New Alstom fleet to transform travel for millions of London passengers
Class 730/2 fleet offers a 20% capacity uplift on routes to and from London Euston.
www.alstom.com
A brand new Alstom train fleet which will carry millions of passengers to and from London Euston every year has now entered service for London Northwestern Railway in the UK.
The electric Class 730/2 fleet is made up of 36 five-carriage trains – a total of 180 new carriages – bringing an overall 20% uplift in capacity on routes to and from London Euston railway station. Featuring open gangways, charging points at every seat and intelligent air conditioning, these modern trains will significantly improve the passenger experience.
Designed and built in the UK by Alstom at its Derby factory, the fleet will initially be rolled out between Northampton and London Euston, calling at busy stations including Milton Keynes Central, Tring and Watford Junction. Later this year, the fleet will enter service on the Trent Valley line between Crewe and Euston, calling at stations including Lichfield Trent Valley, Nuneaton and Rugby.
“We are all incredibly proud to see the Class 730/2 fleet – designed and built right here in the UK at our Derby facility – enter service. These state-of-the-art trains represent a major step forward in sustainable, high-capacity rail travel and are a testament to the dedication and expertise of our teams,” said Rob Whyte, UK and Ireland Managing Director at Alstom.
He added: “This milestone reinforces Alstom’s commitment to delivering innovation that transforms the passenger experience and supports the future of British rail.”
Part of the Aventra family of electric multiple-unit trains, Alstom has produced 2,660 cars at its historic Derby Litchurch Lane Works for customers across the UK since 2015 – making it the biggest train manufacturing programme in a generation.
The first Class 730/2 in passenger service was the 4.19pm departure from London Euston to Northampton on Monday 9 June 2025, operated by units 730213 and 730233. The train’s entry into service follows a grand launch event at Euston on Friday 6 June, attended by Rob Whyte alongside Alstom’s Andy Butters, UK and Ireland Rolling Stock and Components Managing Director, Peter Broadley, UK and Ireland Commercial Director, and Adrian Grigg, Customer Director.
“Our fantastic Class 730/2 fleet is the cornerstone of our £1 billion investment into the railway. They will make a real difference, bringing more capacity and modern features to the millions of commuters and leisure travellers who use our services to and from London each year,” said Ian McConnell, Managing Director at London Northwestern Railway.
He added: “We are excited to bring these new electric trains onto our network, with the whole fleet expected to be rolled out by the end of 2026.”
A five-car Class 730/2 has 406 seats, significantly more than the average of 233 seats on the Class 350 trains being replaced. Many of the Class 730/2s will operate in pairs, providing 812 seats across 10 carriages – more than an average 12-carriage Class 350.
London Northwestern Railway is part of West Midlands Trains, a train operating company that also runs West Midlands Railway services. The Class730/2 launch follows the successful rollout of the three-carriage Derby-built Class 730/0s across the West Midlands Railway network. These trains are in service on the popular Cross-City Line in Birmingham, between Wolverhampton and Walsall, and between Rugeley and Birmingham International.
www.alstom.com
