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London Northwestern Class 730s

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43096

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Makes you wonder why they ordered 36 in the first place though as 36 730/0s is overkill for the cross city
Because at the time the order was made the plan was for 6 trains per hour on Cross-City, mostly formed of 6-cars.
 
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DavidGrain

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I saw 730002 going on the Abbey Branch today, does anyone know why it was testing on there?

It seems odd when the line is due to receive 350s.

Unless it was a proving run to see if a 3 car 730 could work on there better than a 350?

However, LNWRs 5-car 730s cannot fit on any of the Abbey platforms. So, unless if LNWR have a plan to order 2x or 3x 3-car units for this route, then why else would they have a test run on there? Hmm...
It is logical to test every electric line with the 730s, and they only have a 730/0 at the moment, as you then establish that they can be passed for every line in the combined franchise. After all the 730/0s will not work to Euston or Lime Street yet they are being tested on those routes but if a 730/0 can go there then so can a 730/2. The only restriction then is platform lengths.
 

RealTrains07

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Because at the time the order was made the plan was for 6 trains per hour on Cross-City, mostly formed of 6-cars.
But to run an entirely 6 car service on the cross city dosent take up 36 730/0s though.

You can get 18 6 car 730/0s altogether with 12 needed for the cross city surely?
 

londonteacher

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If there is slack in the 730/0 required in-service then could the case be made for two of them to be reliveried or WMT working with LNWR stickers applied so they could work on the Abbey Line instead of a 2-2 seated Class 350? I'm sure there is a good reason why not. They could be maintained with the rest of the WCML units or rotate back to the West Midlands like the Class 150s on the Bletchley - Bedford service.
 

OTRail

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If there is slack in the 730/0 required in-service then could the case be made for two of them to be reliveried or WMT working with LNWR stickers applied so they could work on the Abbey Line instead of a 2-2 seated Class 350? I'm sure there is a good reason why not. They could be maintained with the rest of the WCML units or rotate back to the West Midlands like the Class 150s on the Bletchley - Bedford service.
The 730/0s are 2+2 - the difference is they’re 3 carriages, there’s no first class and their top speed is 90mph...
 

221101 Voyager

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If there is slack in the 730/0 required in-service then could the case be made for two of them to be reliveried or WMT working with LNWR stickers applied so they could work on the Abbey Line instead of a 2-2 seated Class 350? I'm sure there is a good reason why not. They could be maintained with the rest of the WCML units or rotate back to the West Midlands like the Class 150s on the Bletchley - Bedford service.
I'm wondering if a plan exists for this, but maybe we just don't know it yet.

I've heard that due to the 350s gangway, it can cause some visibility issues on the Abbey, so I thought the 730s are better suited in a way.

The 730/0s are 2+2 - the difference is they’re 3 carriages, there’s no first class and their top speed is 90mph...
But for the Abbey line, 90 is plenty and 90 isn't an issue for ECS on WCML either, so if they do use some units on the Abbey, it would be a good idea.
 

city dweller

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It has been announced that 6tph on the Cross City Line will not happen before 2030. We have been told on the University (Birmingham) Station Rebuild thread by someone who knows about such things that Kings Norton Station cannot cope with 6tph on the Cross City Line and 2tph (diesel) on the to be reopened Camp Hill Line plus XC trains and WMR trains to Worcester/Malvern.
The 2030 date was mentioned in a WMCA meeting and then reported in the local press. It was a Network Rail date of when they think demand will reach its pre covid levels.
 

43096

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But to run an entirely 6 car service on the cross city dosent take up 36 730/0s though.

You can get 18 6 car 730/0s altogether with 12 needed for the cross city surely?
As far as I can see the 4tph service needs 12 circuits (24 units). 6tph will need more, probably 4 or 5 circuits more depending on how well they inter-work with each other. If they are all 6-car that’s 32 units needed. Not sure if one was intended for the New Street-International shuttle (is that still a 323?) as well, but with maintenance cover that suggests 36 sets is the right number.
 

RealTrains07

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As far as I can see the 4tph service needs 12 circuits (24 units). 6tph will need more, probably 4 or 5 circuits more depending on how well they inter-work with each other. If they are all 6-car that’s 32 units needed. Not sure if one was intended for the New Street-International shuttle (is that still a 323?) as well, but with maintenance cover that suggests 36 sets is the right number.
I did wonder how it would work with 36 units. Guess it depends how many are bromsgrove and how many are redditch services.
 

The Planner

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As far as I can see the 4tph service needs 12 circuits (24 units). 6tph will need more, probably 4 or 5 circuits more depending on how well they inter-work with each other. If they are all 6-car that’s 32 units needed. Not sure if one was intended for the New Street-International shuttle (is that still a 323?) as well, but with maintenance cover that suggests 36 sets is the right number.
350 on the shuttle now I think.
 

DBS92042

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Does anyone know any latest updates? It appears to me as though the testing has gone quiet.
The only unit that was out (730002) went back to Derby in May, apparently for cab modifications. Not seen anymore runs since
 

RealTrains07

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The modified cab has been fitted now with the working group and trade union colleagues having inspected and given a positive response to.
What was wrong with the original cab in the first place? Same issues as with the 701s?
 

Spirit555

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LNWR liveried 730102 seen on Crewe LNWR this evening full numbered up, side and unit numbers, but no logos.

Mark
 

43102EMR

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LNWR liveried 730102 seen on Crewe LNWR this evening full numbered up, side and unit numbers, but no logos.

Mark
It was delivered a few weeks ago - I can imagine it will begin mainline testing soon
 

warwickshire

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57312 6379+730003+6378+37510 on 5Q58 11:12 OXLEYTCSD to OLD DALBY 04/10/21
Observed through Wolverhampton on time.
How come 730003 .
Has gone back to old dalby?.
Further testing or testing on mainline evaluation purposes?.
However for the record the same barrier vehicles and locomotives also took 730102 back from crewe lnwr Depot to old dalby also on Thursday the 30 th September 2021.
Also observed at derby.
10 minutes after the late running 365 scrap move to booths masboro came through station so hung around for it.
However both 730003 and 730102 back at old dalby.
So most likely same reason for 730102 return to old dalby as well?.
 
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