childwallblues
Established Member
Seen 323208 this afternoon at the end of the Allerton depot siding which runs alongside the Merseyrail line to Hunts Cross.
Yes, it's been there since the 29October - the first and only WM323 to be transferred to the North-West so far.Seen 323208 this afternoon at the end of the Allerton depot siding which runs alongside the Merseyrail line to Hunts Cross.
No, not until most of the others have come across. So, a long wait!Any plans for it to get it's new colours 323208 yet?
All Redditch services and those starting/ending at Bromsgrove are worked by 323's and will be for months to come until the 730's finally replace them. I'm not aware of any other EMU's working the CrossCity Line south of New St since the 310's, 308's and 304's in the 1990's. DMU substitutions are unheard of in recent history too. If there are trains to Redditch on New Year's day you will be almost guaranteed a 323.Hoping to have my last ride on new years day, depends if any 323's appear on the Redditch - New Street shuttles
Next two in January apparently, then the rest will follow once the 730s start on the cross cityany idea when the rest of the WMR 323s will transfer over to Northern and the WMR 730s gonna enter service in May 2024?
okay when will the WMR 730s enter service on the Cross City line and will they be used between Rugeley Trent Valley and Birmingham International?Next two in January apparently, then the rest will follow once the 730s start on the cross city
I understand that they will. Also on Wolverhampton to Walsall.okay when will the WMR 730s enter service on the Cross City line and will they be used between Rugeley Trent Valley and Birmingham International?
All WMR local services the 730s will be used on.okay when will the WMR 730s enter service on the Cross City line and will they be used between Rugeley Trent Valley and Birmingham International?
Didn't know the 730/0's are to be used on the Rugeley route. Assuming to remove the 350/2's from service asap.All WMR local services the 730s will be used on.
Wolves - Walsall
International - Rugeley
Cross city
Unit | Name/Note | Last seen in WM service | Source | Future | Date left WM or withdrawn |
323201 | Duddeston | ||||
323202 | Butlers Lane | Northern | |||
323203 | Aston | Sun 05Nov2023 | Ray | Northern | |
323204 | Selly Oak | ||||
323205 | Blake Street | Fri 24Nov2023 | Ray | Northern | |
323206 | Barnt Green | Northern | |||
323207 | Bournville | Fri 24Nov2023 | Ray | Northern | |
323208 | Five Ways | Transferred | Northern | Sat 28Oct2023 | |
323209 | Birmingham New Street | Northern | |||
323210 | Shenstone | Northern | |||
323211 | Four Oaks | ||||
323212 | Bromsgrove | Fri 24Nov2023 | Ray | Northern | May be mid Jan2024 |
323213 | Sutton Coldfield | Fri 24Nov2023 | Ray | Northern | |
323214 | Wylde Green | ||||
323215 | Gravelly Hill | ||||
323216 | University | ||||
323217 | Northern | ||||
323218 | Fri 24Nov2023 | Ray | Northern | ||
323219 | Kings Norton | Northern | |||
323220 | Lichfield Trent Valley | Northern | May be mid Jan2024 | ||
323221 | Was 'Northfield' (now in 'Centro' livery | Mon 11Dec2023 | Ray | ||
323222 | Redditch | Mon 06Nov2023 | Ray | ||
323240 | Erdington | Fri 24Nov2023 | Ray | ||
323241 | Dave Pomroy 323 Fleet Engineer 40 Years Service. | Northern | |||
323242 | Alvechurch | Northern | |||
323243 | Longbridge | Mon 06Nov2023 | Ray | Northern | |
As at | Tue 26Dec2023 |
It's to allow the 350s to be used to strengthen the LNR servicesDidn't know the 730/0's are to be used on the Rugeley route. Assuming to remove the 350/2's from service asap.
When I started the thread a couple of months ago I said I'd keep my spreadsheet up-to-date and share it here. Since then there's been little to report other than two more units are scheduled to leave sometime in January.
