THE new West Midlands Railway Class 730 ‘Aventra’ EMU No. 730002 made its debut run down the branch to Alvechurch and Redditch on the evening of March 15, 2021. These brand new trains will eventually replace the existing 1992-built Class 323 units on the Cross City Line services.
The new electric multiple unit (EMU) built by Bombardier in Derby is captured arriving into Alvechurch at 17.26 before very briefly stopping and then heading further down the branch to Redditch. After a reversal the unit then headed back to Birmingham New Street as the 17.45 from Redditch.
This run was part of the ongoing introduction/ testing programme and carried no passengers other than railway staff, the interior of the train still being covered in protective plastic from the manufacturing process.
The trains have been undergoing tests at Crewe building miles on the West Coast Main Line. However they have only made two visits to this area, with one run to Bromsgrove and then down the branch line to Alvechurch and Redditch.