The Class 730 Train Is Now In Service

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The new Class 730 trains are now in service on London Northwestern Railways services in and out of Euston in the peak hours, so I went and caught an early morning service on what I hoped would be a nice quiet train ...

[@Battismore-Blue]

The livery makes it look like a Sainsbury`s on rails

[@zeeox]

I was going to say something similar! And they need to tap that potential market for advertising, as it will certainly save them some paint! I mean, it sounds like all the trains on the cross city lines in Birmingham are ripe for it!

[@backwashjoe7864]

If they did the same for some Tube carriages, would those be Sainsbury Locals?

[@chilli8729]

LNER would be Tesco Express @@backwashjoe7864

[@neeha9449]

It definitely does 😂

[@DavidKnowles0]

Sainsbury was what popped into my head as well.

[@grahamcroucher5251]

I can never understand why we don't use the system of door buttons like the Swiss- where you press the door button before your stop and it remembers and opens the door when safe to do so.

[@kianhorton5186]

They have the same system on the manchester metrolink pretty handy and saves people spamming the button

[@Farleigh1050]

That happens on the metrolink and new t&w metro 555 trains only at the moment

[@davidemmott6225]

And on the Merseyrail 777s. Not that many people have cottoned on to this. @@Farleigh1050

[@mdhazeldine]

I never knew that was a thing, but sounds like a great idea. I wonder if it's a Stadler patented idea?

[@radeklang3271]

⁠​⁠@@mdhazeldineHello. I dont know if its patented by Stadler but for example in Czech Republic we have this on all new trams, trains, buses and trolleybuses.😁

[@compact105]

8:37 Love Geoff whispering only after establishing there's no other passengers on the train!

[@Trainspotting_Mayhem]

5:25 I think the reason why is because the ceiling is lower down to make room for the pantograph and its wiring above. Because the ceiling is lower down, it means they cant fit the maps above the doors.

[@Ro99]

I think so too. Similar on Class 710s

[@Cydonius1701]

Likewise on the 323s they're replacing in Birmingham

[@mdhazeldine]

Yep. I was going to say the same.

[@bfapple]

Virtually all AC EMUs in the UK have this pantograph well intruding into the interior.

[@garef1]

Hi TM!

[@robbiemorrison7085]

Berkhamsted is great if want to see a pendolino on it’s full tilt up close as you’re allowed to go onto the fast platforms.

[@mikenorman2525]

Tring station - so far from Tring that the village that grew up separately around the station actually carries the name "Tring Station". Which of course means the station itself should really be called Tring Station Station.

[@MrJimheeren]

How is Tring a name for a town. What does it even mean

[@AymanTravelTransport]

Similar to how Carstairs Junction is the name of a village that grew around Carstairs station, next to the separate village of Carstairs.

[@ashleyjiscool]

Wait so should Tring should be called Tring Station Station Station Station Station

[@t_mandry]

Berkhamsted is a lovely town definitely worth a visit

[@PaulMDove2]

I can't believe you're never got off the train at Berkhamsted. It is a lovely little town, with access to some great areas for walking and it has the ruins of an 11th century castle.

[@trevorelliston1]

Indeed. Lived there in the mid 60s.

[@matsui90]

But the nice pub's along the canal mean it's best experienced on a summer day, not in the dark hours of a winter morning!

[@nckfy]

@@matsui90 hmmm, I don't know the Kings Arms always has a roaring fire in the Winter and the Rex is an absolute treat in the lead-up to Christmas!

[@AidanMmusic96]

It’s the only station on this line I have got out at!

[@PaulMDove2]

@@matsui90 One of the last times I was there would have been on a summer's day, maybe almost ten years ago walking on Berkhamsted Common, and I remember the heavens opened and I was completely drenched. I do have many pleasant memories, going back thirty years, but unfortunately the one that sticks in my mind is trudging back to the station soaked to the skin on muddy paths. And yes I agree the canal is great for walks and pubs; I remember I used to walk north on the canal to Cow Roast then across a few fields to The Greyhound in Wigginton on my way to Tring for a train back.

[@alexfishwick9342]

Give us our train. We’ve been waiting for these on the cross city line for ages!

