Crewe - Nuneaton - Crewe. What is this?

[dangie]

I’ve noticed that throughout the day there is a ‘Driver Only Operated’ Class 323 EMU which travels back & forth between Crewe and Nuneaton. Why is this? One journey here:

Realtime Trains | 599M 0855 Crewe to Nuneaton | 20/05/2022

Real-time train running information for 599M 0855 departure from Crewe to Nuneaton on 20/05/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[zwk500]

Looks like a driver training run to me.

 

[_toommm_]

I'm guessing Class 730 test runs up and down the WCML. That section has been used to test 720s in the past too IIRC.

 

[AC47461]

And the fact is says it's pathed as a 323 doesn't necessarily mean it will be a 323, only that the timings are done for that class.

 

[Freightmaster]

I'm guessing Class 730 test runs up and down the WCML.

Correct - here is a recent photo (not mine) of one of the runs at Crewe:

730007 Crewe, 03/05/22

730007 and 730002, Bombardier 'Aventra' Class 730/0, arrive at Crewe, 5Q02 1026 Nuneaton to Crewe, 03/05/22

www.flickr.com

(they are operated by RoG, hence the 'scrambled' headcodes)




MARK

 

[Trainfan2019]

Yes, class 730 for this. I see them quite often at Crewe. Starting to see double length ones now. Always puzzles me as to why test run out to Crewe but West Midlands trains don't serve Crewe in passenger service, just the London Northwestern division do.

 

[Freightmaster]

Yes, class 730 for this. I see them quite often at Crewe. Starting to see double length ones now. Always puzzles me as to why test run out to Crewe but West Midlands trains don't serve Crewe in passenger service, just the London Northwestern division do.

It's just a convenient location to operate 'mileage accumulation' runs to/from.




MARK

 

[Trainfan2019]

It's just a convenient location to operate 'mileage accumulation' runs to/from.




MARK

Ah thanks for the explanation.

At the moment at Crewe there are 730002, 006 and 008 plus I think a 4th one but can't get the number.

 

[dangie]

Thanks for the replies everyone.
Just one more point, how come it appears to stop at all the stations the London Northwestern Crewe-Euston & return stops at? Would it need to do that if it was just mileage accumulation?

 

[bnsf734]

i took a walk to Nuneaton station to see this train which was indeed a 730 testing run formed of 730002 and 730007. (1258 into Nuneaton and 1308 away) While it was in platform 5 another pair were waiting for the platform - 730006 and 730008,and they soon arrived after the first train left.

It looked like the door obstruction interlock was being tested as an engineer was walking down the train checking with his arm whether the doors would lock with his arm in the way - they wouldn't - which is good to know!

These 3 car 730''s are for the Birmingham cross city line and feature 2+2 seating with some tables which mostly line up with the windows and plenty of airline style seats. Being 2+2 the aisles were wide, unlike the narrow aisles found in the class 720s on GA with their 2+3 seating.

Ah thanks for the explanation.

At the moment at Crewe there are 730002, 006 and 008 plus I think a 4th one but can't get the number.

Based on what I saw at Nuneaton today the 4th one would have been 730007 (paired with 730002)

 

[Spaceship323]

Thanks for the replies everyone.
Just one more point, how come it appears to stop at all the stations the London Northwestern Crewe-Euston & return stops at? Would it need to do that if it was just mileage accumulation?

They test the door operation when stopped

 

[dangie]

They test the door operation when stopped

Probably a daft question, but why does the unit need to be ‘in service’ to test the door interlock? Can’t it be done in depot for example?

 

[Watershed]

Probably a daft question, but why does the unit need to be ‘in service’ to test the door interlock? Can’t it be done in depot for example?

There will always be faults and failures that only present themselves after running on the mainline - particularly with the digitised nature of modern trains.