When the actual exodus starts in earnest it might be interesting to see which ones are still in service. I propose to report roughly weekly and add the last date an individual unit has been seen. I'm not going to report on the actual workings or where they were seen, just that a particular unit was out and about in the West Midlands on a passenger train.
My main source will be this thread. As virtually the full fleet is still active, I thought I'd start now so there'll be meaningful information when the units head northwards or are withdrawn.
Here is today's report. The one's filled in so far are those that I've taken photos of. I'm not out every day and I don't write numbers down, so I'm looking forward to updating the list from your info. The 'Source' column will only contain either 'Ray' (ie me), 'RailUk' or the name of another source.
Unit Name/Note Last seen in WM service Source Future Date left WM or withdrawn 323201 Duddeston 323202 Butlers Lane Northern 323203 Aston Sun 05Nov2023 Ray Northern 323204 Selly Oak 323205 Blake Street Fri 24Nov2023 Ray Northern 323206 Barnt Green Northern 323207 Bournville Fri 24Nov2023 Ray Northern 323208 Five Ways Transferred Northern Sat 28Oct2023 323209 Birmingham New Street Northern 323210 Shenstone Northern 323211 Four Oaks 323212 Bromsgrove Fri 24Nov2023 Ray Northern May be mid Jan2024 323213 Sutton Coldfield Fri 24Nov2023 Ray Northern 323214 Wylde Green 323215 Gravelly Hill 323216 University 323217 Northern 323218 Fri 24Nov2023 Ray Northern 323219 Kings Norton Northern 323220 Lichfield Trent Valley Northern May be mid Jan2024 323221 Was 'Northfield' (now in 'Centro' livery Mon 11Dec2023 Ray 323222 Redditch Mon 06Nov2023 Ray 323240 Erdington Fri 24Nov2023 Ray 323241 Dave Pomroy 323 Fleet Engineer 40 Years Service. Northern 323242 Alvechurch Northern 323243 Longbridge Mon 06Nov2023 Ray Northern As at Tue 26Dec2023
323204 | Selly Oak | Wed 27 Dec 2023 | 2O44 - Front set |
323207 | Bournville | Wed 27 Dec 2023 | 2L41 - Front set |
323212 | Bromsgrove | Wed 27 Dec 2023 | 2R43 - Front set |
323213 | Sutton Coldfield | Wed 27 Dec 2023 | 2O44 - Rear set |
323220 | Lichfield Trent Valley | Wed 27 Dec 2023 | 2R43 - Rear set |
323242 | Alvechurch | Wed 27 Dec 2023 | 2U42 - Front set |
I think the franchise made it a little confusing.Didn't know the 730/0's are to be used on the Rugeley route. Assuming to remove the 350/2's from service asap.
Or 730/2 using ASDOI think the franchise made it a little confusing.
WMR was planned to split during it's lifetime and morph into WMR and LNwR and the fleets ordered were
3 car 730/0 for WMR cross City
5 car 730/1 for WMR sort of Regional
5 car 730/2 for "ex Silverlink" work
In practice it seems 730/1 has morphed / is morphing into more 730/0, whilst 730/2 are still to replace 350/2 which go back to the lessor.
AIUI the Cannock line had platforms extended after electrification to accommodate 4 car 20m class 350s so will not accept 5 car 23m class 730s. I assume the services will have to be 350/1, /3 or /4, or 730/0.
I thought the 730/1s were destined for short distance LNR services, with the 730/2s destined for long distance LNR services before the order changed?I think the franchise made it a little confusing.
WMR was planned to split during it's lifetime and morph into WMR and LNwR and the fleets ordered were
3 car 730/0 for WMR cross City
5 car 730/1 for WMR sort of Regional
5 car 730/2 for "ex Silverlink" work
In practice it seems 730/1 has morphed / is morphing into more 730/0, whilst 730/2 are still to replace 350/2 which go back to the lessor.