[@leomcallister3549]

I wrote the bid proposals for these trains in late 2016. It's so good to see them in service!

[@jeremygold]

So can you take this opportunity to explain why the specification did not require that most, if not all, seats should line up properly with the windows as they did on almost all British trains until the mid 1970s? Thanks.

[@LilyWilkerson]

That freight train was hauling ass there at the end! Electrified freight rail is a strange sight as an American.

[@LostsTVandRadio]

Thanks for the tremendous Tring train travel trial.

[@natmartin0907]

Fun fact. These were actually pulled through my home town on a freight train!!

[@brianfretwell3886]

Yes the first South West Trains ordered class 700 I saw was on a freight train on South eastern track. Pulled throught the chunnel?

[@natmartin0907]

@@brianfretwell3886I live in the midlands so it would have been the midlands lot of rails going to the WMR Headquarters I think

[@htrainspotting]

Please do Brent Cross West, opening on sunday!

[@simonleelangridge9248]

Ha! I made it in the video walking passed at the 4second mark. I thought it was Geoff but I felt rude stopping to say hi when he was filming and ironically I had a train to catch too 😂. Love the content.

[@orange_tree]

“This” at 2:44 is so that you can put a pedal in to it so your bike stands up and doesn’t fall against the wall once it is strapped in. And the low ceiling is indeed due to the pantograph.

[@benjibatch]

There’s no route map above those doors because the pantograph was above your head, and the roof is lower in that part of that and only that carriage

[@MelodeonTunes]

Geoff, they things you refer to as 'plugs' are sockets, the thing you plug into them is a plug! There I feel better now :)

[@neilcrawford8303]

I bet you feel the same way (I do) when someone points at a nut and proceeds to call it a bolt?

[@tlantis]

@@Fred-wb5nzabsolutely fumin’ now 😂

[@JasonBerryman]

Or to be precise... 13 amp sockets

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

The cross city line has just begun the 730 units in operation of the first passenger services and I’ve caught it for the first time ever and it’s my first time travelling on that unit

[@underground_e]

To be honest, I really like the Orange - Gray livery, it looks more pleasent and interesting than green

[@DuncanInUK]

About six months ago I was on the Class 730 project reviewing the Alstom design documents and the specs. Glad to see they are in service now!

[@blurds]

Can just imagine the driver waiting for Geoff to arrive and get onboard 😆

[@1973ts]

Looking forward to the 730s coming to Northampton services. I always seem to get a 350/2, which were intended for the MK stopping services, instead of the comfortable 350/1 units. Hurrah for having at seat plug sockets.

[@DanTheGamerAndTrains]

Well, thats the 730s in service so something is still waiting to enter service on south western railway

[@craftergin]

Beautiful! Wow, that fright train was REALLY FAST!

[@ktipuss]

Euston-Tring is 45km (28 miles) so that's not too bad. That train you were on was what is often called a "balancing" run, to get a (mostly empty) set to Tring for the start of its trip back to Euston, which will likely have a lot more passengers, being an outer suburban commuter run. I couldn't help but notice the design of the seats, only one pair of "club" type arrangement in the middle and all the rest fixed seating grouped facing either front or rear. And they seem to be cantilevered from the carriage side (??) for easier cleaning underneath. That's OK for trips of 45km like Tring-Euston, but that same arrangement has been put into the "new" Intercity trains about to be inflicted on passengers (er, 'customers") in New South Wales, much to the annoyance of said "customers". In NSW, Intercity trains do runs like Sydney-Newcastle, 160km and 2 hours 35 min, and that type of seating is disliked for such long trips.

[@Anonymoususer_2023]

Love to see London Northwestern Railway Class 730/2 in service from next year. The West Midlands Railway Class 730/0 is actually quite nice. Much better than the Greater Anglia Class 720s. Very nice trains.

[@spenny690]

I'm going to the UK next year, and each video makes me a look forward just that little bit more to riding the trains. Thanks, Geoff

[@justindumlao]

I feel some level of comradeship with those who would ride trains just to ride trains AND be the only person onboard. Thanks for this, Geoff!

[@morb0yo]

I caught the 17:35 730 from Euston the other day. It was a pleasant experience with nice lighting, good aircon, and useful displays, but the seats in the refurbished 350s are so much better. There's little cushioning, no arm rests, and iffy leg room on the 730.

