British Rail Class 730 Aventra | |
---|---|
Stock type | Electric multiple unit |
In service | 13 November 2023 - present |
Manufacturer |
|
Built at | Derby Litchurch Lane Works |
Family name | Aventra |
Replaced | |
Constructed | 2020–2024 [1] |
Number built | 84 |
Formation | |
Diagram | |
Capacity | |
Owners | Corelink Rail [6] |
Operators | |
Depots | |
Lines served | |
Specifications | |
Doors |
|
Maximum speed |
|
Electric system(s) | 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead |
Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
Bogies | Bombardier Flexx-Eco |
Safety system(s) | |
Coupling system | Dellner |
Multiple working |
|
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The British Rail Class 730 Aventra is a type of electric multiple unit passenger train built by Alstom for West Midlands Trains. Two separate batches of the fleet were built; 48 three-car units and 36 five-car units.
In October 2017, West Midlands Trains were awarded the franchise to operate local rail services around Birmingham and the West Midlands, suburban services to London Euston, and long-distance inter-urban services operating from both Euston and Birmingham New Street. [11] At the time the franchise was awarded, the company announced that it would procure more than 100 new trains at a cost of £680m [12] to replace older rolling stock and enhance its fleet. Of these, a total of 81 EMUs were ordered from Bombardier Transportation from its Aventra product range. [13] They are being built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works. [14] The first completed train was unveiled in September 2020. [12]
In 2022 the order was amended to increase the proportion of three-car units in the fleet, which will result in the delivery of 48 three-car units and 36 five-car units instead of the original plan for 36 three-car units, Class 730/0, and 45 five-car units, Class 730/1 and Class 730/2 – a total of 324 vehicles in 84 units. [15] [5]
The Class 730 trains entered service on 13 November 2023 [16] and were the second new fleet to be introduced by West Midlands Trains, following the Class 196 which entered service on 17 October 2022. [17]
The introduction of the 730s on the Cross-City line in 2024 will allow the Class 323s to be withdrawn, [18] 17 of which will be cascaded to Northern Trains. [19] The Class 730 will also allow for the withdrawal of the Class 350/2 units on the West Midlands Trains network.
The Class 730 was tested in Velim in the Czech Republic, as well as in the UK. [20] Testing of Class 730 units on the West Midlands Trains network began in March 2021, [21] and in February 2022 the then full order of 36 Class 730/0 units received authorisation for service from the Office of Rail and Road. [2]
The 3-car Class 730 units are currently being used on West Coast Main Line services out of London. This allowed for the withdrawal of Class 319s. [22] The first 3-car Class 730 entered passenger service on the Wolverhampton-Birmingham-Walsall services in February 2024, [23] with the units being introduced on Cross-City Line services in the Spring. [4] [16] [24] [25] The first pair of Class 730s units entered service on the Cross-City Line on 15 April 2024. [26] The 3-car 730/0s will be maintained at Soho Depot in Birmingham which is the home depot of the Class 323s and the 5-car 730/2s will be maintained at Bletchley Depot in Milton Keynes.
The two separate batches are being constructed to operate at different maximum speeds to suit different uses. The 3-car Class 730/0 trains—designed for Cross-City Line and Birmingham local services—will operate at up to 90 mph (145 km/h) [12] and will double capacity on the Cross-City Line. The 5-car Class 730/2 trains will operate on outer suburban and long-distance LNR services and will operate at up to 110 mph (177 km/h). [12] [14] [27]
Subclass | Operator | Qty. [6] | Year built | Cars per unit | Unit nos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
730/0 |
London Northwestern Railway West Midlands Railway |
48 | 2020–2024 | 3 | 730001–730048 |
730/2 | London Northwestern Railway | 36 | 5 | 730201-730236 [28] |
British Rail Class 730 Aventra | |
---|---|
Stock type | Electric multiple unit |
In service | 13 November 2023 - present |
Manufacturer |
|
Built at | Derby Litchurch Lane Works |
Family name | Aventra |
Replaced | |
Constructed | 2020–2024 [1] |
Number built | 84 |
Formation | |
Diagram | |
Capacity | |
Owners | Corelink Rail [6] |
Operators | |
Depots | |
Lines served | |
Specifications | |
Doors |
|
Maximum speed |
|
Electric system(s) | 25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead |
Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
Bogies | Bombardier Flexx-Eco |
Safety system(s) | |
Coupling system | Dellner |
Multiple working |
|
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The British Rail Class 730 Aventra is a type of electric multiple unit passenger train built by Alstom for West Midlands Trains. Two separate batches of the fleet were built; 48 three-car units and 36 five-car units.
In October 2017, West Midlands Trains were awarded the franchise to operate local rail services around Birmingham and the West Midlands, suburban services to London Euston, and long-distance inter-urban services operating from both Euston and Birmingham New Street. [11] At the time the franchise was awarded, the company announced that it would procure more than 100 new trains at a cost of £680m [12] to replace older rolling stock and enhance its fleet. Of these, a total of 81 EMUs were ordered from Bombardier Transportation from its Aventra product range. [13] They are being built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works. [14] The first completed train was unveiled in September 2020. [12]
In 2022 the order was amended to increase the proportion of three-car units in the fleet, which will result in the delivery of 48 three-car units and 36 five-car units instead of the original plan for 36 three-car units, Class 730/0, and 45 five-car units, Class 730/1 and Class 730/2 – a total of 324 vehicles in 84 units. [15] [5]
The Class 730 trains entered service on 13 November 2023 [16] and were the second new fleet to be introduced by West Midlands Trains, following the Class 196 which entered service on 17 October 2022. [17]
The introduction of the 730s on the Cross-City line in 2024 will allow the Class 323s to be withdrawn, [18] 17 of which will be cascaded to Northern Trains. [19] The Class 730 will also allow for the withdrawal of the Class 350/2 units on the West Midlands Trains network.
The Class 730 was tested in Velim in the Czech Republic, as well as in the UK. [20] Testing of Class 730 units on the West Midlands Trains network began in March 2021, [21] and in February 2022 the then full order of 36 Class 730/0 units received authorisation for service from the Office of Rail and Road. [2]
The 3-car Class 730 units are currently being used on West Coast Main Line services out of London. This allowed for the withdrawal of Class 319s. [22] The first 3-car Class 730 entered passenger service on the Wolverhampton-Birmingham-Walsall services in February 2024, [23] with the units being introduced on Cross-City Line services in the Spring. [4] [16] [24] [25] The first pair of Class 730s units entered service on the Cross-City Line on 15 April 2024. [26] The 3-car 730/0s will be maintained at Soho Depot in Birmingham which is the home depot of the Class 323s and the 5-car 730/2s will be maintained at Bletchley Depot in Milton Keynes.
The two separate batches are being constructed to operate at different maximum speeds to suit different uses. The 3-car Class 730/0 trains—designed for Cross-City Line and Birmingham local services—will operate at up to 90 mph (145 km/h) [12] and will double capacity on the Cross-City Line. The 5-car Class 730/2 trains will operate on outer suburban and long-distance LNR services and will operate at up to 110 mph (177 km/h). [12] [14] [27]
Subclass | Operator | Qty. [6] | Year built | Cars per unit | Unit nos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
730/0 |
London Northwestern Railway West Midlands Railway |
48 | 2020–2024 | 3 | 730001–730048 |
730/2 | London Northwestern Railway | 36 | 5 | 730201-730236 [28] |