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British EMU from the Bombardier Aventra family From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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 |
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 £680 million to replace older rolling stock and enhance its fleet.[12] Of these, a total of 81 EMUs were ordered from Bombardier Transportation from its Aventra product range.[13] They were 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The introduction of the Class 730 on the Cross-City line in 2024 will allow the Class 323 units to be withdrawn,[18] 17 of which will be cascaded to Northern Trains.[19] It will also allow for the withdrawal of the Class 350/2 units on the West Midlands Trains network.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 three-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 three-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 730 units entered service on the Cross-City Line on 15 April 2024.[26] The three-car Class 730/0 units will be maintained at Soho Depot in Birmingham which is the home depot of the Class 323s[7] and the five-car Class 730/2 units will be maintained at Bletchley Depot in Milton Keynes. In 2020, West Midlands Trains planned to maintain them at Bescot Depot in Walsall.[8][15]
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] |
All 48 West Midlands Railway Class 730/0 units, dubbed the Landmark Class are to be named after landmarks within the West Midlands.[29]
Number | Name | Notes |
---|---|---|
730018 | Officially named on 23 May 2024 to celebrate Birmingham Pride. This was the first class 730/0 to be named. The unit has also had a pride livery applied, with the faded diamond motif in pride colours.[30] |
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