AIUI the Cannock line had platforms extended after electrification to accommodate 4 car 20m class 350s so will not accept 5 car 23m class 730s. I assume the services will have to be 350/1, /3 or /4, or 730/0.
You may well be right.I thought the 730/1s were destined for short distance LNR services, with the 730/2s destined for long distance LNR services before the order changed?
@crosscity I am currently on 323221 (Centro livery) leaving Birmingham New Street so that’s out.When I started the thread a couple of months ago I said I'd keep my spreadsheet up-to-date and share it here. Since then there's been little to report other than two more units are scheduled to leave sometime in January.
When the actual exodus starts in earnest it might be interesting to see which ones are still in service. I propose to report roughly weekly and add the last date an individual unit has been seen. I'm not going to report on the actual workings or where they were seen, just that a particular unit was out and about in the West Midlands on a passenger train.
My main source will be this thread. As virtually the full fleet is still active, I thought I'd start now so there'll be meaningful information when the units head northwards or are withdrawn.
Here is today's report. The one's filled in so far are those that I've taken photos of. I'm not out every day and I don't write numbers down, so I'm looking forward to updating the list from your info. The 'Source' column will only contain either 'Ray' (ie me), 'RailUk' or the name of another source.
Unit Name/Note Last seen in WM service Source Future Date left WM or withdrawn 323201 Duddeston 323202 Butlers Lane Northern 323203 Aston Sun 05Nov2023 Ray Northern 323204 Selly Oak 323205 Blake Street Fri 24Nov2023 Ray Northern 323206 Barnt Green Northern 323207 Bournville Fri 24Nov2023 Ray Northern 323208 Five Ways Transferred Northern Sat 28Oct2023 323209 Birmingham New Street Northern 323210 Shenstone Northern 323211 Four Oaks 323212 Bromsgrove Fri 24Nov2023 Ray Northern May be mid Jan2024 323213 Sutton Coldfield Fri 24Nov2023 Ray Northern 323214 Wylde Green 323215 Gravelly Hill 323216 University 323217 Northern 323218 Fri 24Nov2023 Ray Northern 323219 Kings Norton Northern 323220 Lichfield Trent Valley Northern May be mid Jan2024 323221 Was 'Northfield' (now in 'Centro' livery Mon 11Dec2023 Ray 323222 Redditch Mon 06Nov2023 Ray 323240 Erdington Fri 24Nov2023 Ray 323241 Dave Pomroy 323 Fleet Engineer 40 Years Service. Northern 323242 Alvechurch Northern 323243 Longbridge Mon 06Nov2023 Ray Northern As at Tue 26Dec2023
That worked 2P49 as the front unit with 323242 Alvechurch as the rear unit.@crosscity I am currently on 323221 (Centro livery) leaving Birmingham New Street so that’s out.
210 and 216 must’ve been fun, from my experience they’re two of the fastest units out of the 26 in the West Midlands.203 & 217 - 11:03 off Birmingham to Bromsgrove today.
210 & 216 off 12:03 off Birmingham to Bromsgrove today.
Feel free to add these to the table.
210 is deffo the fastest out of the batch for sure, I was in that set. 216 also a good one too to be fair210 and 216 must’ve been fun, from my experience they’re two of the fastest units out of the 26 in the West Midlands.
You are definitely not wasting your time.@crosscity
I hope you’re actually going to use these in the table and I’m not wasting my time for nothing.
OkAll anyone will see on the spreadsheet is the date and the source of the last time the unit was seen in service. Your actual posts will, of course, remain on this thread.
I will post my updated spreadsheet on a Monday or Tuesday. This will give a snapshot of the fleet at that time.
Once a unit is sent to Merseyside or is withdrawn I won't be reporting on them further.
Hope this helps.
