The Class 730 Train Is Now In Service

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@ttvvideos2050]

should have cancelled them

[@TheRailwayTourManager]

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.

[@kianhorton02]

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

[@thisis_mudchute]

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. @@thisis_mudchute

[@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.😁

[@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.

[@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.

[@alexfishwick9342]

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

[@oliverwatkiss6113]

Apparently they have begun to introduce them on the cross city line. Not seen any though.

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

@@oliverwatkiss6113 They are running on the cross City line now

[@LostsTVandRadio]

Thanks for the tremendous Tring train travel trial.

[@LilyWilkerson]

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

[@jasonburnet]

Thanks Geoff. Outstanding and informative as always!

[@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

[@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!

[@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

[@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

[@htrainspotting]

Please do Brent Cross West, opening on sunday!

[@jimhutcheson8545]

Thanks

[@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

[@ttvvideos2050]

and they’re rubbish

[@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.

[@Luftkuhlt964]

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

[@stephenallmond67]

​@@Luftkuhlt964no it isn't its staggering how much room the 730's has compared to the 720s

[@Luftkuhlt964]

@@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@southcalder]

@@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.

[@underground_e]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@Anonymoususer_8823]

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.

[@infohound41]

Watching this in July and really missing winter for some reason while watching this! That's how good Geoff is!

[@craftergin]

Beautiful! Wow, that fright train was REALLY FAST!

[@blurds]

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

[@dylancarter1831]

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

[@DerekHartley]

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

[@euanhealey]

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

[@superlynx98]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@mst4309]

This video has the purest, maximum Geoffness

[@lewis72]

It has maximum Geoffocity then.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@AndrewJohnson-ur3lw]

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

[@thenewsonatrain]

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

[@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

[@Yeenuwu]

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

[@malcolmpym507]

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

[@AdrianGrayComedy]

Geoff you legend

[@P45_]

05:27 "no carriage map" that will be because the pantograph is above that location

[@andrefrancis1]

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

[@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!

[@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.)

[@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!

[@2themoon863]

A quick aside: Seeing you were at Euston station, it’s been at least two-three?-years since any updates on the construction at Euston station for your High Speed 2 tracks and expansion of the station; could you do an update on that in the future, please?

[@revitalisestudios1930]

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

[@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.

[@oohkumar]

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

[@Sim0nTrains]

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

[@DC4260Productions]

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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@DanTheGamerAndTrains]

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

[@BenKata23]

5:27 I Believe it has a lower roof due to the pantograph and other eqiupment being on the roof there

[@tubetrainboy]

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

[@kevingough7957]

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

[@DigitalDiabloUK]

I can't wait for them to come to Birmingham

[@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.

[@David_22_Raya]

They weren’t that busy this morning from Bletchley

[@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.

[@AllensTrains]

Traditional ironing board seats and tube train decor. What else is new? Thanks for uploading.

[@JeSuisRene]

These seats are a lot more comfortable than the Greater Anglia 720s imo.

[@Football-gaming-Highlights]

We love you Geoff

[@mrcellophane99]

Is there no map over those doors because the roof is lower to accommodate the cantilever pickup ?

[@AviationandAutos]

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

[@guillaumemaurice3503]

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

[@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

[@northamptonwest9077]

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

[@etbadaboum]

Looks fantastic! Love the color scheme too.

[@physiocrat7143]

How are these an improvement on the class 310 stock introduced almost years ago?

[@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.

[@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

[@maerlusiq]

stadlers arent a family

[@goatgamer001]

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

[@bfapple]

What’s a “regional intercity” train?

[@Hgfhffsvrb]

Must of seen it pass Harrow. was so confused as Im used to seeing this tain up in Telford

[@glennlewis8141]

So jealous seeing stuff like this, living up north.

[@stevieinselby]

Tring is an interesting place to have as the terminus for the suburban services, given that the station is a mile even from the current outer edge of the small town it serves and two miles from the centre, with no meaningful bus service to it - really surprising that demand is strong enough to support that level of service.

[@user-xi6oy9xi4r]

I think tring has passing places, so units can stand waiting to return...

[@dfross87]

Tring probably can't justify the level of service it gets. But it serves as an operationally convenient place for the train operator to start trains from.

[@morb0yo]

@@user-xi6oy9xi4r Yep, I think it's the only station between Euston and Milton Keynes that has more than 4 platforms on the same line.

[@JohnResalb]

Has London North Western adopted its parent logo now everywhere - West Midlands trains.?? I personally would find timetabling easier especially when you have friends or contacts in West Midlands.

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

London Northwestern is not the parent company it is a subsidary company. The parent company is West Midland Trains based in Birmingham of which the two subsidary operating sections are West Midlands Railways of which this unit belongs that operates all local train services from Birmingham New treet, Birmingham Snow Hill, Birminghm Moor Strett, Coventry and Wolverhampton with in the West Midlands County and Herefordshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire amd Warwickshire which uses this orange livery and badge of the West Midlands combined Authority transport department and the other subsidaty is London Northwestern Railways again baded in Birmingham that uses a green livery

[@ianneill1400]

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

[@PatrickBurford1]

I saw one at 16:10 at Euston today 😊

[@markusbrown8198]

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

[@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

[@garybroadhurst3548]

Looks good, but those seats seem really narrow! It's great to NOT see 3x2 seating for once on high-density commuter services - I know they have 3x2 on the current 323 units in Birmingham that these will replace. There don't appear to be any rails or grab handles along the centre, away from doors, so why keep the seats narrow and make the aisle so wide?

[@sh8736]

How nice a train running into Euston unlike last Sunday when there were none again….

[@lewis72]

I never knew that Tring was a large enough town to warrant being the terminus for a number of services. I would have thought that they'd go onto Milton Keynes or Northampton.

[@trevorelliston1]

It’s the end of the section which has the most commuter traffic and is good a turning point to optimise stock and line usage/passenger capacity for the peak period trains. As the 0810 it stops at all the stations from Tring to Watford before heading to Euston.

[@lewis72]

@@trevorelliston1 Sounds reasonable. I did think if it went any further doing the return journey my not fit into an hourly service or something similar.

[@trevorelliston1]

@@lewis72 it’s economic. It saves them buying several more trains to maintain the service needed at peak times which will not be needed outside of peak periods.

[@revitalisestudios1930]

It actually has quiet a lot of people! I use it every single day to get to work!😊

[@HughTerry69]

Gad those seats look so thin and hard!

[@richardthelionheart1294]

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

[@PamelaBane]

Thanks for another great video Geoff.

[@zitzong]

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

[@TheCaterhamBusGuys]

there’s a mistake in the description, it says Eusto rather then Euston you’re welcome 😉 great vid :)

[@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!)