The
first
unit


in
West
Midlands
Railway’s
new
fleet
of
Class
730
electric
trains
went
into
service
last
night.
The
Class
730s
have
been
built
by
Alstom
at
Derby,
and
consist
of
48
three-car
sets.

The
inaugural
unit
worked
the
22.41
departure
from
Birmingham
New
Street
to
Wolverhampton.
From
today,
the
trains
are
running
between
Wolverhampton
and
Walsall.

The
fleet
is
part
of
a
£700
million
investment
in
new
fleets
and
infrastructure
for
WMR,
which
said
its
trains
have
‘significantly
more
capacity’
than
the
rolling
stock
they
are
replacing.

WMR
customer
experience
director
Jonny
Wiseman
said:
‘I
am
delighted
that
our
fantastic
new
Class
730
fleet
has
entered
service
in
the
West
Midlands.
These
trains
will
make
a
real
difference
for
our
passengers
between
Wolverhampton
and
Walsall.

‘The
Class
730s
have
modern
features
including
digital
information
screens,
accessible
toilets
and
power
points
at
every
seat.
They
will
also
provide
a
much
more
spacious
feel
and
a
higher
capacity
so
more
passengers
can
travel
on
our
services.

‘Later
this
year
we
will
be
introducing
the
trains
on
other
routes,
including
the
busy
Cross
City
Line
through
Birmingham.’