West Midlands Trains - WMR & LNR

[knutstransport]

RE: West Midlands Trains - WMR & LNR
Two sets out today, but one missed working out of Lime Street as the 08:34 Birmingham to Liverpool was turned around at Crewe due to a staffing issue.

[knutstransport]

RE: West Midlands Trains - WMR & LNR
I notice the 350/4s have lost their 2+1 seating in the former first class area. I presume the replacement seats have been removed from other trains (e.g. the /2s) as they don't look newish. In contrast the refreshed standard class seating looks and feels nice - I think they may have more/better padding than initially.

I think their toilet doors and locks need some attention in general.

I also observed automated station announcements have been revised to say board the front 3 carriages for Winsford, Acton Bridge etc, rather than front 4. On the 730 I was on earlier the guard said the front door on the 4th carriage is the rearmost one that will be released.

[mikestone]

RE: West Midlands Trains - WMR & LNR
Up to six 730 turns to Liverpool yesterday and today.

[knutstransport]

RE: West Midlands Trains - WMR & LNR

(21/08/2025 09:08)mikestone Wrote:  Up to six 730 turns to Liverpool yesterday and today.

Just filtered on the calls at Hartford yesterday. It looks like despite most of the services being 730s, the 350 diagram was a /2 yesterday and the same applies today. I'm surprised, given it's the /2s that are supposed to be getting returned ASAP.

I wonder what the plan for Saturday is, given they normally have a fair few 8 car workings and there's a XC strike this coming Saturday, as well as it being a Bank Holiday weekend.

[mikestone]

RE: West Midlands Trains - WMR & LNR
Obviously I don't know how they are charged, but I would have thought they would want the maximum mileage out of them?

[mikestone]

RE: West Midlands Trains - WMR & LNR
September Modern Railways reports that use of class.730s to Liverpool is temporary until they go on the Crewe-Euston service but isn't clear if that applies to all workings.
;
Until I read that I hadn't spotted that from December apart from the first up and last down Crewe-Euston services lay over mostly in p.12 but some in 11 - hopefully that means all are going from ten to eight rather than five. Presumably there is no room for the last one to go on the carriage shed so has to be five or remain a pair of 350s to enable it to stable overnight in p.7 at Crewe.