab noise reduction modifications only? Do you (or anyone else in here) know what those involved? Also, wasn't there excessive noise coming in through the passenger doors at speeds of up to 110mph, or am I misunderstanding, and it was in fact only excessive cab/gangway connection noise?

I additionally seem to remember a mention of poor ride quality at said speeds - has anything been done about that, or was it deemed in the end to be no worse than the usual "modern unit" / "lightweight bogie" ride quality?
 

AJDesiro

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I additionally seem to remember a mention of poor ride quality at said speeds - has anything been done about that, or was it deemed in the end to be no worse than the usual "modern unit" / "lightweight bogie" ride quality?
I don't think that came from reliable sources; it was just Chinese whispers from the original "wind noise" issues mentioned.
 

Silverlinky

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Ride quality modifications were also mentioned today.

730211 left Bletchley TMD for Old Dalby today as 5Q58 (ROGs 37 haulage)
730210/212/213 are all now at Bletchley TMD
 

AJDesiro

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I’ve just seen 730030 and 730047 at New St with a triangular warning sign stuck onto the cabs at both ends stating “TCMS 2.7.3.0 LOADED”. I’m assuming this is a software update that makes them incompatible with units with older software? The font on the PIS displays inside of 730047 seems to have changed as well, with parts of text now obscured from view.

(Images show the sign on the cab and the PIS displays inside)
 

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JLX5

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I’ve just seen 730030 and 730047 at New St with a triangular warning sign stuck onto the cabs at both ends stating “TCMS 2.7.3.0 LOADED”. I’m assuming this is a software update that makes them incompatible with units with older software?
That is indeed the correct assumption.
 

tfw756rider

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I don't think that came from reliable sources; it was just Chinese whispers from the original "wind noise" issues mentioned.

Ride quality modifications were also mentioned today.
Thanks both, I wonder what the noise/ride improvement modifications involve? I appreciate that that information may not be known or can't be shared though.

I’ve just seen 730030 and 730047 at New St with a triangular warning sign stuck onto the cabs at both ends stating “TCMS 2.7.3.0 LOADED”. I’m assuming this is a software update that makes them incompatible with units with older software? The font on the PIS displays inside of 730047 seems to have changed as well, with parts of text now obscured from view.

(Images show the sign on the cab and the PIS displays inside)
Does the text now scroll smoothly, or is it still laggy?

I had noticed the laggy text scrolling on the 730s' Passenger Information Displays (and I've even seen it happen on the Customer Information Displays at West Midlands Railway-managed stations.)

It was as if the software was bloated (inefficiently coded) - too demanding on the hardware.
 

AJDesiro

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Does the text now scroll smoothly, or is it still laggy?

I had noticed the laggy text scrolling on the 730s' Passenger Information Displays (and I've even seen it happen on the Customer Information Displays at West Midlands Railway-managed stations.)

It was as if the software was bloated (inefficiently coded) - too demanding on the hardware.
It’s still laggy, but now with the added “benefit” that the ‘g’s in the new font don’t fully show, as they clip. Some menus of the screen, such as the capacity indicator and the tube map-style page still have the old, better font.
 

wickham

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Is 730204 still outstanding for delivery ? There is a photo on Flickr of one driving car, taken some months ago, with some sort of "sticking plaster" over the join between the cab and the body side - might this be something to do with it's delay ?
 

The_Train

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Is 730204 still outstanding for delivery ? There is a photo on Flickr of one driving car, taken some months ago, with some sort of "sticking plaster" over the join between the cab and the body side - might this be something to do with it's delay ?
My records have 204 as moved to Wembley on (or around) 06/03/25

Edit: Duff gen, sorry!
 
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1D54

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Did i just see 730205 going through Hinckley hauled by an unidentified 37?
 

The_Train

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As far as I am aware 204 is still at Derby.

I have 203 moving to Wembley on 6th March.
Yeah I also have 203 having moved to Wembley that day as well. I shall try and dig out where I got my info from for 204 as it is likely to be wrong knowing me :D
 

1D54

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An unidentified 730/2 has just gone through Narborough hauled by a 37 no doubt heading to Derby. Problems with it?
 

crosscity

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An unidentified 730/2 has just gone through Narborough hauled by a 37 no doubt heading to Derby. Problems with it?
The train was 5Q59 0611 Bletchley-Old Dalby and consisted of 730226 hauled by 37608. I don't know why the 730's are taken to Old Dalby, but it happens quite a lot.
 

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