UK: Two five-car British Class 730/2 EMUs have entered service in multiple on the 95 km London–Northampton line. The operator West Midlands Railway plans to deploy all 36 trains on London’s suburban routes by the end of 2026.
These units represent an evolution of the Aventra platform, following the first version, three-car Class 730/0 trains, launched in November 2023. The new Class 730/2 EMUs feature higher specifications, including a 177 km/h maximum speed, versus 145 km/h for Class 730/0, and increased passenger capacity, 406 seats compared to 199. All units are fully walk-through and fitted with a smart AC system with underfloor heating.
The fleet of 36 five-car Class 730/2 and 48 three-car Class 730/0 trains was originally ordered from Bombardier Transportation in 2017, acquired by Alstom in 2021. The vehicles are assembled at Alstom’s Derby plant, UK.