[@pacificostudios]

I like the London "NorthWestern" logo. Simple, clean, modern, and distinctive.

[@Simonm9020]

Very smart , interior looks reasonably decent for what is basically a commuter train , i dont think the bay with the restricted view seats will be an issue as a lot of people spend most of the journey looking at their devices anyway 😁🚄

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

The Interior is to the design of the West Midlands combined authority which all train working like these working in the West Midlands have a set seat design which basically is a continuous design of the WM badge of Transport for West Midlands

[@adamcetinkent]

They can watch Geoff Marshall videos and complain about the lack of windows on the trains they see!

[@jasnfinlay]

Thanks Geoff. Outstanding and informative as always!

[@Jario5615]

I do think the Aventras are better with the 2+2 seating than the 2+3 seating on the class 720

[@markcf83]

Agreed. The 2x3 seating is horrendous.

[@chrisholman9029]

The 2+2 has the same spacing as a 2+3, its equally as useless

[@stephenallmond67]

​@@chrisholman9029no it isn't its staggering how much room the 730's has compared to the 720s

[@chrisholman9029]

@@stephenallmond67 room where? There is technically more room in the aisle however when you see it fully loaded you see that humans cant magically shrink their width when they sit down so stick out into the aisle as if the seats where human width. The seats themselves are the same width as the 3+2 seats

[@chris-toffee]

I recently caught one of these. The seats are utter rubbish. Uncomfortable and cramped.

[@johnstuart8511]

Loving the color: Sure stands out. But when it runs on the rails. And you see it from a distance. Must be a landscape to see. Thanks Geff

[@DerekHartley]

Looking forward to seeing these trains up here in Birmingham. They look a great improvement to our current stock.

[@superlynx98]

I got on one of these on my way to work earlier this week! Thought it smelled pretty new :)

[@lisamacdonald9375]

I’m so jealous of your rail system/network compared to the outdated and shoddy service we get on NJ Transit in the NYC metropolitan area. Love this new train you’re on!

[@LeePorte]

We have a terrible service in the UK thanks to the idiots that sold it off

[@suburbia2050]

​@@LeePorteI don't think you understood the comparison

[@clivejohnson6468]

If you liked this, you'll love Europe. Their national tain companies own oist of the UK private train companies, so they have the best stuff.

[@nashorn9745]

NJT could make the frequency higher but other than that NJT has a really new Fleet less 30 years old on average. Many European countries have much older Fleet’s with cars from the 1960‘s.

[@badbob1982]

@@LeePorteOur railway service is gold standard compared to the USA though. Once you’ve experienced southern California’s Metrolink system you’ll never complain about Britain’s railways again. Even where the US does decent suburban railways, such as the northeast and Chicago, the trains are very old fashioned and inefficient, using outdated equipment and working practices. It’s not uncommon to see a locomotive far more powerful than anything that has ever operated in the UK, hauling 3 carriages.

[@euanhealey]

Loved the "aw nice" when you saw the double header. Wholesome!

[@notauser383]

One of my favourite trains in the UK...just behind Class 373 and Class 374 (In particular...Class 374 are Siemens Velaro D trains used my Eurostar and Class 373's are called the TGV TMST) Beautiful trains!

[@Extreme_Rice]

Ah, I ended up on one of these from Harrow & Wealdstone to Euston last week, after the other service was so overcrowded I couldn’t get on. I did wonder why the West Midlands livery but it seemed nice inside.

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

Because they are just on loan and are destined for the West Midlands train serviced based on Birmingham. both West Midlands Railway's and LNWR are sub divisions of West Midlands Trains based in Birmingham

[@guillaumemaurice3503]

Thank you for sharing this video Geoff that was very interesting & great information. Will check this new train route out. ❤

[@dylancarter1831]

I remember seeing these trains last year sitting in Crewe, on a test run no doubt. I liked the look of them :)

[@cmjones01]

Looks nice, thank you for showing us. The 730s look very similar to their class 720 cousins on Greater Anglia, which I use a lot. I enjoy my journeys on those: they seem spacious and comfortable enough, at least on the services I use, and the power and Wi-fi are very practical. I get lots of work done!