Unit | Name/Note | Last seen in WM service | Source | Future | Date left WM or withdrawn |
323201 | Duddeston | ||||
323202 | Butlers Lane | Northern | |||
323203 | Aston | Sun 05Nov2023 | Ray | Northern | |
323204 | Selly Oak | Sun 31Dec2023 | RailUK | ||
323205 | Blake Street | Fri 24Nov2023 | Ray | Northern | |
323206 | Barnt Green | Northern | |||
323207 | Bournville | Wed 27Dec2023 | RailUK | Northern | |
323208 | Five Ways | Transferred | Northern | Sat 28Oct2023 | |
323209 | Birmingham New Street | Northern | |||
323210 | Shenstone | Mon 01Jan2024 | Ray | Northern | |
323211 | Four Oaks | ||||
323212 | Bromsgrove | Wed 27Dec2023 | RailUK | Northern | May be mid Jan2024 |
323213 | Sutton Coldfield | Sun 31Dec2023 | RailUK | Northern | |
323214 | Wylde Green | Tue 26Dec2023 | RailUK | At Wolverton for repairs | |
323215 | Gravelly Hill | Mon 01Jan2024 | Ray | ||
323216 | University | ||||
323217 | Mon 01Jan2024 | Ray | Northern | ||
323218 | Mon 01Jan2024 | Ray | Northern | ||
323219 | Kings Norton | Northern | |||
323220 | Lichfield Trent Valley | Wed 27Dec2023 | RailUK | Northern | May be mid Jan2024 |
323221 | Was 'Northfield' (now in 'Centro' livery | Sun 31Dec2023 | Friend | ||
323222 | Redditch | Mon 06Nov2023 | Ray | ||
323240 | Erdington | Mon 01Jan2024 | Ray | ||
323241 | Dave Pomroy 323 Fleet Engineer 40 Years Service. | Mon 01Jan2024 | Ray | Northern | |
323242 | Alvechurch | Sat 30Dec2023 | RailUK | Northern | |
323243 | Longbridge | Mon 06Nov2023 | Ray | Northern | |
As at | Tue 02Jan2024 |
Here is this weeks update
Unit Name/Note Last seen in WM service Source Future Date left WM or withdrawn 323201 Duddeston 323202 Butlers Lane Northern 323203 Aston Sun 05Nov2023 Ray Northern 323204 Selly Oak Sun 31Dec2023 RailUK 323205 Blake Street Fri 24Nov2023 Ray Northern 323206 Barnt Green Northern 323207 Bournville Wed 27Dec2023 RailUK Northern 323208 Five Ways Transferred Northern Sat 28Oct2023 323209 Birmingham New Street Northern 323210 Shenstone Mon 01Jan2024 Ray Northern 323211 Four Oaks 323212 Bromsgrove Wed 27Dec2023 RailUK Northern May be mid Jan2024 323213 Sutton Coldfield Sun 31Dec2023 RailUK Northern 323214 Wylde Green Tue 26Dec2023 RailUK At Wolverton for repairs 323215 Gravelly Hill Mon 01Jan2024 Ray 323216 University 323217 Mon 01Jan2024 Ray Northern 323218 Mon 01Jan2024 Ray Northern 323219 Kings Norton Northern 323220 Lichfield Trent Valley Wed 27Dec2023 RailUK Northern May be mid Jan2024 323221 Was 'Northfield' (now in 'Centro' livery Sun 31Dec2023 Friend 323222 Redditch Mon 06Nov2023 Ray 323240 Erdington Mon 01Jan2024 Ray 323241 Dave Pomroy 323 Fleet Engineer 40 Years Service. Mon 01Jan2024 Ray Northern 323242 Alvechurch Sat 30Dec2023 RailUK Northern 323243 Longbridge Mon 06Nov2023 Ray Northern As at Tue 02Jan2024
There are plenty of gaps to be filled in:
No reports at all for units 201, 202, 206, 209 211, 216 and 219.
Last reported in November for 203, 205, 222 and 243.