Class 730 Aventra - Test Run To Redditch - 23rd November 2021 - Barnt Green & Alvechurch

On 21st November the new Class 730 Aventra EMU made a number of test runs along the Cross City line and other lines in the Midlands area. One of the runs involved the unit running down the Redditch / Alvechurch branch from Barnt Green, this being (to my knowledge) - only the 2nd time a Class 730 has been down the branch to Redditch, the previous run being on 15th March 2021.
In the first scene whilst awaiting the 730, the old order of the Class 323 units are seen, with 323205 leading a Lichfield bound train out of Barnt Green - unfortunately complete with recently adorned graffiti to the side of the unit. As this departed another Redditch bound unit arrived, this is then seen departing down the branch with class pioneer 323201 on the rear, complete with poppy and also some it’s previous London Midland green livery wearing through.
Next up was the 730 - another class pioneer with 730001 arriving into Barnt Green. It paused upon which it appeared clearances were checked on the platform and once it had the signal it departed down the branch towards Alvechurch, making less noise on the corners than a 323 from what I could tell.
Then caught up with 730001 just down the road at Alvechurch as it headed back from Redditch as the 1115 Redditch to New Street. It can be seen arriving into Alvechurch then departing once again. As can be seen the interior is still all covered and protected under plastic coverings.
730001 is then briefly caught moving across the point work at Barnt Green as it heads back on the mainline to New Street.
Then going from a brand new EMU to an EMU going off on its final journey to the scrap man. Class 37 no 37884 is captured passing Barnt Green with Class 365 no 365509 which was on its way to Sims metals Newport as the 0830 Crewe South Yard to Sims Newport.

[@amysmileyreid95]

Sounds like an F1 car from a mega drive computer game lol

[@Andrewjg_89]

The traction motors on the Class 323s will be missed once the Class 730s are in service. And Northern to inherit few extra Class 323s for the Manchester Piccadilly-Hadfield and Gosslop routes.

[@sprinterofficial8457]

i think all but 9 are going to Manchester so most will re enter sevice

[@lordparma7556]

@@sprinterofficial8457 You are right all but 9 units are planned to go to Northern.

[@lordparma7556]

The extra 323s Northern are going to receive are not for the Glossop line, the extra Northern are going to receive 323s are to replace the 319s.

[@joshuahalla.k.a.controlla6333]

Great video. ☺️

[@stephenholmes3182]

Look quite smart.

[@UNIX32]

The class 323 sounds like the JR 209系 and the class 730 sounds like JR's newer trains. Is it also a coincidence that West Midland Trains is partly owned by JR? What's next, are they going to start playing JR's departure melodies in Birmingham New Street?

[@bb-3653]

The jr railways motors are louder by a huge margin though. These are too quiet

[@robertsteinman4417]

Unix o7 it's possible the transmission on each driving bogies could possibly be the same motor/tranimission but the bogies and the way they hand;e are pure Bombardier - now Alstom

[@bb-3653]

@Robert Steinman I don't think they share the same motors , they sound the same, likely meaning that it may have different motor Infrustructure. But very similar overall transmission maybe? Aventra motors are basically mute. Whereas JR trains tend to make very audiable sounds.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Hopefully next year will definitely see these units begin passenger services

[@dbrailways]

Yes hopefully they look quite nice

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

@@dbrailways yeah

[@athavanainkaran2499]

When the class 730 will brand as West Midlands Railway logo?

[@dbrailways]

Not sure, I’m assuming once they’ve put them into passenger service.

[@jaymarlon7460]

I hope southern gets these trains

[@LisaNayar-ow9sw]

OMG that would be cool actually

[@thetransporthub]

nice video, just a tip try panning on just the front or back cab rather than a slow pan over the whole unit. It makes a much better shot

[@dbrailways]

Thanks, yes I think from memory I was trying to pan it the way I did to try and get a view of the interior of the unit etc, probably unsuccessfully !

[@bigrstransport6783]

In my opinion the 323s are the best the THYRISTOR MOTORS are just amazing

[@joemercedeschannel196]

I will miss them when they leave. They're so good. And to me they don't need replacing but they're showing their age in the West Midlands and it's time to move to another part of the UK for these trains.

[@bigrstransport6783]

@@joemercedeschannel196 yeah same

[@TropicalP456]

Do you know ow long the graffiti has been on the 323

[@dbrailways]

Not sure, but it looked fairly recent

[@danielsellers8707]

​@@dbrailways Not a good look; shouldn't be running around in service like that...

[@joemercedeschannel196]

It really disgusts me. First 323240 was heavily graffited back when London Midland was in service before WMR took over and now 323205 has some graffiti on. It doesn't go well with trains at all.

[@transportmanchester3299]

3 cars seem pretty small.

[@robertsteinman4417]

5 cars coming soon

[@transportationuk7656]

@@robertsteinman4417For London Northwestern Railway yes. The Birmingham Cross City 730s for West Midlands Railway will be 3 coaches. These have gangways as well so people will be able to go from one unit to another if in a 6 car formation.

[@danielsellers8707]

The 730s would look better if the entire front end and gangway doors were painted orange, perhaps with WMR logo on the end doors...

[@dbrailways]

Yes would be different, I’m still not use to seeing them without a yellow front end

[@blairleipst4508]

These are Aventra, I think your autocorrect got stumped

[@dbrailways]

Thanks, I’ve amended it !

[@hesterclapp9717]

In other words, get up/down to the Midlands and ride on the 323s before you can't

[@dbrailways]

Yes or head to Manchester where I believe they are due to go to after leaving the Cross City line !

[@lordparma7556]

@@dbrailways The 323s already operate services out of Manchester Piccadilly, and 17 extra units are going to Northern once the 730/0s replace the WMT 323s.

[@tropicalsimonthirty2283]

Interesting. The 730 is in the roblox railway game: SCR.

[@ewanohun8124]

*730*

[@judetoe]

I just realized they added some kind of black thing at the bottom front of the train and tbh. With those it look like is made from blocks

[@tenny_tenten]

crumple zones i think

[@notforrestbono3100]

Its a shame that they will only begin service in 2023

[@frankiii9165]

Man they like to stick front doors on every UK train ahaha.

[@G_Diddler]

The cab doors or the gangway door?

[@frankiii9165]

@@G_Diddler the front gangway

[@G_Diddler]

@@frankiii9165 oh right yeah they look weird but are very useful

[@UKTransport232]

Not a fan of these, much prefer the 323s - they may not be the best trains but they don't need to be replaced. Same as the 170s!

[@joemercedeschannel196]

I've heard 9 of them will be staying with WMR so all of them aren't being transferred to Northern.

[@UKTransport232]

@@joemercedeschannel196 oh okay, why are they keeping them though? Not enough 730s?

[@joemercedeschannel196]

@@UKTransport232 No. They're just not being transferred to Northern

[@nigelkthomas9501]

Bloody hell! Have these new units got tables on and some decent seating? Everything new these days is utter 💩, but so long as wheelchairs can be carried and doors are a different colour that’s OK. (NOT!)