[@lawrencemorriss9018]

Back when the 1996 jubilee stock was refurbished your companion for that video pointed out the different coloured flooring around the doors was to comply with new laws so I think that has been around for a few years at least.

[@sarahjenkins9456]

I was on a train like that today, however the middle of the carriages were not that big. I got the 10.50am train to Worcester Forgate Street today. But it wasn’t my first rodeo as I had got a train like that to Hereford from Birmingham a month ago. Very comfortable seats 💺. Also, the toilets on those trains were not bad. Loved the charging stations too.

[@thenewsonatrain]

great to catch a video so early! love your content Geoff!

[@DigitalDiabloUK]

I can't wait for them to come to Birmingham

[@AndrewJohnson-ur3lw]

As Jen did that one into Euston surprised that you didn't see Jen!

[@GeorgeChoy]

Great train, thanks Geoff

[@yosolo5797]

Dont forget that the official LNWR 730's will be 5 cars, with a slightly different interior layout

[@jamesjross]

I just think its amazing you've made an interest into a passion and a passion into a career. wonderful

[@LKBRICKS1993]

Excellent video Geoff. The new trains looks nice.

[@kevingough7957]

Noticed you had edited in platform at Watford Junction when you were supposed to be at Hemel! Nice video though..thanks.

[@HenrysAdventures]

It seems like they've been around for ages as I seem to keep seeing them out on test. I'll look forward to riding one in the future.

[@nckfy]

Berkhamsted is such a lovely place - used to date a girl there and frequent the train station regularly. There's a reason that the house prices there are extortionate!

[@davidwebber2951]

Thankyou Geoff!

[@PamelaBane]

Thanks for another great video Geoff.

[@iandixon2201]

Great video Geoff. A couple of months on from the posting, and the units are used on more services now , still orange, still rather lovely and still smell 'new.' If you take the full journey, then ironically there is not much of Tring near Tring station.

[@davidbassett4577]

Come to Berkhamsted when the Amersham & District Motorbus Society are having their Classic Bus Running Day (usually 1st Sunday in October) .. then you can take a Routemaster or older RLH to Amersham on route 336!

[@Sim0nTrains]

It only the Class 350/2s that these units will be replacing, the ones with 3 plus 2 seating, great video Geoff

[@zitzong]

Nice video Geoff, look forward to see you do your video on Brent Cross West station.

[@malcolmpym507]

Nice looking trains. By the way it is Up to London and Down to Tring . Railway terminations Up line and down line.

[@Gr33nMamba]

I was in Euston last week, I knew about the two middle screens being changes, but I didn't know about the outdoor one nor the mahoosive one. I saw the Class 730 being tested last week on the WCML, I think it was going back and forth between other services and they were testing the door closing sensors. I just want to see those 3 row cattle bay trains that are the Class 350/2 to go. Especially when its the return train and there is no power to charge your phone. Not convinced those USB port deliver a decent enough Ampage for charging.

[@Clashofclansbro390]

They weren’t that busy this morning from Bletchley

[@revitalisestudios1930]

Tring is my local station! I’m so sad I didn’t see you there!! So unfortunate!

[@joermnyc]

Nice to see the wheelchair area has a window. Here on the LIRR, the wheelchair areas are blocked off because that’s where the door moves into when it opens. (For some reason American trains don’t want passengers to see the doors moving into the walls.)

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

That was a well-timed shot with the Class 90 locomotives hauling the freight train through Tring. At least, I think they were Class 90s.

[@tubetrainboy]

I loved how casual this video was! Surprised you got the train to yourself thohgh

[@sittinandthinkin]

With high speed freights running adjacent to the platform, I'm surprised there aren't those walls with the doors next to the track like in the new Underground stations.

[@glennlewis8141]

So jealous seeing stuff like this, living up north.

[@oohkumar]

They look like very nice trains. I envy the commuters. I have to commute on old broken down highways each day.

[@AviationandAutos]

The gray and orange seats remind me of the Glasgow subway!

[@michallikesadidas6942]

See you at Brent Cross West!

[@MrGreatplum]

I know they aren’t, but they look like an updated version of the class 377 EMUs that are so prevalent south of London

[@mst4309]

This video has the purest, maximum Geoffness

[@lewis72]

It has maximum Geoffocity then.

[@chrisneppiras9408]

wow Geoff they have seats that cater for guys like me with BPPV, it allows travel without looking at the motion of the world outside, which will affect balance and make individual sleepy trying to process it.

[@etbadaboum]

Looks fantastic! Love the color scheme too.

[@Yeenuwu]

Hoping you get to check out the 323s before they leave service.

[@richardthelionheart1294]

I saw one up at Manchester on my way up to Scotland parked up, in April time

[@FC-Mobile-Highlights]

We love you Geoff

[@myonlydemandisbacktowork8759]

My friend living in Watford: They give up providing correct number of carriages on the trains, added all the poles and remove all the seats 😂

[@QPRTokyo]

Thank you.

[@jdkgcp]

I thought the announcement said the "Train will be stopping at....Train". I thought that was hilarious until I realized it said "Tring". Now I kind of want to visit Tring. Bet it's the best town.

[@jagman84]

It’s a mile or so from Tring but the walk is worth it.

[@rbweston]

Looking forwards to seeing them on the X-City line in Brum.

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

Don't hold your breath.....March 24 at the earliest....

[@holyflowerpots1400]

Will we miss the whooping 323s?

[@varryn]

@@holyflowerpots1400 I'll miss the noises :) Been catching them since they were introduced 30ish years ago!

[@jiml6026]

I knew we’d get them second hand after Londoners got the new train experience first. Even three months of commuters will remove the new train smell. Shame.

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

@@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne They will move to the West Midlands sooner or later as that is why they are in West Midlands Railway's livery, the LNWR units are under test in the West Midlands area.

[@PatrickBurford1]

I saw one at 16:10 at Euston today 😊

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I think the camera slide was actually cool. So is your floor slide 😂

[@ianneill1400]

Kings Langley!!! We have one here in Sydney but not lucky enough to have a station!!

[@andrefrancis1]

Lovely video Geoff as usual. I mean, who else would lie prostrate to take a floor shot to contrast the carpets?

[@martindeane9631]

I got to ride on a WMR Class 730 from Kings Langley to Euston recently (23/11 07:25) and was interested to see that the platform display didn't know how many carriages it had

[@AdrianGrayComedy]

Geoff you legend

[@goatgamer001]

My two favourite emu families (from uk at least )ane the aventras and the stadlers. I like the 730 because it has a gangway and despite being a regional intercity train it can go with 110mph which is rare as only 387, 360, 350 and 730 have this trait in uk

[@bus3s]

stadlers arent a family

[@goatgamer001]

@@bus3s stadlers feel like a family. They are very similar

[@bfapple]

What’s a “regional intercity” train?

[@hagarnyarko6479]

Nice train

[@stevem-h3562]

Hopefully we'll be seeing them on the routes to Northampton and Birmingham before long.

[@northamptonwest9077]

They are the cross city units the LNWR ones are 5 car and different layouts.

[@nixcails]

If I remember my days business travelling from Stockport to Paris I recall Berkhamstead as having a castle ruin close to the station

[@trevorelliston1]

When the line was built it took some of the castle.

[@rockerjim8045]

it definitely has a Castle close to the station

[@W8D_]

I live in Shrewsbury, and I must say the new WMR Stock (Diesel equivalent of this stock, I forget the stock) are excellent. Very spacious and much better than Transport for Wales for Shrewsbury to Birmingham. I'm planning a trip to London in July and will have to look out for this new electric stock when I head in.

[@ytKestrel]

What you're referring to sounds like the Class 196, built by CAF.

[@lukejohn1277]

Basically the 730 is an electric 196

[@AidanEyewitness]

You don't like the Thameslink 319's, well we got them as 'hand-me-downs' in the Northwest. Wikipedia says Northern Rail will withdraw them from service by the end of 2023. Enjoyable and informative video, many thanks! (Nice to meet you on the 777 in Liverpool!)

[@SamsVlogstrainsmore]

Nice one Geoff I rode the new 730s during the first week they entered service, and they are a great improvement over the 350/2s and 319s.

[@markusbrown8198]

I actually saw the class 730 at Shrewsbury Station like a month ago